Temp/Flow and Fish

Step Wise Guide

Climate Change Vulnerability

Where are the largest changes in temperature and summer flow predicted to occur and where do they intersect sensitive and valuable aquatic habitats?

In the context of assessing climate change vulnerability, it is necessary to first identify locations in a watershed or landscape where the largest predicted changes in temperature and flow intersect with the highest quality and most sensitive aquatic habitats.

Step 1: Make sure that appropriate fish habitat or other aquatic indices exist in your NetMap dataset using the Map tool. If not or if you wish to modify the habitat predictions or create and apply new models, Go To the Habitat Creator Tool.

Step 2. Go To the Climate Change Vulnerability Tool. Select from the Temperature and or Flow drop down list the appropriate attributes (reach or aggregated channel values) and search for stressor-habitat intersections, such as where the highest 5% of forecasted increases in temperature overlap with the highest 5% of reductions in summer flow, and where that pair of stressors intersect the top 10% of the highest quality fish habitat.

Data Background:

The scenarios represent a composite average of ten global climate models (GCM) for the western US using four bracketing scenarios based on four GCMs (ECHAM5, MIROC_3.2, HADGEM1, and PCM1). Predictions are for one greenhouse gas scenario (A1B, a middle of the road scenario for future emissions). Results are in percent change from historical (1916-2006) to forecasts in 2040. Forecasts were obtained from University of Washington Climate Impact Group. For additional background information on how forecasts were made, see here and here.