COLD-WATER REFUGES FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN OREGON COASTAL STREAMS

Joe Ebersole1, Christian Torgersen2, and Dru Keenan3

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Western Ecology Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USAU.S. Geological Survey FRESC, Cascadia Science Center, Seattle, WA, USA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Seattle, WA, USA

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Ethan Welty Photography

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Mid-Coast Temperature Technical Working Group April 13, 2016

Importance of Thermal Diversity in Riverine Landscapes

Habitats…that convey spatial and temporal resistance and/or resilienceresistance and/or resilience to biotic communities that have been impacted by biophysical disturbances p ymay be called refugia.

(Sedell, Reeves, Hauer, S f )

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Stanford, and Hawkins 1990)

OverviewOverview• Definitions• Context and Policy DriversContext and Policy Drivers• Formative processes• Biotic considerations• “Restoration?”

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

15oC

Cold-waterrefuges

15 C17oC19oC

refuges• Are colder than surrounding 26oCgareas

• Provide resources

26oC

resources necessary for survival during periods of thermal stress

Image data courtesy ODEQ and Watershed Sciences, Inc

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR Watershed Sciences/DEQ/Aimee Fullerton

Cold-waterrefuges M l ll Ri ORrefuges

• Are colder than surrounding

Insert image illustrating issues of spatial scale

Molalla River, OR

gareas

• Provide resources

spatial scale

resources necessary for survival during periods of thermal stress

Image data courtesy ODEQ and Watershed Sciences, IncGrande Ronde River basin

(Oregon)

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR Watershed Sciences/DEQ/Aimee Fullerton

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/boise/AWAE/projects/NorWeST.html

August Mean TemperatureCurrent conditions – Oregon MidCoast

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

August Mean Temperature2080

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

• What are CWRs and why are theywhy are they important?

• Classification and characterization

• Hierarchical organization

• Identification and prediction

• Protection and restoration

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Riffle Pool RiffleRiffle Pool Riffle

Flowdirection

up updowndown

benthic zone

up updowndown

watercolumn

hyporheic zone

groundwaterSource: Hester and Gooseff 2010

Hyporheic exchange within streams

Source: Hester and Gooseff 2010

Basin and subbasin scale

Segment scale

Reach scale

Flow

Tributary confluence

250 m

Channel unit scale

Springbrook

Channel unit scale

Channel unit scale

Cold side channel

Channel unit scale

Wall-base channels

Cold alcoveMicrohabitat scale

Microhabitat scale

Lateral seep

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Wondzell, 2011. Hydrol. Proc.

Identification and prediction

MapsMaps

Water

Data loggers and modelingWater temperature (°C)

< 1212-1414-1616 1816-1818-20>20

(Isaak et al. 2010)

20 km

S tt O’D i l CTUIRScott O’Daniel, CTUIR

Refuge effectivenessPredation risk

Accessibility

HeronsfKingfishers

OttersMinkRaccoonsPeople

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR Cold water refuge

Micro-refuge – small

t h ithi

15oC17oC19oC

patch within a stream

26oC47 juvenile steelhead 47 juvenile steelhead trouttrout

bullybully

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

PerformancePerformance capacity of fish in coldwater refugesrefuges

Adapted from Schreck C B and H W Li 1991

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Adapted from Schreck, C. B., and H. W. Li. 1991. Performance capacity of fish: stress and water quality. Aquaculture and water quality. Advances in World Aquaculture 3:21-29.

Coldwater patch thermal regime

Within‐patch fish assemblage t tregime

Physico‐chemical it bilit Competition and predation risksCompetition and predation risks

structure

Refuge effectiveness for

suitability

W t h i t

Competition and predation risks

C ld t t h d th

Competition and predation risks

effectiveness for salmonids during thermal stress

Water chemistry (dissolved oxygen, 

toxics)

Coldwater patch depth

AccessibilityForaging opportunities

Coldwater patch isolation distance

Coldwater patch frequency

Riparian canopy composition and density

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Creation and rehabilitation efforts

• Modifying channel structure– Deflectors (lateral and vertical)

Bilby, R. E. 1984. Characteristics and frequency of cool-water areas in a western Washington stream. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 2(6):593-602.

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Creation and rehabilitation efforts

• Modifying channel structure

Channel– Channel reconfiguration, excavation, fill

• Hydraulic engineeringyd au c e g ee g

Confederated Tribes of the Warms Springs ReservationShitike Creek Project

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Creation and rehabilitation efforts

• Increasing connectivity– Access to off-channel

ponds/thermal habitatsponds/thermal habitats– Removal of barriers (culverts)

River Design GroupMid Klamath Watershed Council

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Mid Klamath Watershed Council

Creation and rehabilitation erforts

• Reducing risks– Provision of cover or predator-

exclusion devicesexclusion devices

Mid Klamath Watershed Council

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Creation and rehabilitation efforts

• Altering groundwater connectivity– Injecting outflows into groundwater

R ti t th h h h i th i j ti– Routing water through hyporheic pathways injection

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

From Winter et al. 1998 USGS Circ. 1139

Creation and rehabilitation efforts

• Riparian and floodplain restoration– Hydraulic connectivity; vertically, laterally, longitudinally

V t ti– Vegetation– Watershed management

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

From Winter et al. 1998 USGS Circ. 1139

Guidance for “restoration” and creation of cold-water refugesG g

• Understanding formative processes– Maintenance is a process, not a state

I f l– Issues of scale– Awareness of potential for unintended consequences

U d di f bi l i l d l i l i d ff d• Understanding of biological and ecological constraints, trade-offs, and opportunities– Avoiding creation of ecological traps or dead-ends

• Climate adaptation and mitigation

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

Contact: Joe Ebersole(541) 754 4775

b l j @ebersole.joe@epa.gov

The views expressed in this talk are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Office of Research and DevelopmentWestern Ecology Division, Freshwater Ecology Branch, Corvallis OR

©Dave Jensen