Abstract
There is widespread scientific consensus that climate change will affect Montana’s hydrology by increasing spring and fall rainfall, reducing snowpack and increasing summer evapotranspiration. The expected results include earlier and more intense spring runoff (flooding) and reduced baseflow in summer (lower low flows). Natural water storage features on the landscape tend to smooth out the extremes of the hydrograph, by storing spring rains and gradually releasing the water later in the dry season. Natural water storage features can be managed to mitigate the expected effects of climate change. Options include riparian and wetland protection, increasing beaver populations, implementation of the USFS/State of Montana Compact, forest, and snowpack management. These options can augment human-constructed storage facilities and may preclude the need for additional infrastructure. In light of the upcoming revision of national forest plans in the basin, an emphasis on natural storage management is strongly advised.
Start Date
23-4-2015 8:20 PM
End Date
23-4-2015 9:00 PM
Document Type
Presentation
Conserving Natural Water Storage to Mitigate Climate Change in the Clark Fork Basin
There is widespread scientific consensus that climate change will affect Montana’s hydrology by increasing spring and fall rainfall, reducing snowpack and increasing summer evapotranspiration. The expected results include earlier and more intense spring runoff (flooding) and reduced baseflow in summer (lower low flows). Natural water storage features on the landscape tend to smooth out the extremes of the hydrograph, by storing spring rains and gradually releasing the water later in the dry season. Natural water storage features can be managed to mitigate the expected effects of climate change. Options include riparian and wetland protection, increasing beaver populations, implementation of the USFS/State of Montana Compact, forest, and snowpack management. These options can augment human-constructed storage facilities and may preclude the need for additional infrastructure. In light of the upcoming revision of national forest plans in the basin, an emphasis on natural storage management is strongly advised.