A dataset of modeled flow metrics for streams in major river basins of the Western US for historical and future climate change scenarios

Climate change is projected to alter the flow regimes of streams and rivers, with consequences for physical processes and aquatic organisms. To study these hydrologic changes, we have developed a database of flow metrics for streams in the western US (extent shown on the map to the left) under historical conditions and climate change scenarios. These are based on daily simulations of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) macroscale hydrologic model produced by the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group. Trout Unlimited and the US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station used these model outputs to calculate a set of summary flow metrics to describe key attributes of the flow regime for each stream segment in the 1:100,000 scale National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) in the western US, excluding larger rivers. Datasets are available for the historical period 1978-1997 and future scenarios associated with the A1B emissions scenario for the 2040s and 2080s, including (1) the ensemble mean of 10 global climate models (GCMs), (2) MIROC3.2, a GCM that projects a warmer and drier summers than the ensemble mean, and (3) PCM1, a model that projects cooler and wetter summers than the ensemble mean. Please see the Dataset Description for more information and important caveats on data accuracy and appropriate use.

Dataset Downloads

Coastal PNW

Interior Columbia

Upper Missouri

Platte

Great Basin

Upper Colorado

 

Extent Shapefile (zip)

Publications and Documentation

Dataset Description (updated 27 June 2011)

 

Wenger, Seth J.; Luce, Charles H.; Hamlet, Alan F.; Isaak, Daniel J.; Neville, Helen M.  2010.  Macroscale hydrologic modeling of ecologically relevant flow metrics.   Water Resources Research. 46: W09513. doi:10.1029/2009WR008839.

 

Wenger, S., D. Isaak and C. Luce, 2010. Comparison of hydrologic predictions from the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model and the MC1 model to observed gage data in the region around the Shoshone National Forest. Trout Unlimited/ US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID.

 

Modeled Stream Flow Metrics Briefing Paper

Auxiliary Resources and Links

Stream Segment- Subwatershed Link File
Hydrologic metrics can be summarized by subwatershed (12-digit hydrologic unit code) or higher-level watersheds or basins. Use the following table to link stream segments to their corresponding 12-digit hydrologic unit codes. [zipped ccomid-huc12-all.zip file]

 

NHD Plus

Climate Impacts Group, University of Washington

Trout Unlimited Science Page

Contact

Seth Wenger

email:swenger [at] tu.org

phone: 208-373-4386'

 

Charlie Luce

email: cluce [at] fs.fed.us

phone: 208-373-4382