Oregon Natural Desert Association

Climate Change Challenge: less water, worse droughts

Grant Award: $110,000; Year Awarded: 2016

Climate models indicate that the John Day Basin region will experience climate change impacts such as increases in temperature, decreased overall precipitation, reduced snowpack, and increases in episodic heavy rainfall events. These climatic Changes will increase stream temperatures and lead to less water being available for drought sensitive riparian plant communities and native fish and wildlife. To address these impacts, ONDA will employ site specific restoration techniques that will achieve critical climate adaptation goals that include lowering water temperatures by creating shade and slowing stream flows and increasing surface and ground water which will allow fish, wildlife, plants and the ecosystem to be resilient to climate change.