Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

CLIMATE TRENDS & PRO JECTIONS | CITY OF ASHLAND, OREGON | FINAL REPORT | 4 Snowpack . With warmer temperatures, precipitation is more likely to fall as rain rather than snow at mid -elevations. April 1 snow water equivalent (SWE) on the western flank of the Cascades in the Rogue Basin has mostly declined ov er the past 50 years. By the 205 0s un der the high emissions scenario, April 1 SWE in the Middle Rogue basin is projected to decline by 66%. By the 2080s, April 1 SWE is projected to decline by 86% compared to the historical baseline . Streamflow . As expected with future warming and declinin g snowpack, monthly total runoff averaged over the Middle Rogue basin is projected to shift toward earlier spring melt, higher winter flows, and lower summer flows. Wildfire . Over the past century, warmer and drier conditions contributed to more frequen t large fires, which in turn resulted in increased burned acreage across the western U.S. Such trends are expected to continue under future climate change.