watervulnerability

Chequamegon-­‐Nicolet National Forest Watershed Vulnerability Assessment, Eastern Region (R9)
Figure 19. Predicted vulnerability of 8 species of coolwater fish by 6th level watershed for moderate warming
3 deg C increase), for Chequamegon-Nicolet NF
Composite Watershed Vulnerability
Based on the composite watershed vulnerability ratings, 11 HUC-6s were rated very low, 59 low, 64
moderate, and 24 high (Figure 20). The watersheds with very low vulnerability were exclusively or
predominantly groundwater recharge zones. These were rated very low because they support low
densities of the water resource values (wetlands, stream crossings, cold and cool water stream fisheries).
They also contain highly permeable soils, in which adverse effects to groundwater recharge from climate
changes are least likely. The vulnerability of other watersheds depended on the combined occurrence of
wetlands, runoff potential, road-stream crossing density and the presence of cold and cool water fisheries.
As the occurrence of these attributes increased, so did overall watershed vulnerability to climate changes.
259 Assessing the Vulnerability of Watersheds to Climate Change