moderators: stacy vynne, climate leadership initiative ethan rosenthal, david evans and associates,...
TRANSCRIPT
Moderators:
Stacy Vynne, Climate Leadership Initiative
Ethan Rosenthal, David Evans and Associates, Inc.
Panel Members:
Greg Addington, Director, Klamath Water Users Association
Ken Bierly, Deputy Director, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board
Nathan Jackson, Executive Director, Klamath Watershed Partnership
Terry Fisk, Hydrologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Klamath Falls Office
Integrating Climate Adaptation Planning and Watershed Assessments to Improve Community Engaged Watershed Management: A Case Study from the Klamath Basin, Oregon
Oregon Water Conference, May 25, 2011
Straddles border of Oregon and California
15,571 Sq. Mile Drainage Basin
Klamath River, 273 miles long
Cuts through Cascade and Coastal Mountain Ranges
Basin Overview
Klamath River Tributaries
Upper Basin
•Williamson River
•Sprague River
•Wood River
•Lost River
Basin OverviewWilliamson River
Sprague River
Lost River
Wood River
Shasta River
Scott River
Salmon River
Trinity River
Lower Basin
•Shasta River
•Scott River
•Salmon River
•Trinity River
Six dams on Klamath River, including Link River Dam at outlet of Upper Klamath Lake
Additional dams on major tributaries.
Basin Overview
Removal of 4 of 5 dams proposed
Link River Dam
Upper Klamath Basin
Williamson
River
LostRive
r
Sprague
River
Upper Klamat
hRiver
Upper Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Basin Watershed Assessments
Process Started around 2004
Funded by:
Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)
USFWS Klamath Basin Ecosystem Restoration Office (KBERO)
Managed by:
Klamath Watershed Partnership
(formerly Klamath Basin Ecosystem Foundation and Klamath Watershed Council)
Williamson
River
LostRiver
SpragueRiver
Upper Klamath
River
Upper Klamath
Lake
Upper Klamath Basin Watershed AssessmentsAssessments Completed to Date:
Upper Williamson (2005)
Upper Sprague (2009)
Lower Sprague/Lower Williamson (2009)
Upper Klamath Lake (2010)
Available at: www.klamathpartnership.org
Upper Klamath Basin Watershed AssessmentsAssessment Purpose 1:
1.Develop a technical document, with community input, documenting:
Historic watershed conditions
Current watershed conditions
•Channel habitat typing
•Hydrology and water use
•Wetland and riparian conditions
•Sediment sources
•Water quality
•Fish and fish habitat
Restoration opportunities and data gaps
Upper Klamath Basin Watershed AssessmentsAssessment Purpose:
2.Involve stakeholders in voluntary community engaged watershed management
Bring together private land owners, resource agency staff, NGO’s, and others
Stakeholder meetings to identify important issues
Field trips (public and private properties)
Landowner interviews
Stakeholder review of draft assessment report
Presentation of final assessment report findings to stakeholders
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Shortnose Sucker and Lost River Sucker (listed Endangered 1988)
Fish Species of Cultural and Ecological Importance
Habitat and Life History
Adults reside in lakes, including Upper Klamath Lake and Lost River ReservoirsMigrate up streams and springs to spawn in gravels, then return to lakesJuveniles drift down to lake utilizing fringe wetlands for food and cover
Threats
Habitat loss and degradationPredation of juveniles by introduced speciesWater quality problem in lakes
Redband Trout
Fish Species of Cultural and Ecological Importance
Habitat and Life History
Adults reside in lakes, including Upper Klamath LakeMigrate up streams to spawn in gravels, then return to lakeJuveniles utilize river margins first, then utilize deeper/faster water as they matureAdults prefer water temps 55 to 65 deg. F , but can tolerate slightly warmer temps
Threats
Habitat loss and degradationCompetition with introduced non-native trout speciesWater quality problems in lakes
Fish Species of Cultural and Ecological Importance
Habitat and Life History
Historically, resident and migratory formsCurrently relegated to a few headwater streams in the basinRequire water temps no greater than 59 to 64do. F , 48o F or colder for spawning
Threats
Habitat loss, degradation, and severe fragmentationPredation of juveniles by introduced non-native trout speciesWater quality problems, particularly temperature
Bull Trout (listed threatened 1998)
Fish Species of Cultural and Ecological Importance
Habitat and Life History
AnadromousHistorically present in portions of Upper Klamath BasinCold water required for spawning
Threats
Dams on main stem Klamath River block migration to upper basinRecovery planning, including proposed dam removal, underwayHabitat and water quality issues similar to other species
Steelhead Trout and Chinook Salmon
Sample of Assessment Findings
•Extensive logging and overgrazing during early settlement
•Loss of channel habitat complexity and connectivity
•Degraded riparian habitats
•Altered geomorphic processes
•Water quality concerns
•nutrient loading of UKL
•elevated stream temperatures
•Unscreened water diversions (fish entrapment)
•Considerable past and current restoration efforts being carried out
•Improved restoration monitoring would be helpful
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Climate
High precipitation west side
(50 to 90 in, forms deep snowpack)
Elsewhere predominantly arid
(9 to 25 in.)
Hot dry summers
Wet winters w/moderate to low temperatures
Upper Basin Overview
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“[The marsh is in] a sad state. Ranchers and livestock men were compelled to put down wells and otherwise provide water. Grasshoppers and rodents plagued the then dry marsh. It was possible to travel by saddle horse and automobile over much of the present marsh area.” -Description of Upper Klamath Marsh circa 1930
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Water Quality –Nutrient LoadingUpper Klamath Lake is hypereutrophic
Large algal blooms lead to large swings in pH and very low D.O.
~60% of nutrient loading comes from lake sedimentsPhosphorous loading from draining perimeter wetlands
Additional loading from tributaries (erosion, irrigation returns)UKL provides large source of irrigation water to Klamath Project
Lost and Klamath River systems also experience algal blooms
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Conflict in the Basin
Water Management by Way of Lawsuits and Political Winds
• No one benefits, all sides stand to lose
• Uncertainty reigns
Farmers vs Fisherman vs Refuges vs Fish vs Tribal Rights
• 2001 Water shut off to project irrigators, est. $79 million economic losses
• 2002 Water flows to river atypically low, massive fish die off (>33,000 adult salmonids)
• Oregon water rights adjudication in progress (Klamath Tribe vs other water users), who will be left with what?
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Resolution and Restoration
Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) and
Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA)
• Draft agreements signed February 2010
• Stakeholders (45 Organizations, Fed, States, Counties, Tribes,
Irrigators, and Fishing and Conservation Groups) come together to
shape the basins future
• Benefits for all during times of plenty
• Share the pain during times of difficulty
• Provide a greater sense of certainty
Planning and preparing for the uncertainty of climate change
While major strides have been made to improve management and reduce competition over water resources, climate change will bring even greater stress with increased temperatures, loss of snowpack, and reduced and altered stream flows.
•How will natural systems evolve?•How will communities adapt?•What about funding availability and prioritization?•How do we engage stakeholders?
But Wait, There’s More…
Ethan Rosenthal, David Evans and Associates, Inc: [email protected]