Climate Change

Trout and salmon are especially vulnerable to climate change and global warming because they are dependent on an abundance of clear, cold water. As coldwater habitats warm, rising temperatures will have negative impacts on all life phases of these fish--from eggs to juveniles to adults.  These fish already face pressures because of reduced habitats and population losses.  
 
Roads, dams and other water diversions have fragmented stream habitats and remaining habitats are often degraded by mining, livestock grazing, timber harvest or other land uses. Non-native and hatchery fish are compromising gene pools. Adding climate change to these stressors increases the likelihood that fish populations will be pushed to the brink of extinction. Unless immediate action is taken to restore habitats and increase populations,  it is likely that trout and salmon will be eliminated from large areas of the United States. 

• U.S. Forest Service scientists predict that over half of the wild trout populations will likely disappear from the southern Appalachian Mountains because of the effects of warming stream temperatures
•  Losses of western trout populations may exceed 60% in certain regions
• 90% of bull trout, who live in western rivers in some of the country's most wild places, may  be lost due to the effects of climate change
• Up to 40% of  Pacific Northwest salmon populations may be lost by 2050 because of the effects of climate change

All is not doom and gloom:  by taking a proactive approach to address the needs of trout and salmon in a changing climate, we  can  increase trout and salmon’s resistance and resilience to climate change.

• By working at the watershed level, that is, from the headwaters of a river to the streams and rivers themselves, habitats can be improved and rivers can become places where trout and salmon can survive climate change.
   
• Native fish populations must be restored in rivers and streams. Non-native species and hatchery fish can limit native fish populations and increase their vulnerability to climate change. 

• The effects of climate change are unpredictable. Because of this, it is important to fund monitoring and tracking programs to analyze the changing fish populations and their environments.

For more on why the science team studies climate change, click here.

Beyond Seasons' End

Climate Change Fact Sheet (PDF)

Healing Troubled Waters: Full Report (PDF)

July 2010 Climate Change Statement

Grey vs Green: The Benefits of Natural Flood Control in a Changing Climate.pdf (PDF)