PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE:
An overview of climate change’s complex effects
on the water cycle
Liz Payton, Western Water Assessment, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder
Human-caused climate change is intensifying the water cycle across the globe. Averages and extremes are changing as the physical processes that govern the water cycle respond to the warming atmosphere. Extreme weather events are increasing, and combined hazards, like drought followed by wildfire followed by debris flows, are altering the landscape. Water cycle changes differ across regions and seasons and have a variety of impacts on social and ecological systems. We will review what we know about recent and future changes relevant to Colorado and the Front Range, and how we know it, and what we don’t know but need to better understand.
Water in a warming alpine: Surprises in the water quality record of Niwot Ridge, Colorado, and beyond
Eve-Lyn Hinckley, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder
The deposition of strong acids or “acid rain” has decreased substantially over the past 30 years in the Colorado alpine region. The pH of precipitation has followed these declines and has increased to near pre-Industrial values, consistent with trends across the continental U.S. These trends show the impacts of environmental air regulations and are the beginning of an environmental success story. Yet, despite declining atmospheric sulfur deposition, there are surprising increases in sulfur concentrations in Colorado mountain streams and alpine systems globally. Sulfur increases are likely driven by warming mountain climates, which may lead to acidification of streams and mobilization of heavy metals. However, we do not observe acidification, and the acidity of surface waters is declining over time. Overall, this high alpine watershed is trending towards pre-Industrial conditions with respect to water quality, but many of the physical, chemical, and ecological phenomena within the warming alpine watershed require further research.
Algae in the Front Range and beyond
Sarah A. Spaulding, US Geological Survey and INSTAAR, University of Colorado Boulder
There are many types of algae, most of which are ecologically beneficial. Algae are photosynthetic, harnessing energy from the sun to support aquatic food webs. Algae are incredibly diverse, even absurdly diverse, organisms. However, there many ways that some species of algae can “grow too much,” forming harmful “blooms.” I will provide an introduction to algae in our local area, including algal issues such as harmful algal blooms, commonly called HABs. The increased incidence of HABs is related to human sources of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) to streams and lakes, increases in temperature, growing season, and concomitant changes in bottom sediments. I will provide an introduction to algae in streams and lakes across high to lower elevations of the Front Range.
Rewetting the sponge: Managing soils to contribute to climate mitigation and enhancing biodiversity
Tim Seastedt, INSTAAR and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder
Attempts in Colorado to rewet upland soils to benefit threatened species began with a Nature Conservancy-sponsored effort in 2012 to enhance Gunnison sage grouse habitat. The work appears successful; activities are ongoing and the same strategies are being applied elsewhere. These upland restoration actions have now merged with riparian restoration efforts (e.g., plantings and beaver dam analogs) to demonstrate how “natural infrastructures” such as these can benefit both native biological diversity and the productivity of treated habitats. These characteristics can mitigate local warming effects, and the actions also have potential benefits in reducing the severity of wildfires.
