Hydrology focuses on the distribution and availability of water, particularly in lakes and rivers, ice and snowpacks, and groundwater. The distribution of water in these hydrologic reservoirs, which is influenced by climate and geology in both space and time, profoundly impacts the viability of environmental and social ecosystems and land use worldwide. Ongoing and projected climate change will alter historic patterns and distributions, resulting in sea level rise with increased risk of flooding and erosion in coastal areas, reduced winter snow accumulation and decreased water supply, changes in flood and drought frequency and severity, and loss of aquatic habitat.

NHC’s surface water hydrology services provide essential information for a broad range of water resource related activities, including natural hazard assessments; land and natural resource development; and the planning, design, and operation of water resource engineering projects. We evaluate climate change impacts and develop adaptation strategies as an integral component of our hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and water planning and design services.

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