Stream Temperatures & Climate Change: Observed Patterns & Key Uncertainties Dan Isaak, Bruce Rieman, Charlie Luce, Erin Peterson1, Jay Ver Hoef2, Jason Dunham3, Brett Roper, Erik Archer, Dona Horan, Gwynne Chandler, Dave Nagel, Sharon Parkes U.S. Forest Service 1CSIRO 2NOAA 3U.S. Geological Survey Air, Water & Aquatics Program Metabolic Ecology and Thermal Niches Temperature & metabolic rates Thermal Niche Brown 2004 In the lab… McMahon et al. 2007 & the field Isaak & Hubert 2004 Temperature Regulation – Spatial Distributions Regional Scale Rieman et al. 2007 Channel Unit Scale Bonneau & Scarnecchia 1996 Elevation Stream Scale Stream Distance Temperature Regulation - Life Cycle Spawn timing - Chinook salmon Median Redd Completion Date Beaver Marsh Sulphur Big Camas Loon Incubation length Chinook salmon 9/3 8/24 8/14 8/4 7 9 11 13 15 17 Mean Stream Temperature (C) Thurow, unpublished Migration timing sockeye salmon Brannon et al. 2004 Growth Arctic grayling July stream temp Crozier et al. 2008 Dion and Hughes 1994 Western US – Observed Trends Warmer Air Temps Declining Snowpacks Mote et al. 2005 Mote et al. 2005 Wildfire Increases Decreasing Baseflows (Luce and Holden 2009) Westerling et al. 2006 Global Trends in Stream Temperatures River Loire, France (1880 – 2003) Moatar and Gailhard 2006 Danube River, Austria (1901 – 2000) Webb and Nobilus 2007 Global Trends in Stream Temperatures Streams in Switzerland (1978 – 2004) •22 of 25 streams show statistically significant warming Hari et al. 2006 NAO shift Regional Trends In Stream Temperatures Fraser River - Summer ∆ = 0.18°C/decade Morrison et al. 2002 Columbia River - Summer ∆ = 0.40°C/decade Date Petersen and Kitchell 2001; Crozier et al. 2008 Regional Trends In Stream Temperatures USGS NWIS Monitoring Sites (1980 – 2009) = reservoir affected (11) = free-flowing (9) Isaak et al., In review. Climatic Change Seasonal Trends In Stream Temperatures USGS NWIS Monitoring Sites (1980 – 2009) Isaak et al., In review. Climatic Change 1980-2009 Warming Trends Minimally Altered, Free-Flowing Sites Spring Summer Fall Winter Isaak et al., In review. Climatic Change Application of Spatial Statistical Models for Downscaling of Climate Effects on River Network Temperatures Dan Isaak, Charlie Luce, Bruce Rieman, Dave Nagel, Erin Peterson1, Dona Horan, Sharon Parkes, and Gwynne Chandler Boise Aquatic Sciences Lab U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Boise, ID 83702 1CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia Boise River Temperature Database Stream Temperature Database 14 year period (1993 – 2006) 780 observations 518 unique locations Watershed Characteristics Elevation range 900 – 3300 m Fish bearing streams ~2,500 km Watershed area = 6,900 km2 Spatial Statistical Models for Stream Networks Advantages: -flexible & valid covariance structures by accommodating network topology -weighting by stream size -improved predictive ability & parameter estimates relative to non spatial models Peterson et al. 2006; Ver Hoef et al. 2006; Ver Hoef and Peterson 2010 Training on left 2007 validation on right Data from 200 Boise River Temperature Models Mean Summer Temp SummerStream Mean Summer Mean Stream Temp = – 0.0064*Ele (m) + 0.0104*Rad + 0.39*AirTemp (C) – 0.17*Flow (m3/s) 19 Predicted (C°) 14 9 4 4 9 14 19 MWMT Temp = Spatial Stream – 0.0045*Ele (m) y = 0.86x + 2.43 + 0.0085*Rad + 0.48*AirTemp (C) – 0.11*Flow (m3/s) 30 25 20 15 10 5 5 icted (C°) Predicted ( C) y = Non-spatial 0.93x + 0.830 0.68x + RMSE 3.82 r2y== 0.68; = 1.54°C 19 14 Training on left 9 Non-spatial Multiple Regression Model Summer Mean 4 4 19 30 r2 9 14 0.93; RMSE = 0.74°C y ==0.93x + 0.830 MWMT 19 y = 0.55x + 7.79 25 14 20 9 15 Spatial Multiple Regression Model 4 10 4 5 2007 va Isaak et al. 15 2010. Eco. Apps.2520:1350-1371 10 20 30 30 5 9 14 19 Observed 10 15 20 ( C)25 MWMT 30 Environmental Trends in the Boise River Basin Summer Air Temperature 20 18 1976-2006 +0.44°C/decade 16 14 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 Study period 1995 2000 2005 2010 Recent Wildfires Summer Stream Flow 30 14% burned during 93–06 study period 30% burned from 92-08 Discharge Summer (m3/s) discharge Summer (C) Air(C) Summer Mean Air Summer Mean 22 Study period 25 20 15 10 5 0 1945 1946–2006 -4.8%/decade 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 Changes in Summer Stream Temperatures (1993-2006) 100% ∆0.38 C ∆0.70 C 0.27°C/10y 0.50°C/10y Radiation Air Temperature Stream Flow 80% 60% Thermal Gain Map 40% 20% 0% Basin Scale Burned Areas Temperature ( C) Isaak et al. 2010. Eco. Apps. 20:1350-1371 Effects on Thermal Habitat? Bull Trout High Quality 2 12 Suitable 8 Suitable habitat < 12.0°C High-quality habitat < 10.0°C 4 0 9 11 Summer Mean (C) Rainbow Trout 13 15 25 2 7 Rainbow trout ) (#/100mm2) trout(#/100 Rainbow (#/100 trout Juvenile m)2)m (#/100 trout bullbull Juvenile 16 Suitable 20 High Quality 15 10 5 0 7 Suitable habitat = > 9.0°C High-quality habitat = 11.0-14.0°C 9 11 Summer mean (C) 13 15 93-06 Rainbow Trout Habitat Changes Habitat is shifting, but no net gain or loss High-quality habitat = 11.0-14.0°C Isaak et al. 2010. Eco. Apps. 20:1350-1371 Gain No change Loss 93-06 Bull Trout Natal Habitat Changes Net loss of habitat occurring (8%-16%/decade) High-quality habitat < 10°C Isaak et al. 2010. Eco. Apps. 20:1350-1371 Loss No change Additional Applications: River Network Thermal Maps 2006 Mean Summer Temperatures When & where are TMDL standards met? Temperature ( C) Additional Applications: Optimizing Sampling Efforts Temperature Prediction Precision Maps of Spatial Uncertainty PNF SE of predictions River Network Temperature Models USGS = Spatial = Non-spatial JD UNF ID Power PNF SNF BNF Methods online @: www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/stream_temperature.shtml Google Search “Stream Temperature” Regional Temperature Model Needed Large regional temperature databases exist (n ~ 12,000 – 20,000 summers) •Historical & future stream temps •Species habitat summaries •1:100,000-Scale NHD+ ICB Streams ~ 250,000 km A Step Towards a Regional Temperature Model NCEAS Lower Snake Study Domain •42,000 stream km •1,800 temperature sites •6,000 summer observations Regional Bioclimatic Assessments No Stream Temperature Component Rieman et al. 2007 Wenger et al., Submitted. Williams et al. 2009 Summer is Not the Whole Story Full-year Temp Data Needed Annual Temperature Cycle Summer Annual Accumulation Degree Day Chart 2007 Salmon of- MFThermal Units deg-days Cumulative Cumulative degree day (C) Olden and Naiman 2009 3000 Air temp MF Lodge 2500 Marsh Cr, 1985m SF Salmon R, 1569m 2000 Big Cr, 1163m ? 1500 1000 ? 500 Summer ~40% of degree days 0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 Julian Day Julian Day 240 270 300 330 360 Acquiring Full-Year Temperature Data Underwater Epoxy Protocol Underwater epoxy $100 = 5 years of data Retrieve data underwater Sensors glued to boulders Isaak & Horan 2011. NAJFM 31:xxx-xxx Regional Temperature Sensor Network Current full-year stream temperature sites = 1375 Planned 2011 deployments ~1,000 (NOAA ~500, PIBO 150, 200, R6/AREMP 200-300, misc. others ? ) USGS 100- Dynamic GoogleMap Tool for Stream Temperature Monitoring Sites Site Information •Stream name •Data steward contact information •Agency •Site Initiation Date Webpage: www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/stream_temperature.shtml Google Search “Stream Temperature” Spatial Variation in Temperature Changes Stream Temperature 18 Site-level Change? 16 14 12 Systematic Change? 10 8 6 Present Different Climate Forcing? Future Or Different Sensitivity? Past/present glaciation Daly et al. 2008 Hari et al. 2006 Which Factors Determine Sensitivity? Geomorphology Hydrology? Riparian Type? Groundwater buffering Wildfires? Elevational Trends in Warming of Northwest US Streams 1980-2009 Isaak et al., In review. Climatic Change Defining/Refining Thermal Habitat Criteria What is thermally suitable habitat? 2 (#/100 bull trout ) m Density Trout BullJuvenile 16 12 Field Guesstimates 8 Bull trout thermal criteria 4 Suitable habitat < 12.0°C High-quality habitat < 10.0°C 0 7 9 11 13 15 Summer Mean (C) Summer Mean Temp Lab Measurements Bear et al. 2007 Ecological Temperature Sensor Networks Bull Trout natal habitats Salmon River Chinook salmon natal & migratory habitats Massive Sensor Networks Ecologically Relevant Climate Downscaling Continuous Space/Time Air Temp Surface Continuous Space/Time Stream Temp Surface Wiens and Bachelet 2009 Better Downscaling How will global trends affect my stream? GCM RCM Integrated global-toregional-to-landscape-tostream systems Key Points: 1) Stream temperature is a critical determinant of aquatic species growth, survival, distribution, and reproduction. 2) Empirical evidence suggests streams are warming in response to climate change. Warming rates are greatest during the summer but will be heterogeneous due to variation in climate forcing, geomorphic factors, and human/vegetative responses. 3) Regional models are needed for accurately predicting thermal responses of streams in a consistent manner. Development of regional models is possible using existing temperature databases in conjunction with new spatial analytical techniques. 4) More full-year, long-term stream temperature monitoring is needed. Full-year data have many applications for understanding climate effects & are inexpensive to collect using modern digital sensors. Climate Change, Aquatic Ecosystems, and Fishes in the Rocky Mountain West: Implications and Alternatives for Management Bruce E. Rieman and Daniel J. Isaak Synthesis Document Three Questions: 1) What is changing in the climate and related physical processes that may influence aquatic species and their habitats? 2) What are the implications for fish populations, aquatic communities and related conservation values? 3) What can we do about it? Boise Aquatic Sciences Laboratory Air, Water, and Aquatic Environments Rocky Mountain Research Station 322 E. Front St., Suite 401 Boise, ID 83706 Key References Isaak, D.J., C. Luce, B.E. Rieman, D. Nagel, E. Peterson, D. Horan, S. Parkes, and G. Chandler. 2010. Effects of climate change and recent wildfires on stream temperature and thermal habitats for two salmonids in a mountain river network. Ecological Applications 20:1350-1371. Isaak, D.J., and D.L. Horan. 2011. An assessment of underwater epoxies for permanently installing temperature sensors in mountain streams. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 31:000000. Isaak, D.J.; Horan, D.; Wollrab, S. 2010. A simple method using underwater epoxy to permanently install temperature sensors in mountain streams. Visual Guide Available @: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/stream_temperature.shtml/ Isaak, D.J., S. Wollrab, D.L. Horan, and G. Chandler. In Review. Trends in seasonal and ecologically relevant temperature attributes of streams and rivers in the northwest U.S. associated with anthropogenic climate change. Climatic Change. Peterson, E.E., and J.M. Ver Hoef. 2010. A mixed-model moving-average approach to geostatistical modeling in stream networks. Ecology 91:644-651. Rieman, B. E., D. Isaak, S. Adams, D. Horan, D., Nagel, and C. Luce. 2007. Anticipated climate warming effects on bull trout habitats and populations across the Interior Columbia River basin. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136:1552-1565. Rieman, B. E., and D. J. Isaak. 2010. Climate change, aquatic ecosystems and fishes in the Rocky Mountain West: implications and alternatives for management. General Technical Report GTR-RMRS-250. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station Ver Hoef, J.M., and E.E. Peterson. 2010. A moving average approach for spatial statistical models of stream networks. Journal of the American Statistical Association 105:6-18. Wenger, S. J., D. J. Isaak, J. B. Dunham, K. D. Fausch, C. H. Luce, H. M. Neville, B. E. Rieman, M. K. Young, D. E. Nagel, D. L. Horan, and G. L. Chandler. In Press. Role of climate and invasive species in structuring trout distributions in the Interior Columbia Basin. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Wenger, S. J.; C.H. Luce, A.F. Hamlet, D.J. Isaak, H.M. Neville. 2010. Macroscale hydrologic modeling of ecologically relevant flow metrics. Water Resources Research. doi:10.1029/2009WR008839. Data for western US streams available @: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/modeled_stream_flow_metrics.shtml Most publications available through: www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/index.shtml or www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/awae_home.shtml Don’t Stop Believing National Survey Finds Public Concern About Global Warming Drops Sharply January 29, 2010 , CBB US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Air, Water, and Aquatics Program Boise Aquatic Sciences Lab websites: www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/index.shtml www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/awae_home.shtml