A new report predicts the impacts of climate change on the Rocky Mountain West’s trout populations, and for trouty types, the news isn’t all that rosy:
If nothing is done to reduce human-produced greenhouse gas emissions—the primary culprit behind global warming—trout habitat throughout the Rocky Mountain region could be reduced by 50 percent or more by the end of the century.
The “Trout in Trouble” issue paper was written by the NRDC and Trout Unlimited’s Montana State Chapter, and is available in two different formats.
A four-page summary paper is available here (.pdf alert), and those wishing to read the full paper should point their browsers at this address (another .pdf document).
Rather than speaking in generalities, the paper looks at the probable effects on eight different Western trout rivers, including Gila, Green River, Fraser River, the Bighorn, the Big Hole, and others.
Will we all be fishing tailwaters in a few decades? And are those even “climate change proof?” (hint: not really).
Even if you’re willing to wave good-bye to a large chunk of our trout populations, the economic impacts are clear:
In Colorado alone, sport fishing in 2002 had a total economic impact of more than $800 million and supported nearly 11,000 jobs.
Sadly, you don’t get a lot of attention from politicians until you start talking pocketbooks. In this case, somebody’s pocketbook is going to take a beating.
The good news? The West is rich in sustainable resources like wind, solar and geothermal, and could actually stem the tide of climate change by developing those resources.
See you in the reading room, Tom Chandler.
Recent comments