| Citation |
Picketts, I., Déry, S. J., Parkes, M. and with support from Robert, T., 2014: Changing Landscapes, Changing Lives: Exploring climate change impacts in the Nechako Watershed, and implications to natural resource development, Technical Report. |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
The Nechako River is an important waterway in North-central British Columbia (BC). The river forms the second largest tributary of the Fraser River and provides valuable habitat for salmon, white sturgeon and trout fish species. It is also central to the lives of several First Nations and non-First Nations communities in the region. People who live in the Nechako River Basin (NRB) enjoy easy access to the outdoors and a diverse range of recreational activities including hunting, fishing, boating and snowshoeing. The primary economic drivers in the region are related to natural resource extraction. The NRB has undergone many changes over the last 100 years. An abundance of hydro-electric, agricultural, forestry and mining activities have, and continue to, change the landscape. Most notably the Kenney Dam - constructed by Alcan in the 1950s to power an aluminum smelter in Kitimat – has permanently changed the hydrological and ecological nature of the basin. The current outbreak of the mountain pine beetle has also had significant impacts in northern BC, and is ultimately expected to kill up to three quarters of the mature pine trees in parts of the watershed. These changes have altered the NRB and the way that people live and work within it. A variety of future changes have the potential to further transform and impact the river basin over the next 50 years and beyond. One major source of future uncertainty relates to climate change, as northern areas of BC are warming at nearly double the global average rate. A number of research studies have been conducted that focused on climate change in the NRB. These studies show that air temperatures have increased by approximately 1.6°C over the last century, and that there has been increasing rainfall and decreasing snowfall over this period. Future temperature projections, created by analyzing the outputs of Global Climate Models (GCMs), indicate that the NRB is expected to become approximately 2°C warmer in the 2050s than baseline average conditions (1961-1990). An increase in total precipitation is projected (although there will be a decrease in snow) as well as an increase in total annual river discharge. These and other changes have the potential to significantly affect the flow and flooding regimes of the Nechako River. A detailed review of nine research studies focused on the in the Nechako region reveal four main categories of climate change impacts that are highly significant in the watershed: 1. Ecosystems: Climate change is changing the way that ecosystems function in many ways. Two ecosystems types of particular concern are: I. Forests: Climate change is having a large impact on how forests grow, what types of trees grow in forests and how (and how often) forests are disturbed. II. Aquatic ecosystems: First Nations and non-First Nations people depend on the rivers. Impacts related to salmon and white sturgeon populations are extremely important. 2. Water supply: Climate change is leading to impacts on the amount and the quality of water available. Water supply in the NRB is being affected by a number of factors including decreased snowfall, increased winter rain, decreased soil moisture, more forest pests and warming temperatures. These factors may drive more extremes such as floods. 3. Agriculture and food security: A warming climate can increase growing seasons in more northerly latitudes; however, an increase in extreme weather events (that can spoil or damage crops and farm infrastructure) may offset these positive changes. Implications related to losses of traditional foods are important and must be considered. 4. Community well-being: Climate change and related changes to social-ecological systems can affect the health, well-being and resilience of communities within watersheds in many interrelated ways. Climate change has had a direct effect on many sectors of the economy, and all impacts ultimately affect human and community wellness. The impacts associated with climate change cannot be considered independently of the developments and changes that have already occurred in the NRB, or the developments and changes that may occur in the future. As noted, many human activities (such as agriculture, hydro-electric development, mining and forestry) have already changed the nature of the region, and continue to alter the natural and human systems within it. The following table (Table i) provides a preliminary assessment of the degree of interaction regarding climate impacts and resource development. Many other activities are also occurring on the landscape such as fishing, hunting and trapping (commercially and recreationally), non-consumptive recreation and tourism activities, and renewable energy development projects. To effectively manage the NRB we must consider the cumulative impacts of all activities and changes, and if the natural and human systems in the region can adapt to them. Communities can apply the existing knowledge regarding climate change in the NRB to help proactively plan for the future and responsibly manage development activities so that they do not cause irreversible or unacceptable impacts. The information in this report can help in the establishment of limits and acceptable thresholds and change for the watershed, and lead to progress toward the integrated management of land and water resources in a way that promotes economic, social and environmental benefits for all people within the Nechako watershed. |
