Streamflows |
Base Flow: Dry Year |
A |
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Onset and peak snowmelt shift earlier in season, exacerbating severity and duration of late season low flow spells |
Onset and peak snowmelt shift earlier in season, coupled with increasing air temperatures, exacerbating severity and duration of late season low flow spells |
Onset and peak snowmelt shift earlier in season, coupled with increasing air temperatures, exacerbating severity and duration of late season low flow spells |
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Base Flow: Median Year |
A |
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Low flow spells increase in severity and duration |
Low flow spells increase in severity and duration |
Low flow spells increase in severity and duration |
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High Peakflow Frequency |
A |
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Wetter and warmer climate future slightly increases peak flow magnitudes and variability |
Warmer climate future slightly increases peak flow magnitudes and variability, likely due to earlier melt and increased probability of rain-on-snow events |
Streamflow losses to warming temperatures outpace potential precipitation gaines, reducing magnitude and frequency of flood flows |
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Peak Flow: Dry Year |
C |
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Wetter and warmer climate future slightly increases peak flow magnitudes and variability; increased peak flows may be accompaied by shorter duration of high flows. |
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Streamflow losses from warming climate result in declines in magnitude and frequency of peak flows |
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Peak Flow: Median Year |
A |
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Streamflow losses from warming climate result in declines in magnitude and frequency of peak flows |
Streamflow losses from warming climate result in declines in magnitude and frequency of peak flows |
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Total Volume: Dry Year |
B |
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Total streamflow declines due to warming temperatures (increased vegetation ET demand, lower soil moisture, longer growing/irrigation season) drive overall streamflow declines |
Total streamflow declines due to warming temperatures (increased vegetation ET demand, lower soil moisture, longer growing/irrigation season) drive overall streamflow declines |
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Total Volume: Median Year |
A |
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Total streamflow declines at higher watershed stream reaches due to warming temperatures (increased vegetation ET demand, lower soil moisture, longer growing/irrigation season) are balanced or slightly exceeded by gains from precipitation increases |
Total streamflow declines due to warming temperatures (increased vegetation ET demand, lower soil moisture, longer growing/irrigation season) drive overall streamflow declines |
Total streamflow declines due to warming temperatures (increased vegetation ET demand, lower soil moisture, longer growing/irrigation season) drive overall streamflow declines |
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Streambed Sediment |
Continuity and Transport |
A |
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Decreased total volumes and base flow magnitudes salter total annual sediment transport capacity |
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Increased watershed responsiveness can drive increased peak floods and sediment delivery, impacting channel shaping processes like erosion/aggradation rates and seasonal sediment transport |
Flushing Flows |
A |
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Changes in flow regimes maintain or increase frequency of discharges at or above sediment mobilization thresholds |
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Water Quality |
Metals |
A |
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Runoff from burned areas increases dissolved metals loads to streams |
Nutrients |
C |
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WWTP effluent load increases with population; dilution issues during lowest winter baseflows. Stormwater fluxes from increased impervious coverage carry larger nutrient loads to streams; |
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Runoff from burned areas increases nutrient loads to streams |
Temperature |
B |
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Increasing air temperatures and decreasing summer/fall baseflows creates increasing temperature risks for aquatic life |
Increasing air temperatures and decreasing summer/fall baseflows creates increasing temperature risks for aquatic life |
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Riparian Areas |
Floodplain physical condition |
B |
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Riparian vegetation |
B |
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River Form |
Channel Structure and Dynamics |
B |
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Aquatic Habitat |
Habitat Structure |
A |
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Increased sediment fluxes degrade inchannel habitat quality including spawning sites and macroinvertebrate habitat |
In-channel Hydrologic Connectivity |
A |
Baseflow declines reduce stream network connectivity during late summer and fall, potential impacts to refuge seeking movements, migration, and spawning activity |
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Baseflow declines reduce stream network connectivity during late summer and fall, potential impacts to refuge seeking movements, migration, and spawning activity |
Baseflow declines reduce stream network connectivity during late summer and fall, potential impacts to refuge seeking movements, migration, and spawning activity |
Baseflow declines reduce stream network connectivity during late summer and fall, potential impacts to refuge seeking movements, migration, and spawning activity |
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Aquatic Life |
Aquatic Insects |
D |
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Low flow spells severity and duration still increase in summer/fall still under WW future, negatively impacting abundance. |
Low flow spells severity and duration still increase in summer/fall still under WW future, negatively impacting abundance. |
Low flow spells severity and duration greatly increase in summer/fall HD future, negatively impacting abundance. |
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Streambed Sedimentation and water chemistry impacts degrade physical habitat and water quality |
Fish |
A |
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Declining late summer/early fall flows place increasing pressure on instream flows, water quality (temperature, DO, nutrients, etc.), habitat connectivity |
Declining late summer/early fall flows and increasing air temperatures place increasing pressure on instream flows, water quality (temperature, DO, nutrients, etc.), habitat connectivity |
Declining late summer/early fall flows and increasing air temperatures place increasing pressure on instream flows, water quality (temperature, DO, nutrients, etc.), habitat connectivity |
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Increased sediment fluxes degrade inchannel habitat quality and water quality, including spawning sites and macroinvertebrate habitat |