Climate Change Effects on the Salmon River Ecosystem

Central Idaho’s main Salmon River is under many ecological constraints due to anthropogenic climate change. Increasing temperatures have altered streamflow variability, altered precipitation regimes, increased sedimentation, and has fragmented local salmonid habitats. This research review investigates these climate change impacts on the Salmon River watershed and specifically how it effects native salmonid populations. Utilizing a qualitative approach, this paper synthesizes findings and results of peer reviewed research articles along with government reports to evaluate how increased temperatures are increasing ecological stress on native Salmonid populations. The adverse effects highlighted are the increase of wildfire frequency, leading to increase sedimentation benefiting adult and juvenile life stages, but decreasing habitat quality for eggs and fry. As well as streamflow variation caused by earlier spring snowmelt that leads to high flows in earlier spring and low baseflows throughout the summer months, consequently fragmenting habitat and decreasing survival rates.