Sponsor
This research was supported by Clackamas County Water Environmental Services, Clackamas River Basin Council, Clackamas River Water Providers, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Views expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect those of sponsoring agencies.
Published In
Journal of Environmental Management
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-21-2025
Subjects
Climate change, Salmon -- Habitat -- North America, Salmon -- Habitat -- Pacific Northwest
Abstract
Rising stream temperatures pose significant challenges to aquatic ecosystems, particularly for coldwater-adapted organisms like salmonids. This study examines the effects of climate change on stream temperatures and salmonid habitats in the Clackamas River Basin, Oregon, USA. Using spatial stream network models and CMIP6 climate projections under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, we project mid- (2045-2074) and late-century (2075-2100) stream temperature changes. These projections are then integrated with thermal tolerances and intrinsic habitat metrics to assess future habitat suitability for key species, including steelhead, coho, Chinook, and bull trout. Stream temperature trends from 1991 to 2023 reveal basin-wide warming, with high-elevation tributaries demonstrating more resilience to climate impacts while lower-elevation subwatersheds face greater vulnerability. Future projections indicate a basinwide maximum 7-day average of daily maximum stream temperature increases of 1.42 °C-2.04 °C for the midcentury, and 1.84 °C-3.24 °C by the end of the 21st century. These increases reduce the most thermally suitable habitats for steelhead, coho, Chinook, and bull trout by an average of 27 %-36 % during the mid-century time period, and 35 %-51 % by the end-of-century time period. By linking climate-driven temperature projections with habitat metrics, we identify priority subwatersheds based on projected thermal suitability where conservation efforts can maximize impact.
Rights
Copyright (c) 2025 The Authors
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125843
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43677
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Citation Details
Krochta, M., Anlauf-Dunn, K., Bugni, D., & Chang, H. (2025). Effects of climate change on stream temperature and salmonid habitats in a Cascades river basin. Journal of Environmental Management, 387, 125843.