Drought and climate change have been having severe impacts on USFWS water and aquatic resources in the semi-arid western U.S. and the Mountain-Prairie Region (MPR), and a recent study showed that compromised water management capability and flow alteration, often related to drought and climate change, are the greatest threats to National Wildlife Refuges across the region. Better quantitative information is needed on the extent of our region-wide water resources, and current and potential impacts of drought and climate change on water and aquatic habitats. This goal of this study is for FWS and USGS to work cooperatively using the USGS Monthly Water Balance Model to evaluate potential future impacts of climate change on water resources at all refuges across the MPR, and analyze potential future increases in intermittency and effects on aquatic connectivity and habitats. This information will provide needed information for future water management planning, adaptive management, and mitigation, so that refuges can be more resilient to climate change impacts and will not continue to experience increasing water shortages.
