Calif. Hunter
Active member
We want you to be among the first to see the electronic version of
National
Wildlife Federation's report, "A Fish Out of Water," written by Patty
Glick,
climate change specialist. The report was released earlier this
morning.
The
report features an analysis that shows that by 2040, more than 20
percent
of
the Pacific Northwest's rivers could become too warm for salmon,
steelhead
and trout if global warming is left unchecked.
Research conducted for NWF by scientists from the University of
Washington's
Climate Impacts Group indicates that higher regional temperatures could
also
change the timing and volume of rain and snow coming from nearby
glaciers
and mountains, affecting stream flows that the fish have historically
depended on.
"Salmon in the region are struggling to survive amidst dams, water
diversions and development along river shorelines," says Patty Glick.
"Global warming will add an enormous amount of pressure onto what's
left of
the region's prime cold-water fish habitat. If we don't act now to curb
pollution, within our lifetimes a significant portion of this region's
salmon, steelhead and trout could be pushed out of existence. We have a
responsibility to protect this region's wildlife heritage for our
children's
future. That means we must unite in confronting global warming starting
now."
A 3 degree F. rise in average August temperatures in the region would
cause
up to 20 percent of the streams in Puget Sound, the Columbia River
Basin
and
coastal watersheds of Washington and Oregon to become too warm for
salmon,
steelhead, and trout, concludes the report. Regionally the rivers most
at
risk are the ones that are already significantly impaired due to human
activities. They include: the Columbia, Snohomish, Snoqualmie,
Skykomish,
Snake and Yakima rivers in Washington; the Snake River in Idaho and the
Deschutes, John Day, Klamath, and Rogue rivers in Oregon. Important
rivers
to keep an eye on include the Skagit, Hoh and Queets in Washington, the
Sandy in Oregon and the Salmon in Idaho.
In Fish Out of Water, National Wildlife Federation Glick reports that
global
warming could bring a substantial decline in snow accumulation in the
Pacific Northwest--especially the west slopes of the Cascades, the
Olympics,
and the coastal range--in the coming decades. Regional climate models
project that the region could see an additional 50 percent decline in
average snow pack in the next 45 to 75 years, significantly reducing
the
primary source of water for the region during the dry summer months.
"The current drought hitting the region is very much consistent with
what
scientists expect to happen in the Pacific Northwest if global warming
is
left unchecked," Glick says. "This is our wake-up call. We need to do
whatever we can now to minimize further changes in climate and improve
the
resiliency of the region's rivers and fish."
For more information about the report, go to: www.nwf.org/news
National
Wildlife Federation's report, "A Fish Out of Water," written by Patty
Glick,
climate change specialist. The report was released earlier this
morning.
The
report features an analysis that shows that by 2040, more than 20
percent
of
the Pacific Northwest's rivers could become too warm for salmon,
steelhead
and trout if global warming is left unchecked.
Research conducted for NWF by scientists from the University of
Washington's
Climate Impacts Group indicates that higher regional temperatures could
also
change the timing and volume of rain and snow coming from nearby
glaciers
and mountains, affecting stream flows that the fish have historically
depended on.
"Salmon in the region are struggling to survive amidst dams, water
diversions and development along river shorelines," says Patty Glick.
"Global warming will add an enormous amount of pressure onto what's
left of
the region's prime cold-water fish habitat. If we don't act now to curb
pollution, within our lifetimes a significant portion of this region's
salmon, steelhead and trout could be pushed out of existence. We have a
responsibility to protect this region's wildlife heritage for our
children's
future. That means we must unite in confronting global warming starting
now."
A 3 degree F. rise in average August temperatures in the region would
cause
up to 20 percent of the streams in Puget Sound, the Columbia River
Basin
and
coastal watersheds of Washington and Oregon to become too warm for
salmon,
steelhead, and trout, concludes the report. Regionally the rivers most
at
risk are the ones that are already significantly impaired due to human
activities. They include: the Columbia, Snohomish, Snoqualmie,
Skykomish,
Snake and Yakima rivers in Washington; the Snake River in Idaho and the
Deschutes, John Day, Klamath, and Rogue rivers in Oregon. Important
rivers
to keep an eye on include the Skagit, Hoh and Queets in Washington, the
Sandy in Oregon and the Salmon in Idaho.
In Fish Out of Water, National Wildlife Federation Glick reports that
global
warming could bring a substantial decline in snow accumulation in the
Pacific Northwest--especially the west slopes of the Cascades, the
Olympics,
and the coastal range--in the coming decades. Regional climate models
project that the region could see an additional 50 percent decline in
average snow pack in the next 45 to 75 years, significantly reducing
the
primary source of water for the region during the dry summer months.
"The current drought hitting the region is very much consistent with
what
scientists expect to happen in the Pacific Northwest if global warming
is
left unchecked," Glick says. "This is our wake-up call. We need to do
whatever we can now to minimize further changes in climate and improve
the
resiliency of the region's rivers and fish."
For more information about the report, go to: www.nwf.org/news
