1854 Treaty Authority: Stream monitoring project | Climate Change Response Framework

Start-up
Planning
Action
Evaluation

Stream monitoring project to assess the impacts of climate change on cold and cool-water streams and aquatic beings of the 1854 Ceded Territory.

Climate change is expected to disproportionately impact marginalized communities, including indigenous communities. The 1854 Treaty Authority is entrusted with protecting and preserving the off-reservation treaty right of bandmembers—rights that face additional and increasing threats due to climate change. Changes in water quality and quantity under future climate conditions are of great concern to the bands, as these changes affect the health and survival of aquatic beings. Salmonids, in particular, are expected to face significant challenges from climate change-induced environmental impacts, which would degrade habitat.

small creek rapid with grass and alder in the background

Project Area

The 1854 Ceded Territory was created by the Treaty of LaPointe, agreed upon by bands of Minnesota Chippewa and the federal government. Under this treaty, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa retain and exercise off-reservation rights in this area. The ceded territory encompasses present day northeastern Minnesota.

Management Goals

Map of project monitoring locations and stream locations within Arrowhead Region

Goal: Monitor stream water quality and characteristics.
Objective: Monitor water quality and characterize stream flow, substrate, and suitable habitat areas at designated sampling sites for long-term shifts or changes in response to climate and environmental changes.

Goal: Monitor aquatic organism assemblages and population changes or shifts.
Objective: Monitor fish and invertebrate assemblages at designated sampling sites for long-term shifts or changes in response to climate and environmental changes.

Climate Change Impacts

For this project, the most important anticipated climate change impacts include:

Northern Minnesota temperatures will increase between 4F and 10F by the end of the century, with more warming during winter.
Intense precipitation events will continue to become more frequent in northern Minnesota.
Surface water temperatures are expected to rise due to warming air temperatures.
Northern Minnesota’s winter snowpack will be reduced from 40-80% by the end of the century.
Low streamflow events may become more frequent and deliver lower water volumes

Challenges and Opportunities

Climate change will present challenges and opportunities for accomplishing the management objectives of this project, including:

Challenges

Increases in stream temperature, reduced dissolved oxygen (DO), or increased occurrence of disruptive weather events could directly and negatively impact streams and their communities.

Many cold-water stream species require cold, high DO, clean water to propagate. Climate change could negatively affect these parameters through rising stream temperature, lower DO, and loss of clean water from runoff and bank erosion.

Opportunities

Uncertain—climate change may change stream watersheds in ways that could create new stream characteristics that appeal to other organisms.

Uncertain—climate change may change stream watersheds in ways that could be beneficial for other species to be introduced or established in the absence of native species.

Adaptation Actions

Project participants used the Adaptation Workbook to develop several adaptation actions for this project, including:

Area/Topic

Approach

Tactics

Sustain fundamental hydrologic processes

1.3: Maintain and restore stream channel form and function

Plant resilient native plants along banks to inhibit the deposition of sediment into streams.

Sustain fundamental hydrologic processes

1.2: Maintain and restore hydrologic connectivity

Redesign or replace culverts and other control structures that impede the movement of fish upstream to cooler water sources and better habitat conditions. Bottomless culverts and removal or modification of barriers to allow fish passage.

Account for and communicate risks to human well-being

4.4 Improve public awareness regarding climate change and climate-exacerbated risks

Conduct public outreach and engagement through events and publications to raise awareness of impacts of climate change to streams and community.