American rivers are in trouble. According to a new study, heat waves in river systems throughout the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, posing serious threats to fish, wildlife, and human communities.
This recent NBC article summarizes the study’s findings.
A new analysis of nearly 1,500 river locations over more than 40 years found that the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves is increasing in streams across the country, posing a threat to many species that are adapted to cooler temperatures.
Many aquatic species native to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, such as salmon and trout, rely on cold-water habitat. Increased stream temperatures can be deadly to these species, impacting native fish and wildlife populations, as well as the communities, cultures, and industries that rely on them.
Higher stream temperatures can also lead to more severe drought conditions and water quality issues that impact clean drinking water supplies and outdoor recreation opportunities.
According to the article,
The authors found that human-caused climate change is the primary driver of the trend, as snowpack dwindles and streams flow more slowly.
Other human factors also affect the trend. Dams slow the flow of water downstream. Buildings and pavement absorb heat that warms the air and then the water.
When combined with all the other impacts facing our rivers and native species, this is a disturbing trend.
So what’s the solution?
Protecting healthy waterways that still provide cold clean water is a great starting place. For waterways that have been logged or degraded, active and passive restoration efforts will be needed.
Trees and vegetation in riparian areas shade and cool rivers. Studies also show that older and larger trees suck up less water than younger ones that are replanted after logging operations, leaving behind more cold water in the stream and the water table. Additionally, mature and old-growth forests in Oregon are climate regulators, creating their own microclimates that are significantly cooler than adjacent logged or developed areas. These same forests also help fight and slow climate change–the primary driver of these heat waves–by sequestering and storing immense amounts of carbon.
The River Democracy Act: hope for our watersheds
Fortunately, there is a proposal to provide widespread protections for rivers across Oregon. Senator Ron Wyden’s River Democracy Act would protect over 3200 miles of waterways across the state, including a half-mile-wide buffer on either side of each stream.
This bill would add these streams to the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System, safeguarding the important values each river provides–whether it’s fish and wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, outdoor recreation, cultural, or others. It would also prohibit new dam construction on designated rivers, limit development and harmful activity within the protected buffer, and preserve the forests and riparian areas alongside streams that act as a natural climate solution.
Included in the River Democracy Act are the headwaters of critical salmon-bearing rivers in Oregon, such as the Rogue, Deschutes, McKenzie, Clackamas, Grande Ronde, John Day, and others. These are the streams that are the source of clean, cold water for these river systems, and where salmon spawn and give life to the next generation. These headwaters and tributaries are vital to protect as the harms there are felt–and compounded–downstream.
Take action today
Our rivers, and all who depend on them, need your help. Join the movement to protect Oregon rivers by becoming a Citizen Co-sponsor of the River Democracy Act. Reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to pass this bill before it is too late.
