Climate Change Impacts on the Columbia Basin

Introduction

The Columbia Basin, located in the interior Pacific Northwest, is an important area both ecologically and economically. The Columbia River-the basins namesake waterbody-is the fourth largest river in North America, and provides a number of vital functions to fish, wildlife, and the human inhabitants of the region. Hemmed in by the Rocky Mountains to the east and Cascade mountains to the west, the Columbia drains large portions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. The river sees returns of all five species of Pacific salmon as well as steelhead trout, supporting robust commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries, in addition to providing vital ecosysytem services that benefit the regions unique flora and fauna. This basin is also important agriculturally, producing a variety of important foodstuffs, including wheat and potatoes that feed millions of Americans (FWEE 2022).

Climate Challenges

Freshwater resources, coastal systems and low-lying areas

The Columbia River basin is susceptible to a variety of impacts from a changing climate. One of the most obvious stems from the decrease in winter snowpack. Because the Columbia and its main tributaries are fed from snowpack from the both the Cascade and Rocky Mountain ranges, changes in winter precipitation patterns directly affect stream flow. As average winter temperatures warm, less precipitation will fall as snow, with a higher frequency of rain, which in turn will shift peak flows to earlier in the season. This shift could have drastic consequences for species like salmon, whose highly vulnerable young have evolved to emerge from the gravel prior to high water events (Independent Scientific Advisory Board 2007). Food security and food production systems

The Columbia Basin is also a fertile agricultural region, producing much of the food grown in the Pacific Northwest. The food and agricultural systems in this region are also tied very closely to water, and its availability throughout the growing season. Warmer winters and runoff events occurring earlier in the season mean that there is less water available for irrigation, especially during the critical summer growing period. Increases in drought conditions during the summer months, compounded with irrigation shortages will decrease yields, impacting the availability of a variety of agricultural commodities (Malek 2020). Ecosystems

The impacts of climate change threaten the integrity of the fragile terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the Columbia River basin. The impacts to the riverine ecology may be especially severe. In addition to the aforementioned shifts in the timing of runoff events, warmer overall water temperatures may increase predation of invasive species on vulnerable salmon populations, as well as provide a more ideal habitat for invasive aquatic species (NPCC n.d.)

Human Population

The basin is also experiencing rapid demographic change, namely a largescale population increase. This rapid growth is creating new strain on the areas resources, including land and water, brought on by urbanization and development (Bilby et al. 2007). While historical land-use centered around agricultural production was water and land intensive, the region's changing landscape is creating new challenges for the conservation and management of diverse and sensitive ecotypes such as shrub-steppe grasslands, which comprises a large portion of the basin (Bilby et al. 2007; WNPS n.d.).

Impacts of Climate Change

Residents of the Columbia River basin, both humans and fish and wildlife species, will face several challenges as climate change alters the climate and weather patterns of the region. With the basins ecosystems, agriculture, industry, and recreation all tied to the river and its tributaries, changes in precipitation patterns, flow regime, and runoff events, can have a drastic impact on all facets of life in the basin.

The impacts to humans in the region are varied, affecting all aspects of life. Warmer winters and less available snowpack will decrease the amount of water available for irrigation in an arid area that is dependent on river water for irrigating a variety of crops thatfeed both humans and livestock. The variability of crops grown in the region, coupled with the overall decrease in available water supply during the growing season, will place an enormous strain on irrigation resources (Clark 2018).

Warmer winter temperatures will also mean that more precipitation falls as rain in the winter months, which will increase the likelihood of flooding in many parts of the basin. Researchers estimate that the severity of annual, ten, and hundred year floods will increase, which may impact the safety of human residents, as well as cause largescale economic damage (Klampe 2021).

Finally, the diverse array of fish and wildlife species that inhabit the Columbia River basin will be impacted by a warming climate. Shifts in the occurrence of runoff events may disrupt the timing and emergence of fish runs, specifically Pacific salmon, who already face a number of threats from dams, habitat destruction, and overfishing (UCS 2011).  Warmer temperatures and less rainfall may also impact the distribution and growth of native vegetation, which could result in greater abundance of invasives, negatively impacting sensitive plant and animal communities (WDFW 2011).

Impacts and Adaptations

While the impacts of climate change are already being felt in the Columbia Basin, several user groups are beginning to implement adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of a changing climate on the region’s rivers, forests, agricultural lands, and municipalities.

One of the major climate change impacts already being seen in the Columbia Basin has been the decreases in winter snowpack, the increase in winter precipitation events, and the resulting shifts in flow regime in the Columbia River and its tributaries. One major challenge is the increase in the summer base flow period, and the effect this may have on fish and aquatic ecosystems. To minimize these impacts, river and forest managers are utilizing anticipatory measures by improving in-stream habitat by creating more woody debris and other forms of structure, which will increase saturation within the floodplain, keeping rivers above low flow levels for longer periods of time, and decreasing stream temperatures (Halofsky, Peterson, and Gravenmier 2020).

Agriculture, a key component of the Columbia Basin economy, is also susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Drought, increased annual temperatures, and shifts in wind and weather patterns all affect farmers and their crops, forcing growers to implement a variety of adaptation strategies. These include reactionary short-term solutions related to water-use and the application of fertilizers during critical periods, as well as long-term anticipatory strategies that include altered planting/harvest times, adopting more efficient irrigation techniques, and changing the type or amount of crop grown (Rajagopalan et al. 2018).

While there are a number of challenges facing human and animal residents of the Columbia Basin, there are also adaptive measures that can be taken to lessen the impacts of climate change. Advancements in irrigation technology, paired with increased regulation of irrigation wateruse, may allow irrigation water to be used more efficiently, decreasing thestrain on demand (Dionisio et al. 2020). Updating flood control and prevention infrastructure in both rural and urban areas will also decrease the risk of flooding and prevent major safety and economic issues (Halofsky et al. 2021). Finally, improving fish habitat, purchasing water rights, and removing barriers to fish passage may help to mitigate the impacts of climate change on sensitive wildlife species like Pacific salmon.

Mitigation

While climate change is already impacting ecosystems, industry, and the human inhabitants of the Columbia Basin, there is potential for adaptation to and mitigation of climate-related issues in the Columbia Basin.

One of the largest impacts of climate change, and one of the hardest to effectively mitigate, will be seen in the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the basin. Rising air temperatures and shifts in climate will produce a domino-like effect that will impact snowpack, river levels, and, ultimately habitat for a myriad of fish, wildlife, and plant species. To overcome these challenges, land and wildlife managers will need to employ creative solutions that enhance existing habitat, and provide opportunities for the creation of additional habitat that may serve as a buffer against these climate impacts.

The agriculutral industry will also be impacted by climate change, which will in turn impact state and local economies within the region. Many of the solutions to minimizing this impct lie in the practical sphere of transformation: behaviors and technical responses. While scarce water resources-due to shifiting flow regimes brought about by warmer winters-may pose a problem to traditional farming prctices in the basin, farmers and ranchers have long been adapting to changes in water availability, altering planting and harvest timelines, and utilizing new technologies to stretch their available resources.

Finally, residents of the Columbia Basin will have to cope with the reality of a warmer climate, as well as the ecological transformations this may bring. While continued growth for this traditionally rural portion of the country may be economically beneficial, it is important that this growth happens in a sustainable fashion. New buidlings and infrastructure must be designed to withstand drought, heat waves, and flooding brouhgt on by a changing climate. Additionally, state, county, and city governments must ensure that the implementation of this infrastrucutre does not harm the sensitive ecosystems that may already be impacted by a climatic change. Eco-friendly development will keep these fragile systems intact, while conserving resources, especially water, that may become more scarce as the climate change continues to impact the region.

Works Cited

Bilby, R., Hanna, S., Huntly, N., Lamberson, R., Levings, C., Pearcy, W., Poe, T.P., Smouse, P. (2007). Human Population Impacts on Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife. Independent Scientific Advisory Board Report 2007-3.

Foundation for Water and Energy Education. (2022). What Makes The Columbia River Basin Unique and How We Benefit. Accessed 4 May 2022 from  https://fwee.org/environment/resources/what-makes-the-columbia-river-basin-unique-and-how-we-benefit/#how-the-hydrologic-cycle-works 

Halofsky, J.E., Peterson, D.L., Gravenmier, R.A. (2020). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood National Forest, and Willamette National Forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-xxx. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.

Washington Native Plant Society. (n.d.). Columbia Basin Chapter. Accessed 4 May 2022 from  https://www.cbwnps.org/the-columbia-basin 

Northwest Power and Conservation Council (n.d.). Appendix G. Climate Change Impacts in the Columbia River Basin. Accessed 14 May 2022 from https://www.nwcouncil.org/reports/2014-columbia-river-basin-fish-and-wildlife-program/appendix-g-climate-change-impacts-columbia-river-basin/

Independent Science Advisory Board, Mantua, N.J. (2007). Climate Change Impacts on Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife. Independent Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB) Climate Change Report ISAB 2007-2, Portland, OR.

Malek, K., Reed, P., Adam, J., Karimi, T. and Brady, M. (2020). Water rights shape crop yield and revenue volatility tradeoffs for adaptation in snow dependent systems. Nature Communications, 11(1), pp.1-10. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17219-z

Clark, B.C. (2018). Demand factored into Columbia River Basin’s future. Washington State Magazine. Accessed 17 May 2022 from https://news.wsu.edu/news/2018/07/13/agricultural-water-study-looks-at-demand/

Dionisio Pérez-Blanco, C., Hrast-Essenfelder, A., and Perry, C. (2020). Irrigation Technology and Water Conservation: A Review of the Theory and Evidence Review of Environmental Economics and Policy 2020 14:2, 216-239.

Halofsky, J,E.; Peterson, D.L.; Buluç, L.Y.; Ko, J.M. (2021). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation for infrastructure and recreation in the Sierra Nevada. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-272. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 275 p.

Klampe, M. (2021). Flooding in the Columbia River basin expected to increase under climate change https://phys.org/news/2021-02-columbia-river-basin-climate.html

Rajagopalan, K., Adam, J., Malek, K., Liu, M., Stockle C., Brady, M. (2018). Integrated Adaptive Scenarios for Agriculture: Synergies and Tradeoffs. Poster Presentation. Northwest Climate Conference, Boise, Idaho, USA, 9-11 October 2018.

Union of Concerned Scientists. (2011). Columbia River, OR, USA. Climate Hot Map. Accessed 16 May 2022 fromhttps://www.climatehotmap.org/global-warming-locations/columbia-river-or-usa.html

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. (2011). Summary of Climate Change Effects on Major Habitat Types in Washington State: Shrub-Steppe and Grassland Habitats. Accessed 17 May 2022 from https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/01203/wdfw01203.pdf