Pennsylvania Protects Coldwater Fisheries and Water Quality from
Climate Change

Oepa.gov/arc-x/pennsylvania-protects-coldwater-fisheries-and-water-quality-climate-change

In 2009, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Climate Change Act, the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection developed
a "Pennsylvania Climate Impact Assessment." This report
identified the climate risks to maintaining the health of freshwater
ecosystems among several other climate vulnerabilities.

The report identified warmer air temperatures, and the associated
increase of stream waters, may reduce the ability for certain
aquatic species to survive. This is supported by the EPA National
Water Program's Climate and Water Strategy which identifies
cold water fisheries as particularly susceptible to climate change
and associated changes in water temperature.

Allegheny National Forest

The Climate Impact Assessment specifically suggested that:

"Pennsylvania may see a decline in some of our most valued
coldwater communities... Of special concern is the impact of
higher temperatures and altered flow regimes on Eastern Brook Trout, not only because of its status as a recreationally and
culturally important species, but because it is an indicator of high water quality and may be an early victim of deleterious
impacts of climate change."

Pennsylvania, in recognition of the cultural, environmental, and economic importance of cold-water fisheries to the state, and
the vulnerability of possible transformation of cold water fisheries to warm water fisheries, identified the need to cover
freshwater stream health within their Climate Change Adaptation Report. Pennsylvania, in recognition of the need to adapt to
the changing climate and protect cold-water fisheries and freshwater ecosystems, outlined specific adaptation strategies for
state agencies within their Climate Adaptation Planning Report.

These strategies, if implemented, can help Pennsylvania adapt to future climate changes for freshwater ecosystems, and will
provide benefits to coldwater fisheries and stream health regardless of whether future climate impacts meet or exceed current
projections.

Applicable EPA

How Did They Do It?	Tools

Pennsylvania conducted a Vulnerability Assessment for their natural lands

• Pennsylvania conducted a risk analysis and vulnerability assessment of their natural lands
using global climate models from the IPCC AR4 and utilizing two different emissions
scenarios and averaging the results over three separate 20 year periods. The Pennsylvania
Climate Impact Assessment states that the "average of the projections from a suite of
GCMs is most often used because model-average backcasts [running the model for
previous decades using known data to determine accuracy] are found to more closely
replicate the historical climate record in Pennsylvania in the 20th Century than the
backcasts for any individual model, thus indicating greater reliability for the model average
than for individual models or subsets."

Hydrologic and Water
Quality System
models seven
categories of
pollutants to estimate
future impacts of
climate change on
water quality and
inform vulnerability
assessments.

Hydrologic and Water
Quality System

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How Did They Do It?

Applicable EPA
Tools

Developed a Climate Adaptation Report

• Developed an adaptation report that identified the key issues affecting freshwater streams
and the potential consequences of climate change, including impacts to water quality and
extent of native fish species. This report identified adverse impacts to specific fish species
as well as recommendations for adaptation actions and corresponding research needs to
determine effective adaptation strategies.

Adaptation to Attain
Clean Water Goals
can inform an
adaptation report by
discussing how
climate change may
affect the ability to
meet future goals of
the Clean Water Act.

Adaptation to Attain
Clean Water Goals

Identified specific recommendations

•	Identified how different environmental conditions would lead to differing resilience levels
with implications for the targeting of adaptation efforts. For example, the Pennsylvania
Climate Adaptation Planning Report specifically highlighted variable levels of resiliency
against climate risk as "Limestone spring streams with abundant, deep cold springs will be
more resilient in the face of hot weather extremes than freestone streams that rely on
surface and shallow groundwater sources. Trout conservation efforts are likely to be more
successful in the limestone streams compared to other coldwater streams."

•	Recommended adaptation actions including, identifying and protecting critical habitat and,
where applicable, removing small dams to conserve habitat and mitigate temperature
increases.

Synthesis of
Adaptation Strategies
Guidebook and the
Wildlife Adaptation
Strategy (PDF)(26 pp,
934 K, About
PDF) details available
adaptation options for
coastal and inland
areas.

Synthesis of
Adaptation Strategies
Guidebook

Wildlife Adaptation
Strategy (PDF)(26 pp,
934 K,)

Similar Cases and More Information

To view another case(s) that works to protect water quality and fish habitat, view the Piscataqua National Estuary Program or
Minnehana River case. For more information on communities that have adapted to maintain healthy streams for aquatic
organisms under changing climate conditions view Vermont Culvert Rebuild Policy, or the Maine Culvert Analysis Case.

• Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability

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