WRA has drawn upon the expertise of many esteemed colleagues and highly regarded organizations in developing this portion of our website. We thank all of the entities whose links add to and reinforce the information posted here. WRA urges you to learn more about these organizations and the excellent work they are doing to curtail climate change.
Climate Change and the West
Western Climate Change in the News
National Parks Facing Climate Threat - National Parks, the crown jewels of America's natural resources, are some of the areas most threatened by human-induced climate change. The Summit Daily News reports from a Senate hearing held in Rocky Moutain National Park. Posted 8/25/09
What Is At Stake?
The mountain and desert West has an amazing diversity of climates ranging from high altitude tundra to searing desert. Each of these climates is home to animals and plants that require specific temperature ranges, precipitation amounts, and growing seasons. Even small changes in temperature or precipitation could affect the ability of many species to survive in an altered climate.
Since humans have developed systems of agriculture, water management, lifestyle, and economies based upon our understanding of the current climate, climate change poses a threat to our ability to live and prosper in the West
Models that examine the possible consequences of climate change on the West point toward drier weather patterns and increased average temperatures. These changes are already visible and their effects can be seen across the western landscape. The links below document the measurable climate changes witnessed across the West:
- Regional Climate Change Impacts - Southwest
- Regional Climate Change Impacts - Northwest
- Regional Climate Change Impacts - Great Plains
Water
Most of the West is a snowfall-dependent system that relies upon winter snowpacks to feed the rivers, streams, and lakes that sustain life. Human development in the West in based upon capturing this snowmelt to provide consistent supplies of water throughout the year.
Around the West disturbing signs of change are evident. The elevation of the snowline is moving higher over time, reducing the amount of surface area that captures and retains snow. This then reduces the total volume of water available for storage and for supporting aquatic systems.
Spring runoff is occuring earlier each year and lasting for shorter durations, causing lower flows in waterways for longer periods and requiring releases from reservoirs earlier than before. This is straining water supplies necessary for humans and terrestrial and aquatic animals. Farmers relying on stored water for irrigation may find less water in storage and will have to rely on their stored water supplies earlier, and for longer periods, than before.
Western Lands
Forests are also feeling the pinch as more rapid runoff means soil moisture will decrease more quickly, stressing trees and plants and possibly leading to more frequent and severe wildfires.
Sensitive animal species, such as the pika, are moving higher up mountains as their habitat changes, shrinking their habitat and the decreasing the availability of food. Plant species are also being stressed, leading to plants and trees that are less able to tolerate disease and pests, such as the mountain pine beetle, and even to loss of species from their traditional range. As species can no longer tolerate changes in climate, new niches open up for invasive plants that are not viable food options for animals, resulting in these animals having to vacate their traditional habitat as well.
People
While humans may be more adaptable than plants or animals, a changing climate will also make the West a less tolerable environment for people.
Less water will result in greater competition for this resource and drive up its cost. Transfering water from agricultural use will be an obvious source of new water for growing municipalities, but will diminish the quantity of locally-produced food and dry up what had been green spaces.
Western quality of life will change as vegetation and wildlife change and as urban greenscapes become more stressed or discouraged due to their water consumption.
Warmer temperatures will produce more extreme heat events, stressing people who work out of doors or have limited tolerance of heat due to age or infirmity. Energy consumption will spike with increased use of air conditioning and other cooling appliances.
All these effects of a changing climate are prompting WRA's response to address this problem head-on.