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Person

Kathryn A. Powlen

Geographer
Email: kpowlen@usgs.gov
Office Phone: 970-226-9470

Location
1215 Madison St
Denver , Colorado 80206
US
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Literature Summary of Indicators of Water Vulnerability in the Western US 2000-2022
This data release contains records from research focused on understanding social vulnerability to water insecurity, resiliency demonstrated by institutions, and conflict or crisis around water resource management. This data release focuses on social vulnerability to water insecurity. The data were derived from a meta-analysis of studies in the empirical literature which measured factors of social vulnerability associated with conditions of water insecurity. In the water security context this data and associated study identify the indicators used to measure social vulnerability, the frequency at which indicators are used, and the uncertainty associated with measurements based on those indictors. Assessed studies...
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This data release documents socioeconomic and water demand indicators for the Mekong River delta region. The Mekong River provides many valuable benefits to the 60 million Southeast Asian residents living in its Basin. Maintaining adequate supplies of water in the Mekong River Basin is vital for food security. However, the Mekong River Basin is increasingly stressed by infrastructure development, growing water demands, and land cover change, in addition to climate change. Freshwater demands and the capacity to respond to changing resource availability were estimated to assess vulnerability to changes in water availability in provinces of the Mekong River delta region along the Cambodia-Vietnam border. Water demands...
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Identifying Opportunities to Strengthen Climate Resilience in Flood-Prone Underserved Communities in Harris County, Texas
Flooding in urban centers caused by increasingly severe storms has led to massive economic, social, and ecological damage. Researchers supported by this South Central CASC project will examine flood vulnerability and equity in mitigation efforts in Harris County, Texas, currently home to the highest concentration of federally funded relocation projects in the country. The resulting flood vulnerability assessments from this project will guide future investments in flood-prone areas, reducing risk equitably and strengthening community resilience. The US is experiencing more frequent and intense precipitation events, largely driven by climate change. These storms have caused severe flooding, leading to billions of...
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Coastal Wetland Dynamics and Impacts on Hurricane Flood Risk along the Texas Gulf Coast in a Changing Climate
Wetlands along the Gulf Coast are crucial for reducing hurricane-induced flooding and as habitat for diverse wildlife, but are threatened by rising sea levels, climate change, and coastal development. Using remote sensing data, future climate data, and numerical models, researchers from this South Central CASC-supported project will collaborate with local expert groups to create data and maps about the future of coastal wetlands. The findings will help wetland management and flood control agencies improve strategies for enhancing wetland restoration efforts and improving flood protection for communities in the region. Coastal wetlands are important ecosystems along the Gulf Coast that provide essential services...
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