Climate Change Will Necessitate Flexible Planning in CA Bay-Delta-River System

A new study published in PLoS ONE by USGS scientists and other colleagues investigates the likely impacts of climate change on the biology, geography, and water supplies of California’s San Francisco Bay-Delta-River System. According to Science Daily the results show that increasing water temperature and salinity could reduce habitat quality for native species, including winter-run Chinook salmon. Other impacts include diminished snow packs, earlier snowmelt, and sea-level rise, all potentially resulting in increased intensity and frequency of flooding. Adapting to these changing conditions will require flexible planning efforts as the system undergoes change.