Simulating High-Elevation Hydropower with Regional Climate Warming in the West Slope Sierra Nevada

This research paper details a water resources management model using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) system to assess how temperature increases (up to 6°C) through 2100 affect hydropower in the upper west slope Sierra Nevada. The study finds that while the northern and southern watersheds see decreases in hydropower generation, central watersheds are more resilient to changes in runoff timing.

• The impact of climate warming on hydropower generation varies by region within the Sierra Nevada: the highly productive northern Sierra Nevada experiences large reductions in generation due to decreased annual runoff, while southern watersheds, which are less productive, also see decreases in generation. Central watersheds experience smaller reductions in annual runoff and demonstrate a better ability to adapt to changes in runoff timing.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2013). Simulating High-Elevation Hydropower with Regional Climate Warming in the West Slope Sierra Nevada. https://www.sei.org/publications/simulating-high-elevation-hydropower-with-regional-climate-warming-in-the-west-slope-sierra-nevada/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Simulating High-Elevation Hydropower with Regional Climate Warming in the West Slope Sierra Nevada. 2013. https://www.sei.org/publications/simulating-high-elevation-hydropower-with-regional-climate-warming-in-the-west-slope-sierra-nevada/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Simulating High-Elevation Hydropower with Regional Climate Warming in the West Slope Sierra Nevada |date=25 April 2013 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/simulating-high-elevation-hydropower-with-regional-climate-warming-in-the-west-slope-sierra-nevada/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2013simulating, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Simulating High-Elevation Hydropower with Regional Climate Warming in the West Slope Sierra Nevada}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2013}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/simulating-high-elevation-hydropower-with-regional-climate-warming-in-the-west-slope-sierra-nevada/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }