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Increase aquatic habitat resilience to low summer flows

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Approach

Increase aquatic habitat resilience to low summer flows.

Tactics

  • Increase off-channel habitat and protect refugia in side channels and channels fed by wetlands.
  • Protect wetland-fed streams that maintain higher summer flows.
  • Design channels at stream crossings to provide a deep thalweg for fish passage during low-flow periods.
  • Increase deep water habitat and channel morphology.
  • Reduce width to depth ratios to reduce solar radiation in stream.
  • Maintain vegetation density and composition for optimal water balance and snow accumulation.
  • Restore mid-and high-elevation wetlands that have been altered by land use.

Sensitivity

Strategy

Raymond, C.L.; Peterson, D.L.; Rochefort, R.M., eds. (2014). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the North Cascades region. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-892. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station., Raymond, C.L.; Peterson, D.L.; Rochefort, R.M. (2013). The North Cascadia Adaptation Partnership: a science-management collaboration for responding to climate change. Sustainability. 5: 136–159., Halofsky, J.E.; Peterson, D.L., eds. (2017). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Blue Mountains. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-939. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station., Peterson, D.L.; Halofsky, J.E. (2018). Adapting to the effects of climate change on natural resources in the Blue Mountains, USA. Climate Services. 10: 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2017.06.005., Halofsky, J.E.; Peterson, D.L.; Ho, J.J.; Little, N.J.; Joyce, L.A., eds. (2018). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Intermountain Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-375. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station., ,

RELATED TO THIS APPROACH:

Climate Change Effect

Resource Area

Relevant Region

Midwest
Northeast
Northern Plains
Northwest
Southeast
Southern Plains
Southwest