Rising Stream Temperatures, Reduced Flows
In a warming climate the timing and temperature of stream flows is expected to shift. Stream flows will be higher during the winter, and lower and warmer during the spring and summer. This has potentially significant implications for fish migration and other variables. The image below shows that earlier snowmelt is making streamflows peak earlier in the season, which will in turn lead to less water and warmer water later in the season.
Over time, the implications for streams, rivers, and fish will be dramatic. Cold water fish like salmon and trout, for example, will face big challenges. The graphic below shows anticipated run off change in 2050. Extracted from "2011 Degrees of Risk_Defining a Risk Management Framework for Climate Security" (available in the Climate Web).
To focus on a specific example, the graphic below illustrates current and anticipated flows for the Rio Grande River bordering the U.S. and Mexico. Extracted from "2011 Hurd_Climate Change and Water Availability" (available in the Climate Web).
Digging Deeper
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