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Ecological Drought: Future of Aquatic Flows: November 4, 2024

Event Date
November 4, 2024
Event Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Timezone
ET
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This five-part webinar series seeks to raise awareness of ecological drought, share actions that strengthen ecosystem resilience and mitigate the impacts of droughts, and highlight advancements in integrating interdisciplinary research and management needs for future drought planning and preparedness. The series is co-hosted by the NOAA National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC), with expert speakers from the research community, tribal nations, and government agencies. Information shared will build on the NIDIS/NCASC 2021 National Ecological Drought Webinar Series.

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0:00

Welcome and Introductions

Speakers: Meredith Muth, NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS); Jackson Valler, USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC)

  • This webinar is the second in a five-part webinar series that seeks to raise awareness of ecological drought, share actions that strengthen ecosystem resilience and mitigate the impacts of droughts, and highlight advancements in integrating interdisciplinary research and management needs for future drought planning and preparedness. 
  • The series was jointly organized by NIDIS and the National CASC—and our speakers are contributing their expertise to meet these webinar goals.
  • Information shared will build on the NIDIS/NCASC 2021 National Ecological Drought Webinar Series.
  • The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) is a multi-agency partnership that coordinates drought monitoring, forecasting, planning, and information at federal, tribal, state, and local levels across the country. There are 8 regional Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS).
  • The USGS Climate Adaptation Science Centers' (CASC) mission is to deliver science to help fish, wildlife, water, land, and people adapt to a changing climate. There are 9 regional CASCs.
  • The National CASC coordinates the Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral (CAP) Fellows Program, which is a two-year fellowship cohort of nine postdoctoral researchers centered around a common climate theme, such as wildfire or aquatic flows. Fellows conduct management-relevant research to help partners on the ground understand and adapt to challenges relating to their theme. 
  • This webinar will explore how climate change is altering aquatic flows in streams and rivers across the country. Implications of how the nexus of climate and aquatic flows may impact aquatic ecosystem management will also be discussed. Research findings from the 2022–2024 CAP Fellows cohort will be shared. 

 

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6:45

Exploring Changes in the Freshwater/Saltwater Interface and Its Impacts to Aquatic Species

Speaker: Dr. Charlotte Lee, North Carolina State University, USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

  • Future changes in climate and land use will interact and influence shifts in the magnitude and timing of freshwater inflows to estuaries.
  • Urbanization may increase flow magnitudes, and smaller drainage basins show greater responses to both projected climate and land use change.
  • These changes will likely influence nutrient delivery, water quality, habitat distribution, migration corridors, and food web dynamics.
  • Changes in freshwater inflows may impact spawning, migration, predation, and habitat distribution, especially for immobile species with narrow salinity tolerances and those dependent on freshwater pulses for life history cues.
  • Upstream management decisions, especially during low-flow conditions, should consider downstream impacts to estuarine systems.
  • For more information, contact Charlotte Lee.

 

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17:52

Topic Modeling of the Spatiotemporal Interlinkages of Socio-Environmental Challenges Facing the Mississippi River Basin

Speaker: Dr. Joshua “Jay” Wimhurst, USGS University of Oklahoma, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

  • We can build machine learning models that identify common/unique research priorities and socio-environmental challenges facing the Mississippi River Basin.
  • Such models identify the prevalence of research topics over the last 35 years, such as documenting fish species, changes to river water quality, and developing river and flood management plans. 
  • Identifying these topics at different spatiotemporal scales will assist in informing new research directions, and ascertaining the broader role of climate change in shaping these directions. 
  • For more information, contact Jay Wimhurst.

 

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58:54

Understanding the Impacts of Drought Conditions, Land Use, and Disturbances on the Spatiotemporal Variation in Water Quality of the Upper Colorado River

Speaker: Dr. Jenny Pensky, University of Colorado, North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

  • Flow condition (low flow vs. high flow) impacts seasonality, magnitude, and duration of water quality impacts along the Upper Colorado River.
  • The Eagle and Roaring Fork Rivers are the largest contributors to specific conductivity; Gunnison River is the largest contributor to nitrate.
  • It is difficult to capture impacts of disturbances.
  • Combination of Lagrangian surveys and fixed gage data gives spatiotemporal understanding of water quality.
  • For more information, contact Jenny Pensky.

 

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49:45

Q&A and Closing

Speaker: Meredith Muth, NOAA/NIDIS; Jackson Valler, USGS/National CASC

 

Key Partners

NOAA emblem

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS).

National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS)

U.S. Geological Survey logo.

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey.

National Climate Adaptation Science Center

Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center

South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center logo

South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center logo

North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

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