Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts

The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) formed out of a partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies in 2007. It assesses and anticipates climate change impacts on Wisconsin’s natural resources, ecosystems and regions; evaluates potential effects on industry, agriculture, tourism and other human activities; and develops and recommends adaptation strategies that can be implemented by businesses, farmers, public health officials, municipalities, wildlife managers and other stakeholders.

It connects university-based climate modelers with managers and experts in the field to assess impacts at focused and relevant measures of time and space. It fosters collaboration between the UW System, the WDNR, and dozens of other agencies and organizations across the state. It develops practical information that can be used at all levels of decision making, both public and private. It is driven by stakeholder input to ensure that WICCI assessments meet the informational needs of Wisconsin citizens, businesses and institutions.

Organization
WICCI is organized around three major components: a Science Council made up of a diverse group of eminent scientists drawn from a range of disciplines and representing a number of state and federal agencies and universities.

A stakeholder Advisory Committee informs the Science Council of particular informational needs, which are then fed into existing Working Groups or prompt the formation of new Working Groups.

An Outreach and Operations Unit, housed in and staffed by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, provides administrative and outreach functions.

Working Groups
Working Groups form a subset of the Science Council; each one focuses on a specific ecosystem, resource, activity or geographic area and assesses potential impacts under a range of climate scenarios. These scenarios are provided by the Wisconsin Climate Working Group, which down-scales global models for higher resolution at regional and local scales. All other Working Groups will develop recommended adaptation strategies based on these scenarios. Eleven Working Groups are currently in operation (with several others in development):

Wisconsin Climate
Central Sands Hydrology
Coastal Communities
Coldwater Fish & Fisheries
Forestry
Green Bay
Human Health
Milwaukee
Soil Conservation
Storm water
Wildlife

For more information contact Tara Bergeson at: Tara.Bergeson@Wisconsin.gov or www.wicci.wisc.edu