Journey Down the Clackamas: Thermal Habitat Across Time and Space – A Collaborative Study of Stream Temperature Projections for the Clackamas River Basin

Join us for a special edition of the “Journey Down the Clackamas” series, featuring an in-depth look at the Clackamas River Basin stream temperature monitoring and modeling project. This collaboration between CRBC, Portland State University and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife highlights the profound influence of stream temperature on aquatic ecosystem health and the critical habitats of cold-water species like steelhead, coho, and Chinook salmon.

Drawing on over 30 years of stream temperature data and recent climate projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the study explores how warming scenarios could reshape thermal regimes and habitat availability in the Clackamas River Basin. Presenters Dave Bugni (CRBC), Michael Krochta (Portland State University), Dr. Heejun Chang (Portland State University), and Kara Anlauf-Dunn (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife) will showcase how stream temperature models reveal the interplay of landscape features and in-stream conditions in shaping stream sensitivity to air temperature changes. Key findings include the identification of high-priority thermal refugia amongst projected reductions in suitable habitats for salmonids under future warming scenarios.

This presentation also introduces a new interactive web tool that integrates thermal and habitat metrics to support strategic conservation and restoration planning, offering a valuable resource for land and resource managers.