Date of Award

August 2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Yeo H. Lim

Abstract

In the Upper Red River of the North (URRN), climate change has appeared to impact water availability, causing several major floods in recent years, and raising questions about whether climate change is responsible for the frequent occurrence of flooding in this major agricultural region in the Midwest USA. This thesis centers on investigating adaptative measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the URRN. One of the methods used is to compare changes in the outcomes of flood frequency analysis (FFA) for “before (pre-industrial) and after (industrial)” time periods. The study uses a combination of data analysis and literature review to examine the potential impacts of climate change on water availability in the URRN watershed and identify adaptation strategies. The data analysis includes an examination of climate and hydrological data for the URRN watershed. The statistical analysis uses data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to examine trends in temperature and precipitation in the URRN over the past century (1880 - 2022). The thesis covered the potential future scenarios for the river flow conditions in the URRN in winter, spring, and summer. To achieve the thesis objectives, a multidisciplinary approach combining climate data and socio-economic assessments was employed. The thesis concludes that a combination of adaptive strategies will be necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources in the URRN, and the recommendations would provide valuable insights for water resources managers, climatologists, policymakers, and the communities in the URRN catchment. The flood frequency diagrams are beneficial in future flood protection measures. The key message derived from the conclusion of this thesis is the urgent need for adaptive water management strategies tailored to the unique challenges posed by climate change in the URRN.

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