White River Watershed
From Mountain, To River, To Sea
You are standing high in the watershed of the White River. A watershed is a land where all rain and snow that falls eventually flows into a single body of water. This flow of water connects Crystal Mountain with the land and people downstream of us.
rich-text, responsive-table
You are standing high in the watershed of the White River. A watershed is a land where all rain and snow that falls eventually flows into a single body of water. This flow of water connects Crystal Mountain with the land and people downstream of us.
rich-text, responsive-table
WARMING CLIMATE, CHANGING RIVERS
As our dependence on fossil fuels warms the climate, a larger percentage of the precipitation here will fall as rain instead of snow. According to the EPA, the average April 1st snow-pack in the Cascade Mountains (when snow-pack is usually at its peak) has already declined by 20% since the 1950s. That trend is expected to strengthen. Models predict that the Cascades will lose up to 81% of April 1st snow-pack by the 2080s. The diminished snow-pack means this stream will have lower and warmer summer flows.
rich-text, responsive-table
As our dependence on fossil fuels warms the climate, a larger percentage of the precipitation here will fall as rain instead of snow. According to the EPA, the average April 1st snow-pack in the Cascade Mountains (when snow-pack is usually at its peak) has already declined by 20% since the 1950s. That trend is expected to strengthen. Models predict that the Cascades will lose up to 81% of April 1st snow-pack by the 2080s. The diminished snow-pack means this stream will have lower and warmer summer flows.
rich-text, responsive-table
ENDANGERED FISH
What happens here in the upper stretches of the river impacts life all the way downstream. Bull trout and chinook salmon are two endangered species found in the White River watershed. Warm water temperatures can kill these fish, so human fossil fuel consumption has a direct link to their bleak future. Riparian health also affects water temperature. The riparian zone is the area along the banks of the creek. A healthy riparian habitat has plants that hold on to the soil, preventing erosion and extra sediment in the water. These plants also shade the stream, keeping water temperatures down. What differences do you notice between the riparian area and the rest of the forest?
rich-text, responsive-table
What happens here in the upper stretches of the river impacts life all the way downstream. Bull trout and chinook salmon are two endangered species found in the White River watershed. Warm water temperatures can kill these fish, so human fossil fuel consumption has a direct link to their bleak future. Riparian health also affects water temperature. The riparian zone is the area along the banks of the creek. A healthy riparian habitat has plants that hold on to the soil, preventing erosion and extra sediment in the water. These plants also shade the stream, keeping water temperatures down. What differences do you notice between the riparian area and the rest of the forest?
rich-text, responsive-table
DID YOU KNOW?
In a watershed moment in 1878, John Wesley Powell, a geologist who would later become director of the U.S. Geological Survey, published a special map. His map proposed that political boundaries in the arid parts of the western U.S. should follow the boundaries of watersheds. Powell’s idea would have embedded within government structure an incentive for careful planning and stewardship of water resources. As the climate crisis brings worsening drought to western states that already siphon rivers across mountain ranges, Powell’s vision seems especially insightful.
How do you imagine society would differ today if our state boundaries aligned with river basins?
rich-text, responsive-table
In a watershed moment in 1878, John Wesley Powell, a geologist who would later become director of the U.S. Geological Survey, published a special map. His map proposed that political boundaries in the arid parts of the western U.S. should follow the boundaries of watersheds. Powell’s idea would have embedded within government structure an incentive for careful planning and stewardship of water resources. As the climate crisis brings worsening drought to western states that already siphon rivers across mountain ranges, Powell’s vision seems especially insightful.
How do you imagine society would differ today if our state boundaries aligned with river basins?
rich-text, responsive-table
WE ARE ALWAYS IN WATERSHEDS
Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Where does your sewage and runoff flow? How are the managers of your water supply responding to climate change to prevent future water crises where you live? rich-text, responsive-table
Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Where does your sewage and runoff flow? How are the managers of your water supply responding to climate change to prevent future water crises where you live? rich-text, responsive-table
SOURCES
“Climate Impacts in the Northwest.” Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Website Snapshot from 19 Jan 2017. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/ climate-impacts-northwest_.html “Crystal Mountain Master Development Plan: Final Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision.” U.S. Forest Service. August 2004. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://skimap.org/ data/193/1460/1392057371.pdf Gergel, D.R., B. Nijssen, J.T.Abatzoglou, et al. 2017. Effects of climate change on snowpack and fire potential in the western USA. Climatic Change, 141: 287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-017- 1899-y “John Wesley Powell.” U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/john-wesley-powell?qt-staff_profile_science_products=3#qt-staff_profile_science_ products Minder, Justin R. and Gerard H. Roe. Orographic Precipitation. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://earthweb.ess.washington.edu/roe/GerardWeb/Publications_files/MinderRoe_OrogPrecEncyc.pdf Oregon State University. “Snowpack levels show dramatic decline in western states, U.S..” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 March 2018. . Ross, John F. “The Visionary John Wesley Powell Had a Plan for Developing the West, But Nobody Listened.” Smithsonian.com. 3 July 2018. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://www.smithsonianmag. com/smithsonian-institution/visionary-john-wesley-powell-had-plan-developing-west-nobody-listened-180969182/ Siler, N., Proistosescu, C., & Po‐Chedley, S. ( 2019). Natural variability has slowed the decline in western U.S. snowpack since the 1980s. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 346– 355. https://doi. org/10.1029/2018GL081080 rich-text, responsive-table
“Climate Impacts in the Northwest.” Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Website Snapshot from 19 Jan 2017. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/ climate-impacts-northwest_.html “Crystal Mountain Master Development Plan: Final Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision.” U.S. Forest Service. August 2004. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://skimap.org/ data/193/1460/1392057371.pdf Gergel, D.R., B. Nijssen, J.T.Abatzoglou, et al. 2017. Effects of climate change on snowpack and fire potential in the western USA. Climatic Change, 141: 287. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-017- 1899-y “John Wesley Powell.” U.S. Geological Survey. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/john-wesley-powell?qt-staff_profile_science_products=3#qt-staff_profile_science_ products Minder, Justin R. and Gerard H. Roe. Orographic Precipitation. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://earthweb.ess.washington.edu/roe/GerardWeb/Publications_files/MinderRoe_OrogPrecEncyc.pdf Oregon State University. “Snowpack levels show dramatic decline in western states, U.S..” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 March 2018. . Ross, John F. “The Visionary John Wesley Powell Had a Plan for Developing the West, But Nobody Listened.” Smithsonian.com. 3 July 2018. Accessed 22 Sep 2019. https://www.smithsonianmag. com/smithsonian-institution/visionary-john-wesley-powell-had-plan-developing-west-nobody-listened-180969182/ Siler, N., Proistosescu, C., & Po‐Chedley, S. ( 2019). Natural variability has slowed the decline in western U.S. snowpack since the 1980s. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 346– 355. https://doi. org/10.1029/2018GL081080 rich-text, responsive-table