Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources in Idaho

Prepared by Zion KlosPhD Student,

College of Natural Resourceszion@uidaho.edu

920-883-8617…feel free to e-mail or call me with questions!

Idaho’s climate is changing…

NCDC

Outline

• Observed (historic) and/or future predictions for changes in:– Precipitation– Snowpack– Streamflow– Stream temperature– Drought

Observed Precipitation Changes

NCDC

Precipitation Intensity

Analysis by Troy Magney

Precipitation: Future Predictions

Precipitation:2090 - 2099vs.1990 - 1999

Salathé Jr, E P, R Steed, C F Mass, and P H Zahn. "A High-Resolution Climate Model for the US Pacific Northwest: Mesoscale Feedbacks and Local Responses to Climate Change." Journal of Climate 21, no. 21 (2008): doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2090.1.

Outline

• Observed (historic) and/or future predictions for changes in:– Precipitation– Snowpack– Streamflow– Stream temperature– Drought

Observed Snowpack Changes

NCDC

April 1st Snowpack

1950-1997

Mote et al., 2005. Declining mountain snowpack in western N. America. Bull. Am. Met. Soc.

= decrease

= increase

Benton Spring Snow Courseelev. 1500 m (4920 ft)

Analysis by Ryan Niemeyer

Future Predictions for Snow vs. Rain

Future Predictions

for Snow vs. Rain

Outline

• Observed (historic) and/or future predictions for changes in:– Precipitation– Snowpack– Streamflow– Stream temperature– Drought

Statewide Streamflow Trends

Source of FundingState/Federal COOP – 9Corp of Engineers – 6USGS NSIP – 4Other Funding – 6Discontinued in FY05 – 1

Unregulated streams with at least 40 years of continuousstream discharge information

- 25 stations (as of FY06)

Courtesy of Greg Clark (USGS)

USGS

Statewide Streamflow Trends

Onset of Streamflow

Stewart, I T, D R Cayan, and M D Dettinger. "Changes Toward Earlier Streamflow Timing Across Western North America." Journal of Climate 18, no. 8 (2005): 1136-1155.

Midpoint of Annual Streamflow Runoff

Earlier by 10 days or more (2 sites)

Earlier by 0-4 days (18 sites)

Earlier by 5-9 days (6 sites)

Based on averagepre- and post-1980data

Courtesy of Greg Clark (USGS)

Outline

• Observed (historic) and/or future predictions for changes in:– Precipitation– Snowpack– Streamflow– Stream temperature– Drought

Analysis by Stephen Gillis

Stream Temperature

Outline

• Observed (historic) and/or future predictions for changes in:– Precipitation– Snowpack– Streamflow– Stream temperature– Drought

Drought:conceptualized through the Climatic Water Balance

Anyways, hope you’ll find this information useful!

Also, apologies if it’s too much doom and gloom… But hey, who doesn't

love some nice, warm weather!