Dates: January 13-15, 2010 Location: Millennium Harvest House, Boulder, Colorado

Background:  The assumption behind traditional hydrologic frequency analysis is that climate is stationary. Stationarity means that the statistical properties of hydrologic variables in future time periods will be similar to past time periods. Anthropogenic climate change and better understanding of decadal climate variability present a challenge to the validity of the assumption. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said “Climate change challenges the traditional assumption that past hydrological experience provides a good guide to future conditions” (Bates et al, 2008). Although there have been academic articles criticizing the assumption of stationarity, it is not apparent what if any alternative methods should be used as a replacement. The workshop presented and discussed proposed operational alternatives to the assumption of stationarity in hydrologic frequency analysis that can be used in a transitional period by water managers and planners, as well as a new generation of methods that could be developed. Limitations of the alternatives were also presented and discussed.

Meeting Objectives:

• Discuss whether there is a need for new ways to model nonstationary processes for hydrologic frequency analysis and if current approaches are not working.
• Present a range of potential alternatives for dealing with non-stationarity in hydrology both in the near term, as well as for the next generation of analytical tools that could be developed.
• Compile workshop proceedings based on invited papers and minutes from the meeting.
• Initiate mechanisms for a continuing dialog between water managers and scientists on methods to deal with climate uncertainty.
• Formulate an ‘Action Plan’ for next steps to develop practical guidance for water managers to deal with climate uncertainty.

Final Agenda. (pdf, 89 KB)

Workshop on Nonstationarity, Hydrologic Frequency Analysis, and Water Management