The Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project: Climate impacts and adaptation actions for wildlife habitat connectivity in the transboundary region of Washington and British Columbia Prepared by the Climate Impacts Group University of Washington April 30, 2016
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The Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project:
Climate impacts and adaptation actions for wildlife habitat connectivity in the transboundary region of Washington and British Columbia
Prepared by the Climate Impacts Group University of Washington April 30, 2016
Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project i
Acknowledgements
The work described in this report was completed by science-practice partnerships involvingparticipantsfrom:
Document CitationKrosby,M.,Michalak,J.,Robbins,T.O.,Morgan,H.,Norheim,R.,Mauger,G.,andT.Murdock.2016.TheWashington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project: Identifying climate impactsandadaptationactionsforwildlifehabitatconnectivityinthetransboundaryregionofWashingtonandBritishColumbia.ClimateImpactsGroup,UniversityofWashington.
Document and Data Layers Availability This document and companion files, including reports and data layers, are available online at:https://nplcc.databasin.org/galleries/5a3a424b36ba4b63b10b8170ea0c915
6. Remaining Needs and Next Steps .......................................................................... 136.1Futureresearchneeds..............................................................................................................136.2Needforongoingcapacitybuilding...........................................................................................136.3Needforcontinuedtransboundaryengagement......................................................................14
Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project 6
Table 1. Case study species, vegetation system, and region selected for assessment by project partners. Species CommonName ScientificNameWolverine GuloguloMountaingoat OreamnosamericanusWhite-tailedptarmigan LagopusleucuraWhitebarkpine PinusalbicaulisCanadalynx LynxcanadensisAmericanmarten MartescaurinaBlackbear UrsusamericanusMuledeer OdocoileushemionusLewis'swoodpecker MelanerpeslewisTigersalamander AmbystomatigrinumBulltrout SalvelinusconfluentusVegetationSystem Shrub-Steppe Region Okanagan-KettleRegion
Restoringand/orprotectingriparianvegetationtoshadeponds,whichwouldreducewatertemperaturesandevaporationrates. x xExcludingcattlefrompondsandsurroundingvegetation(e.g.,byinstallingfencing),andusingtechniques(e.g.,fabricandgravelinstallation)topreventcattlefromleavingpockmarks,whichreducepondquality. x x
Protectingand/orreintroducingbeaversintowatersheds,whichmayimprovewetlandqualityandconnectivity. x x xWideningpondstoincreaseaccessforsalamandersand/ordeepeningpondstoincreasepondpersistenceintosummer. x xAddingwaterandremovingpredatoryfishfromkeyponds(highlyresourceintensive;anemergencymeasure). x xIffrostsealdoesnotoccuroftenenoughtomaintainspringwetlands,consideringartificiallyirrigatingkeywetlands. x xEstablishingretentionpondsinurbanareas,andtreatingthemasmanagedwetlands. x xDivertingrainwaterintoexistingponds(whileaddressingpotentialforchemicalrun-offandturbidityissues). x xManagingaccessincorehabitatareasandcorridors(especiallythoseprojectedtomaintainclimaticsuitability)toreduceimpactsfromrecreation,grazing,andotheruses. x x x x x xMonitoringchangesinthetimingandintensityofrecreationandotheractivities,particularlywithincorehabitatareasandmovementcorridors. x x x
Climateimpact(s)addressed ADAPTATIONACTION
Wolverine
Mountain G
oatW
hite-tailed Ptarm
iganW
hitebark Pine
Canada Lynx
Am
erican Marten
Black B
earM
ule Deer
Lewis's W
oodpeckerTiger S
alamander
Bull Trout
Shrub-S
teppeO
kanagan-Kettle
Maintainingandrestoringcorridorsbetweenareasofdecliningclimaticsuitabilityandareasofstabilityorincreasingsuitability. x x x x x x x xEvaluatingtherisksandbenefitsofmanuallytransportingspeciestoareasofprojectedstableorincreasingclimaticsuitability. x x xMaintainingandrestoringcorridorsthatspanelevationgradients(e.g.,climategradientcorridors),toensurethatspecieshavetheabilitytodisperseintocoolerhabitatsastheclimatewarms. x x x x x x x x x x x xMaintainingandrestoringriparianareas,whichspanclimaticgradientsandareusedasmovementcorridorsbymanyspecies. x x x x x xPlanningtheplacement,orientation,andshapeofreservepatchestomaximizeconnectivity,spanclimaticgradients,andcrosslow-elevationvalleys. x x x
Usingprescribedburns,thinning,andtargetedfuelreductiontoreducetheriskofcatastrophicwildfires. x x x x x x x x x xIncorporatingprojectionsandobservationsofclimaticchanges(e.g.,earlieronsetoffireseason)toinformthetimingoffirepreventiontechniquesasconditionschange,inordertomaximizesafetyandeffectiveness x x x x x x x
Usingsomedegreeoffiresuppressionincool,moistforestswithlongfirereturnintervals. x xReferencingtheforestandgrazingpracticesoftribesandFirstNationstoidentifytraditionalstrategiesformanagingfirerisk. x x x x xIncreasingsnowdepthlocally(e.g.,viasnowfences),recognizingthatlocal-scalesnowmanagementisunlikelytohaveasignificantimpactonhabitatconnectivity.Therefore,prioritizesucheffortswithinimportantcorehabitatareasandcorridors. x x xEnsuringthatsnowpackretentionpracticesarecompatiblewithotherforestmanagementpracticesthatbalancetheneedforfireandnaturalresourcemanagementwiththeneedforsufficienthorizontalcover. x xIdentifyingandprioritizingareaswheredeepspringsnowpackismostlikelytopersistinthefuture(e.g.,north-facingslopsandcanyons). x x xMonitoringandrespondingtochangesinvegetation(e.g.,shiftsintreeline,transitionofshrub-steppetoothervegetationtypes,lossofforestedcorridorsinlowelevationvalleys)thatmayaffecthabitatconnectivity.ConsideruseofLIDARremotesensingandothertechnologiesyieldinghighresolutiondata.
x x x x x x x x x
Minimizingforest(ornon-targettree)encroachmentinkeycorehabitatareasandcorridorsbymechanicallyremovinginvadingtreesorusingprescribedburnstoreducetreerecruitment. x x x
Developingplantingplansthatevaluateandpotentiallyincludegenotypesadaptedtoprojectedfutureclimaticconditions x xIncorporateinvasivespeciesmanagementintoallactivitiesrelatedtohabitatconnectivityconservation. x xInareasheavilyinvadedbycheatgrass,consideringprescribedburningincombinationwithherbicideandnativeplantreseeding. x xIdentifyingandprotectingstandsthatarelargeenoughtoattractseeddispersersandserveasaseedsource xIdentifyingandprotectingstandsthatcouldserveaslinksorsteppingstonesforseeddispersersmovingamonglargerstands xRestoringriparianvegetation,whichwillhelpshadestreamsandreducestreamtemperatures. x xExcludingcattlefromriparianareastopreventlossofvegetativecover. x xInvestigatethefeasibilityandbenefitofmanuallytransportingfisharoundthermalbarriersinstreams. xManagingforeststomaximizegroundwaterinfiltration. xUsingdamreleaseeventstomaintainwaterlevelsandstreamtemperaturesadequateforfishpassage. xIdentifyingandmitigatingbarrierssuchasdamsorpoorlydesignedroadcrossingsorculvertstopromotefishpassage. x
Changesinvegetation
Changesininvasivespecies
Changesinseeddispersal
CaseStudy
Increasingriskofwildfire
Increasingstreamtemperatures
Decreasingsummerstreamflows
I.AddressingClimateImpactsonHabitatConnectivity
Decreasingsnowpackdepthandduration
x
Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project 18
TOPICADDRESSED ADAPTATIONACTION
Wolverine
Mountain G
oatW
hite-tailed Ptarm
iganW
hitebark Pine
Canada Lynx
Am
erican Marten
Black B
earM
ule Deer
Lewis's W
oodpeckerTiger S
alamander
Bull Trout
Shrub-S
teppeO
kanagan-Kettle
Limitingthedevelopmentofforestryactivitiesathighelevations(particularlythoselikelytoremainclimaticallysuitable). xManagingforestryactivitiestoensurethatforestcanopycoverremainscontinuousthroughoutcorridorsformontaneforestspecies,andthatlargetrees,oldsnags,andtreecavitiesremainpresent. x x
Reviewingandimplementingexistingguidanceandplansrelatingtospecieshabitatmanagement,modifyingtoaddressclimate. x x x x x x x xInvestigatingwhetherhavingmultiplepriorityspeciesaffectedinthesameareacouldleadtogreaterpressuretochangemanagementpracticesifcumulativeimpactscanbedemonstrated. x x x x x
Coordinatingstewardshipandmanagementactivitieswithgovernments,NGOs,tribesandFirstNations,andprivatelandowners. x x x x x x x xPlacinglimitationsonproposalssothattheyenhanceconservationmeasures(e.g.,requirebuffers).
Strivingforcommunitydesignthatlimitfragmentationofhabitatandincludehabitatcorridors. x xIdentifyingandprotectingwetlandsandotherwatersourcesinvalleys.Thesemayhelptopromotemovementofmontaneforestspeciesthroughdry,low-elevationvalleys,whilealsopromotingcorehabitatareaandcorridorqualityforlow-elevationspecies. x x x x
Securingwaterrightstomaintainmoistureinriparianareasandwetlandsthatprovidecorehabitatandmovementcorridors. x x x x x x xCarefullyreviewingwaterpermitrequestsfornewirrigationwithdrawalstoensurethatkeyponds,wetlands,andwaterresourcesremainavailablewithincorehabitatareasanddispersalcorridors. x xMonitoringtrendsandreviewingpoliciesrelatingtovineyardestablishment.Strivetoavoidestablishingvineyardsinshrub-steppecorehabitatareasorcorridors. x
Coordinatingwithtransportationagenciestoevaluateappropriatemanagementresponsestopotentialchangesinseasonalroadopeningsandclosingsassnowconditionschangeandhigherelevationhabitatspotentiallybecomemoreaccessibletopeople. x x x xCoordinatingwithtransportationagenciestoensurethatnewroadsdonotnegativelyimpactpriorityareasforhabitatconnectivityunderclimatechange(e.g.,climate-gradientcorridors,orclimate-resilientcorehabitatareasandcorridors). x x x x x x x x xCoordinatingwithtransportationagenciestomitigatebarriereffectsofroadscrossingpriorityareasforhabitatconnectivityunderclimatechange(e.g.,byincorporatingcrossingstructuresintoroaddesign,orretro-fittingroadswithcrossingstructures). x x
Climate-gradientcorridors,whichmayfacilitatespeciesdispersalintocoolerhabitatsasclimatewarms. x x x x x x x x xClimate-resilientcorehabitareasandcorridors(i.e.,thosethatareprojectedtoremainclimaticallysuitable). x x x x x x x x xRiparianareas,whichcurrentlyactasspeciesmovementcorridors,andalsospanclimaticgradients,facilitatingdispersalintocoolerhabitats. x x x x
Cold-waterrefuges–areaswithinstreamsthathavepersistentlylowertemperaturesthanotherstreamareas xPondsthataredeep,freeofpredatoryfish,andlocatedincoolerand/orwettermicro-climates. x xHighways,especiallythosethatrunalonglow-elevationvalleys(e.g.,Highway97and3A)andthosethatcrosstheCascadeRange(e.g.,Highway3andInterstate90),whichmaypresentbarrierstoclimate-drivenrangeshifts. x x x x x xLowelevationvalleys,particularlytheFraserRiverValleyandtheOkanaganValley.ConnectivityFocusAreasofferkeyareasforimplementationintheOkanaganValley. x x x x x x x x x
TOPICADDRESSED ADAPTATIONACTION
Wolverine
Mountain G
oatW
hite-tailed Ptarm
iganW
hitebark Pine
Canada Lynx
Am
erican Marten
Black B
earM
ule Deer
Lewis's W
oodpeckerTiger S
alamander
Bull Trout
Shrub-S
teppeO
kanagan-Kettle
Encouragingtheuseofhighwaysdesigntechniquesthatpreserveconnectivity(e.g.,overpasses,openspanbridges,culverts). x x xEncouragingtheincorporationofwildlife-friendlyfencingintopermittingandplanningprocesses. x x xConsideringimpactsandopportunitiesforhabitatconnectivityduringthereferralsprocess. xEvaluatingopportunitiestoreducegrazingpressureinkeycorridors. xMonitoringcorehabitatsandmovementcorridorsforsuitabilityandbeingpreparedtoaddressand/ormodifythelegalcontextformanagement(e.g.,EndangeredSpeciesAct). x x xConsideringtimingtribal/FirstNationhuntingseasonsaroundkeydispersalperiodsand/orloweringtakelimitstoreducepressureonpopulations. x x
Lawsandregulations
SpatialPrioritiesforImplementation
CaseStudy
CaseStudyIII.PolicyConsiderations
FirstNationsandtribalreferralsresponseprocesses
III.SpatialPrioritiesforImplementation
Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project 19
TOPICADDRESSED ADAPTATIONACTION
Wolverine
Mountain G
oatW
hite-tailed Ptarm
iganW
hitebark Pine
Canada Lynx
Am
erican Marten
Black B
earM
ule Deer
Lewis's W
oodpeckerTiger S
alamander
Bull Trout
Shrub-S
teppeO
kanagan-Kettle
Developingtransboundaryhabitatconnectivitymodels. x xGatheringadditionalempiricalinformationonspeciesmovementtovalidateandimprovecorridormodels,andunderstandwhatlandscapefeaturesfacilitateorhindermovement. x x x x x x x
Mappingcurrentpopulationlocations(asopposedtogeneralrangeboundaries). x x xIncorporatingprojectedchangesinhumanlanduseintohabitatconnectivitymodels. xDevelopingfine-scale,transboundarymodelsofriparianlocationandcondition. x x x x xDevelopingtransboundarymodelsofwildfireriskandprobabilityofpestoutbreaks. x x x x x x x x xDevelopingclimaticnichemodels. x x xEvaluatingtheextenttowhichareasprojectedtobecomeclimaticallysuitableforspeciesincludesuitablenon-climaticconditions(e.g.,soils,vegetation,aquatichabitat). x xIdentifyingclimate-resilientcorehabitatareasandcorridors(i.e.,thoselikelytomaintainclimaticsuitability,andexperiencerelativelymodestchangesinrelevantclimaticvariables). x x x x x x x x x xIdentifyingpotentialclimateimpactsonspecificexistingcorehabitatareasandcorridors. x x x x x xIdentifyingcorridorsbetweenlocationswithprojecteddeclinesinclimaticsuitabilityandareaswithprojectedstableorincreasingclimaticsuitability. x x x x x x x
Developingtransboundarymodelsofcold-waterrefugesandprojectedfuturebulltroutdistributions. xDevelopingtransboundaryaquatichabitatconnectivitymodels(includingidentificationofsignificantbarrierstomovement). x
IV.ResearchNeeds CaseStudy
Researchneeds
Washington-British Columbia Transboundary Climate-Connectivity Project 20
SpeciesCorridorNetwork x x x x x x xLandscapeIntegrityCorridorNetwork x x x x xClimate-GradientCorridorNetwork x x x x x x x x x x x x xConnectivityFocusAreas x
ClimaticNicheModel x x x x x x x x x xColdWaterClimateShield x
ClimaticNicheVegetationModel x x x x x x xMechanisticVegetationModel x x x x x x x
MountainPineBeetleSurvival x x x x x x x
Spring(April1)Snowpack x x x x x x x x x x xLateSpring(May1)Snowpack xLengthofSnowSeason x x x x x x xPercentageofWinterPrecipitationCapturedinApril1stSnowpack x xNumberofFrostDays x xGrowingSeasonLength xIncreaseinAverageAnnualDaytimeTemperature x xTotalSpringPrecipitation x x x x xTotalSummerPrecipitation x x xAnnualMaximum24-hourPrecipitation xNumberofHeavyPrecipitationDays x xAveragePrecipitationIntensity x xTotalSpringRunoff x x xTotalSummerRunoff x x xEvapotranspiration,July-September x x xEvapotranspiration,March-May x xPotentialEvapotranspiration,July-September xDrySpellDuration x x x x x xWaterDeficit,July-September x x x x x x xSoilMoisture,July-September x x x x x x x x xDayswithHighFireRisk x x x x x x x x x x x xStreamTemperature x