watervulnerability

Coconino National Forest Watershed Vulnerability Assessment, Southwest Region (R3)
Figure 20. Relative exposure to potential climate change effects, based on % of subwatershed above 6400 ft
Once exposure was categorized, this rating was combined with the assessment of sensitivity and value, to
produce a relative assessment of vulnerability for each resource, and for the combined resources. The
vulnerability ratings for stream habitat and for all resources combined are displayed in Figures 21 and 22.
Results for all resources are available at www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/wva/appendixes.
Both examples reflect highest exposure at elevations above 6400 ft. Subwatersheds in the East Clear
Creek drainage are consistently rated highly vulnerable, due to the combination of elevation, relatively
high sensitivities, and high combined resource values. High values are associated with water uses (C.C.
Cragen Reservoir) the presence of warm water fish species, and relatively high amounts of stream habitat.
Pumphouse Wash in the Oak Creek watershed is the other subwatershed that displays the highest
vulnerability.
151 Assessing the Vulnerability of Watersheds to Climate Change