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Increase aquatic habitat resilience to low summer flows

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Approach

Increase aquatic habitat resilience to low summer flows.

Tactics

  • Increase off-channel habitat and protect refugia in side channels and channels fed by wetlands.
  • Protect wetland-fed streams that maintain higher summer flows.
  • Design channels at stream crossings to provide a deep thalweg for fish passage during low-flow periods.
  • Increase deep water habitat and channel morphology.
  • Reduce width to depth ratios to reduce solar radiation in stream.
  • Maintain vegetation density and composition for optimal water balance and snow accumulation.
  • Restore mid-and high-elevation wetlands that have been altered by land use.

Sensitivity

Strategy

RELATED TO THIS APPROACH:

Climate Change Effect

Resource Area

Relevant Region

Midwest
Northeast
Northern Plains
Northwest
Southeast
Southern Plains
Southwest