Tribes and communities developing climate adaptation, resilience and mitigation projects may be able to apply for enhanced technical assistance for addressing their climate priorities and projects. Applicants must be addressing an area of concern on tribal lands in EPA Region 10 or in Alaska, Washington, Oregon or Idaho. Applications are due August 20, 2021.
Faces of Adaptation: Meet Lynn Helbrecht
Lynn Helbrecht is the climate change coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and has represented the agency on NW CASC’s stakeholder advisory committee for almost ten years! In Lynn’s role, she helps agency staff to understand the risks of climate change and create climate-resilient programs and projects. Previously, she served as executive coordinator for the Washington Biodiversity Council, a public-private partnership established by the Governor to advance collaborative approaches to biodiversity conservation. Lynn received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from University of California Santa Barbara and a Masters of Environmental Science from The Evergreen State College.
What led you to work in the field of climate adaptation?
I worked as the executive coordinator for the Washington Biodiversity Council for several years, and in 2008, we contracted with Josh Lawler at the University of Washington to prepare a special report about the impacts of climate change on Washington’s biodiversity. It was a sobering introduction to climate change for me. I remember being struck by what a game changer it was going to be and how ill prepared we were in terms of our understanding of the science and the need to learn how to address climate in all aspects of our conservation work. A year or so later, I was lucky enough to be hired by WDFW as the climate change lead for the agency.
What does your day-to-day work look like?
It’s a mix! I usually have a variety of projects underway, which might range from helping staff with climate-related questions, serving as an agency advisor for adaptation research projects, facilitating a training session or collaborating with others to develop new resources and products. Just in the last month we wrapped up a couple of exciting projects — one focused on outreach to hunters and anglers on the importance of taking action on climate change and the other, a risk report for the agency. This risk report, a collaboration with the UW Climate Impacts Group, describes how climate will affect our ability to achieve our goals and objectives throughout our portfolio of work — from conservation and recovery of at-risk species, to harvest and recreation, research, permitting, technical assistance and managing lands and infrastructure. I’m excited for the agency to have both these resources as we start work on a climate resilience plan, which is due to be completed next year.
How does your organization support climate resilience in the Northwest?
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was one of the first fish and wildlife agencies to establish a dedicated climate position and has also been a leader regionally in helping to advance landscape-level resiliency. We co-founded the Interagency Climate Adaptation Network with the Department of Natural Resources — an informal network of state agencies focused on sharing information on adaptation approaches and initiatives across the state. We are also engaged with regional efforts, such as the Cascadia Partner Forum’s Climate Adaptation strategy, Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Project, Washington Coastal Resilience Project and a new group called ALIGN working to advance climate resiliency through conservation and restoration funding programs.
What is your favorite thing about your work?
It’s hard to pick one thing, but if I can only pick one, it has to be the people I get to work with — both colleagues here at the agency and in the many regional and national organizations that have been working to build our collective capacity to respond to climate change. In the last ten years, I feel that we have developed a robust community of practice and I’m proud to be a part of that group. I’ve learned so much from my peers and colleagues in this community — it has been a tremendous pleasure and privilege.
Why are some whitebark pine trees surviving climate-driven mountain pine beetle outbreaks?
The answer – genetic diversity – may unlock secrets for managing this important tree species under climate change.
Source: Matthew Brown, Licensed under CC BY 2.0
Dramatic aerial photos show patchworks of green conifer forests interrupted with large swaths of dead, burnt-orange trees: evidence of the mountain pine beetle outbreaks that are killing masses of trees in parts of western North America. Though mountain pine beetles are native to these forests, a combination of factors including climate change are leading to more severe and devastating mountain pine beetle outbreaks.
Whitebark pine, an important species in high-elevation ecosystems of western North America, including parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, is not immune to this tiny but mighty beetle. Whitebark pine is declining across its range due to stressors including mountain pine beetle outbreaks, which are worsening with climate change. But some whitebark pine trees are surviving beetle outbreaks, and scientists are wondering why.
NW CASC-funded research explored how individual whitebark pine trees’ genetic traits, growth rates and climate sensitivities influence their ability to survive mountain pine beetle outbreaks. They found evidence of significant genetic diversity among whitebark pines, which increases the likelihood these trees can adapt and persist in the face of both mountain pine beetle attacks — and climate change.
Whitebark pine are more at risk from mountain pine beetles under climate change.
Whitebark pine grows in subalpine zones, where cooler temperatures usually protect it from beetle attacks. In periods of warm droughts, however, beetles are able to move into higher elevations and prey on mature whitebark pine until colder conditions return. Warmer conditions brought by climate change are allowing the mountain pine beetle to persist in subalpine zones, causing outbreaks and death of mature whitebark pine.
Since whitebark pine has, until recently, been buffered from mountain pine beetle attacks in its subalpine habitat, it may have fewer defense mechanisms than tree species at lower elevations that have experienced more consistent pressure from the beetle over time. This is cause for concern that whitebark pine could experience severe declines and local extinctions where the beetle is now present.
Some whitebark pine trees are surviving beetle attacks. But why?
Despite these threats, some mature whitebark pines have survived severe mountain pine beetle outbreaks, suggesting that adaptation may be occurring in response to increasing selection pressure from the beetle. But little research has been done to understand tree adaptation to climate-induced insect outbreaks — and even less on how genetics and climate sensitivities of individual trees influence their resistance to the beetle. Instead, most bioclimatic models assume that all individuals of a tree species respond similarly to insects and usually incorporate only broad ecological parameters.
Certain traits keep whitebark pine trees safe from attack.
Source: Marisa Lubeck, U.S. Geological Survey
Mountain pine beetles use both visual and chemical cues to decide which trees to attack, and there are certain traits that make some trees less attractive to beetles than others. To better understand these survival traits, NW CASC researchers compared surviving, mature whitebark pine (mature trees are more prone to attack), with small whitebark pine that escaped predation (used as a proxy for populations without beetle predation). Since some tree traits are determined by genes, while others are determined by a combination of genes and interactions with the environment, researchers looked at genetic and chemical profiles, along with growth rates and climate data.
By comparing these traits, researchers wanted to know whether recent mountain outbreaks had led to rapid adaptive selection for trees with genes and physical traits associated with survival. The researchers expected the mature, surviving trees to have similar genetic and chemical profiles that were distinct from the smaller whitebark pine, and for the surviving trees to be less sensitive to drought and temperature. They were surprised to find considerable complexity within and among populations of whitebark pine, making it hard to point to specific traits that defined tree resilience. Different cohorts of trees in each population exhibited different genetic and physical profiles as well as different responses to climate.
Some patterns did emerge. They found growth to be the trait most clearly associated with survivorship. In their study, surviving trees experienced fast growth in early years, followed by slower growth prior to the outbreak. But how do beetles differentiate between trees with different growth rates? There may be a connection between growth rate and how trees spend their energy strengthening their defenses, like chemical signals, which beetles can detect. They also found that the trees’ sensitivity to drought and temperature was not predictive of survivorship, although tree responses to climate variables across the sites suggest that genetic differences within whitebark pine populations increase the diversity of tree responses to climatic conditions, which may increase forest resilience to changing conditions over time.
The take-home message: diversity is key to adaptation.
This study found evidence of significant genetic diversity among white bark pines. The ability of whitebark pine trees to persist in the face of stressors like climate change and mountain pine beetle attacks will rely on genetic diversity, which increases the potential for adaptation. To help enable whitebark pine to adapt to changing conditions, maintaining genetic diversity within and among populations should be prioritized while practices that reduce diversity should be avoided or approached with caution.
NW CASC University Director Amy Snover on Climate Change and the Future of Outdoor Adventuring
For many living in the Northwest, the natural beauty and the diversity of landscapes and recreation opportunities are central to the identity of this special place we call home. But as climate change brings impacts like wildfires, smoke, heat and reduced snowpack, many outdoor recreationists are wondering what these impacts mean for the future of recreation in the Northwest.
UW Climate Impacts Group Director Dr. Amy Snover will join Crosscut for a virtual conversation about climate change and the future of outdoor adventuring in the Northwest.
Date: Monday, August 16, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 12:45 pm PT
Details: Attendance is free, RSVP required
Apply Today: Frontline Community Climate Resilience Scientist Position at the UW Climate Impacts Group
The UW Climate Impacts Group, host of the NW CASC, is seeking to grow its team with a new, full-time Frontline Community Climate Resilience Scientist (position open now!) and a full-time Program Integration Specialist (position posting coming soon!).
Tribal Climate Resilience Program Hiring Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons in Alaska, Northwest and Southwest
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is pleased to announce the availability of funding to support the hiring of Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons in Alaska, the Northwest and the Southwest through its Tribal Resilience Program. Eligible applicants include tribal non-profit, non-governmental organizations and tribally-controlled colleges or universities that serve federally-recognized tribes. Other entities may participate as sub-grantees.
The BIA is collaborating with the Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) to continue supporting tribal climate resilience needs and selected tribal organizations will enter into cooperative agreements with the BIA. This provides a mechanism for the BIA to provide the selected tribal organizations with non-recurring funding for mutually agreed upon tasks in keeping with the climate science needs of the BIA and all tribal communities in the Northwest, Southwest and Alaska CASC regions. Applications are due August 23, 2021.
Upcoming Webinar on Bureau of Indian Affairs Funding Opportunity to Support Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons
The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals is hosting a webinar this Friday, July 23rd at 10am PT about a current funding opportunity through the Bureau of Indian Affairs Tribal Resilience Program, which will will support the hiring of Tribal Climate Resilience Liaisons in Alaska, the Northwest and the Southwest.
Eligible applicants include tribal non-profit, non-governmental organizations and tribally-controlled colleges or universities that serve federally-recognized tribes. Other entities may participate as sub-grantees. In the Northwest, up to two tribal climate resilience liaisons will be hosted at the NW CASC in either Corvallis, Oregon or Seattle, Washington. Applications are due August 23, 2021.
Register for the 1st NW Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change Network Symposium this Fall!
Registration is now open for the Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Network’s virtual symposium, September 15-16, 2021. This symposium will bring together bring together managers, scientists and other practitioners to discuss the nexus of climate change, extreme events such as wildfires and droughts, and invasive species management in the Northwest.
When: September 15 & 16 | 9am – 12pm PM
Cost: Free
Who should attend: Managers, scientists and other practitioners that are concerned about invasive species, climate change and extreme events in the Northwest, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia and neighboring states and provinces.
Why attend:
– Showcase your research or on-the-ground project
– Create new and enhance existing partnerships with other Northwest practitioners
– Inform regional research and funding priorities
Interested in presenting or have a project you would like to share? Please email Rachel@EcoAdapt.org.
Several regional agencies and organizations have partnered to create the Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (NW RISCC) Network, a community of practice dedicated to helping practitioners address the nexus of climate change and invasive species, including plants, animals, and pathogens. The objective is to help practitioners within federal, tribal, state, and local agencies and conservation organizations integrate climate change science and adaptation with invasive species prevention, early detection, control, monitoring, and research activities.
Save the Date! Northwest Regional Invasive Species & Climate Change 2021 Virtual Symposium
The Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Virtual Symposium is coming up in September 2021! Join this convening of managers, scientists and other practitioners to discuss the nexus of climate change, extreme events and invasive species management in the Northwest.
When: September 15th & 16th 2021 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PT.
Where: Virtual meeting link coming soon.
Who should attend: Managers, scientists, and other practitioners who are concerned about invasive species and climate change.
This symposium will provide the opportunity to:
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Showcase your research or on-the-ground project,
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Contribute to a cutting edge initiative,
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Create new and enhance existing partnerships with other Northwest practitioners, and
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Inform regional research and funding priorities
To register your interest in the Symposium and keep up to date on its development, please fill out this form.
Developing a Streamflow Catalog & Evaluating Fish Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Northwest
As climate change affects Northwest streams, there is an increasing need for integrated data and modeling efforts that can help managers understand how streams are changing and what this means for the native fish species that depend on them.
Integrating data on streamflow, stream temperature and species distribution is needed for developing models that inform species climate vulnerability assessments. These kinds of efforts require access to streamflow data, which can be a challenge, since there is limited inter-agency sharing of streamflow data and a lack of uniform standards for collecting and managing data. Researchers funded by the NW CASC are working collaboratively to address the need for integrated stream and species data and better streamflow data accessibility by conducting a modeling effort to assess the vulnerability of at-risk fish species and developing a catalog of existing streamflow data from across the Northwest.
As climate changes in the Northwest, stream temperatures will warm and some streams may even dry up. More winter precipitation falling as rain and earlier spring snow melt mean that more water is entering our streams in the winter and spring months, leaving less snow to melt and support our streams throughout the warm and dry summer months. These changes may threaten vital habitat for fish and other species as well as our municipal and agricultural water supply.
Assessing fish vulnerability to climate change
NW CASC researchers are undertaking a modeling effort that integrates modeled streamflow and stream temperature data, observed species-specific biological data, and technical expertise to conduct a vulnerability assessment for a group of Northwest fish species that may be sensitive to climate-induced temperature and stream water changes. It will focus on often-overlooked warm-water fish species, like sculpin and dace, whose climate vulnerability is largely unknown relative to cold-water salmon species.
This component of the project will not only produce valuable information to guide fish conservation measures, but is also an example of how diverse datasets can be integrated into modeling efforts to provide a more holistic understanding of species’ climate vulnerability. The streamflow data catalog is a mechanism to strengthen these integrated models in the future.
Assembling the streamflow data puzzle
Many agencies and organizations in the Northwest collect streamflow data for various purposes, though much of it is stored in different places and can be difficult to access. There is limited inter-agency sharing of streamflow data and a lack of uniform standards for collecting and managing data, creating barriers to water management and aquatic species conservation. Scientists sometimes think of streamflow data as puzzle pieces strewn around a house. In order to reveal the puzzle’s picture or identify which pieces are still missing, the pieces must be gathered up and fit together. NW CASC researchers are currently working on assembling a puzzle of streamflow data in the Northwest. In collaboration with Northwest water managers, they are setting out to compile existing, observed, streamflow data collected outside of the US Geological Service into a catalog showing when, how and why streamflow has been measured across the Northwest.
Understanding the big picture of existing streamflow data in the Northwest can make it easier to build regional-scale models for stream management applications. Knowledge of data gaps can enable managers to advocate for funding and direct limited resources to fill in these gaps. Ultimately, this data catalog will not only provide a better understanding of the data available for resource management and modeling efforts, but can identify a path towards improving open-access water data infrastructure in the Northwest.
Working in collaboration to collect and align data
Both components of this project are highly collaborative, leveraging the expertise of five US Geological Survey and US Forest Service research groups and two universities. They involve partners from the Bureau of Reclamation, Washington Department of Ecology, Idaho Department of Water Resources, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, among others.
Source: Roger Tabor, USFWS
The climate vulnerability component of the project requires close collaboration with resource managers, since it is combining data about in-stream conditions and biological data with expertise from fish biologists to produce fine-scale vulnerability assessments at geographic scales relevant to management decisions. Researchers have combined modeled outputs from PROSPER, a USGS model that predicts stream drying, NorWeST, which provides water temperature estimates, and modeled data of monthly streamflow estimates, which they’ll release later this summer. The interaction of these three factors (stream drying, temperature and flow) will give researchers a holistic view of in-stream conditions. These data will then be combined with occurrences of native fish species to develop the climate vulnerability assessment. Finally, the researchers have assembled a group of fish biologists from different agencies and organizations across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, who will participate in a series of workshops to evaluate different fish species’ sensitivity to cope with different in-stream scenarios.
In the first stages of the streamflow catalog project, NW CASC researchers met with partners to develop a survey, which is still open, to identify who collects streamflow data across the Northwest and what kind of data (record length, purpose etc.) they’re collecting. So far, researchers have found an immense amount of streamflow data outside of the USGS, including the Oregon Water Resource Department’s extensive streamflow dataset.
They’ve also found other groups across the country who are thinking similarly about consolidating streamflow data and improving water data infrastructure. Learning about these other efforts, including the Internet of Water and the Water Data Exchange, has helped NW CASC researchers identify important metadata and standardize vocabulary for their own research. The large-scale interest in water data infrastructure highlights the growing recognition for increased access to and sharing of water data, while regionally focused projects ensure that needs of local stakeholders are met.
NW CASC researchers will continue to collect responses from the survey before evaluating results this fall. In addition to holding stakeholder meetings throughout this survey process, researchers will convene an in-person, roundtable meeting with stakeholders next spring to share the results of the survey, demonstrate the initial interface of the data catalog and discuss their interests and concerns around modernizing streamflow data-sharing infrastructure in the Northwest.
Data for a climate-resilient Northwest
As we grapple with climate-induced changes to Northwest streams and the risks to species that depend on them, the ability to access and integrate existing datasets will be key to more effective, timely and climate-smart decision-making. The NW CASC’s catalog of existing, public water data in the Northwest is the first step towards this improved open-access water data infrastructure. Better data accessibility will also enable more holistic approaches to understanding the sensitivity of species to climate change, like the climate vulnerability assessment produced through this project.
Does your organization collect streamflow data in Idaho, Oregon or Washington? If so, please take this survey and distribute it to your water management partners! If your organization is interested in joining the roundtable discussion, please email kendrakaiser@boisestate.edu.