Global Warming and America

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Global Warming and Americas Watersheds

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National Wildlife Federation and the River
Network
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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007
Four degrees (F) warmer
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Snow-Fed Rivers
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Declining Mountain Snowpack
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Scripps Institute
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Earlier Snow Melt 25 Days Since the 1940s
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The Spring Pulse
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Since the 1940's 25 Days Earlier
(1948 2000) Blue Earlier Timing of Pulse Red
Later Timing of Pulse
Scripps Institute
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Effects of Changed Timing
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Fish Spawning
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Drier Summers
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Warmer Streams
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Increased Competition
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Water Storage and Capture
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Southwest Rivers
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Expanded Arid Region
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Loss of Perennial Streams
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Drier Vegetative Communities
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Fiercer Water Competition
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Midwestern Rivers
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More Intense Storms and Flooding
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(No Transcript)
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More Scouring and Pollution
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Eastern and Southeastern Rivers
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Anticipating Greater Extremes
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Wet Season Flooding
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Summer Droughts
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Warmer Water Temperatures
Brook Trout
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Coastal Rivers
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Vulnerable To Sea Level Rise
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Harder Shorelines
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Storm Surges and Saltwater Intrusion
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Turbidity and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
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Larger Hypoxic Zones
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Solutions

• Regulatory
• Voluntary
• Incentive-based

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Improved Forest Management
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Riparian Restoration
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Stream Course Restoration
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In-stream Flow Protection
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Increased Water Use Efficiency
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Smarter Flood Plain Management
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Wetlands Restoration
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Water Quality Protection
Controlling pollution and invasive species
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Monitoring and Managing for Temperature Change
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Greater Focus on Stream Corridor Connections
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What Does This Mean for the Corps of Engineers?

• Flood Control
• Floodplain management
• Management of water supply/flood control
  reservoirs
• Protection of Coastal Wetlands

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• Susan R. Kaderka,
• Regional Executive Director
• Gulf States Natural Resource Center
• National Wildlife Federation

kaderka_at_nwf.org