watervulnerability

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest Watershed Vulnerability Assessment, Rocky
Mountain Region (R2)
APPLICATION
Data gaps identified in this WVA indicate future inventory needs. More exact locations of road and trail
crossings can be inventoried. Culverts can be inventoried to determine if they are properly sized for
potential flood events. Bridges or other crossing structures can be evaluated to determine if they will
allow debris/sediment/water flow to pass. Crossing inventories should be prioritized in subwatersheds
with infrastructure at the highest risk and vulnerability.
Data gaps identified in this WVA indicate future monitoring needs. Stream temperature monitoring can
be established in those streams of most concern for cutthroat trout, in subwatersheds with the highest risk
and vulnerability. If strong correlations between increases in air temperature and increases in stream
temperature can be made, this should identify streams/subwatersheds where cutthroat trout populations
may be supported in the future
The WVA can be used to identify where monitoring climate changes (temperature, precipitation, runoff,
extreme storm events, etc.) can be continued at established weather stations, and expanded into areas
where climate information is currently extrapolated, to see if predicted changes occur.
Results from the WVA could be used to identify where predicted changes in runoff overlap with areas
that have extensive water development, diversion, and allocation. There may be increased pressure to
enlarge existing developments or construct new storage capacity to capture enough water to meet
increasing demands downstream in these high use locations.
The WVA results could be incorporated into future project design and evaluation in those subwatersheds
that are most vulnerable. Examples include the following.
• Infrastructure construction/reconstruction in subwatersheds with high risk (sensitivities ×
stressors) may need to be designed to handle higher flood levels or located in less-vulnerable
areas.
• Roads should be disconnected from drainage networks. Roads and other manmade features that
constrain or disconnect channels and floodplains should be removed.
• Riparian and wetland ecosystems currently in poor ecological health or degraded by loss of
groundwater should be restored in those subwatersheds/geographic areas expected to become
more arid.
• Protect and restore critical or unique habitats that support species survival during critical periods
(drought, late summer low flows, etc.).
• The climate change information collected for this WVA can be used in further vulnerability
assessments of terrestrial resources.
The WVA can be counted as an accomplishment on the new Performance Scorecard for Implementing the
Forest Service Climate Change Strategy.
CRITIQUE
What important questions were not considered?
108 Assessing the Vulnerability of Watersheds to Climate Change