Final Report: Columbia River Basin Tribes Climate Change Capacity Assessment
Dates
Publication Date
2015-10
Citation
Final Report for "Columbia River Basin Tribes Climate Change Capacity Assessment": .
Summary
The Columbia River Basin is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest. It is 258,000 square miles in size encompassing large portions of the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana as well as British Columbia. Climate change is expected to significantly alter the ecology and economy of the Columbia River Basin and Tribal communities are among the most climate-sensitive. The Columbia and its tributaries have been central to the region's Tribal culture and economy for thousands of years. Models predict warmer temperatures, more precipitation as rainfall and decreased snowfall occur over the next 50 years, which will directly affect the abundance of culturally significant foods, such as salmon, deer, root plants, and [...]
Summary
The Columbia River Basin is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest. It is 258,000 square miles in size encompassing large portions of the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Montana as well as British Columbia. Climate change is expected to significantly alter the ecology and economy of the Columbia River Basin and Tribal communities are among the most climate-sensitive. The Columbia and its tributaries have been central to the region's Tribal culture and economy for thousands of years. Models predict warmer temperatures, more precipitation as rainfall and decreased snowfall occur over the next 50 years, which will directly affect the abundance of culturally significant foods, such as salmon, deer, root plants, and berries. These foods are important for ceremonies and subsistence, and in some instances commercial activities. Tribes’ access to traditional hunting, fishing, and gathering sites is guaranteed by treaty, executive order, and agreements with the United States government.
The Tribal Leadership Forum (TLF) was awarded a grant by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a survey of 15 Columbia River Basin Tribes and 3 Intertribal Organizations to assess their policy and technical capacity and needs to address climate change. In summary, the 15 Tribes and 3 Intertribal organizations have disparate levels of technical, management, and policy capacity related to climate change planning and ability to implement adaptation plans. All of the Tribes and 3 Intertribal organizations have limited resources to adequately plan and adapt to climate change impacts affecting their communities and natural resources in the Columbia River Basin. The Columbia River Basin Tribes and 3 Intertribal organizations identified a variety of needs including increasing their technical, policy and management capacities, increasing tribal community awareness of climate change impacts, and increased funding and staffing to develop vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans, and effectively engage in regional climate planning forums.
