Investigating patterns in stream temperature and restorable alluvial water storage for climate resilience of freshwater habitat for salmon and trout

Abstract

As climate change shifts the availability of habitat for aquatic species, watershed management must focus on the conservation and restoration of cold-water habitats for species such as salmon and trout that require cold water. Management actions that focus on restoring hydrologic processes can be used to adapt to climate impacts by re-establishing groundwater exchange and cold-water habitats. The formation of cold-water habitat can be promoted by reconnecting rivers to their adjacent floodplains and restoring alluvial water storage. In this study, I applied a systematic method for identifying spatial patterns in stream temperature and prioritizing restoration locations for climate adaptation. I made use of available data derived from airborne thermal infrared imagery to identify spatial patterns of stream temperature in the Teanaway River watershed in Washington, USA and compared these patterns to modeled predictions of restorable alluvial water storage. By investigating patterns in continuous stream temperature at a 1-km scale in the watershed, I provide information that can be used to locate where restoration may address both water storage and water temperature and improve climate resilience of freshwater habitat for cold water-dependent species, such as salmon and trout. This work contributes to scientific understanding of how spatial analyses can be used to evaluate climate resilience of freshwater habitat and prioritize locations for ecosystem restoration.