Jaime R. Goode

One of the components of the Climate Change and Mountain Basins project that is my central postdoc research, is an investigation of how climate change might alter the flow regime and different habitat factors for different species in different regions. To this end, we are working with the Northern Rivers Institute at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland to expand our analysis. I spent a month this past summer in the North Esk basin surveying basic reach-scale stream morphology characteristics in order to develop basin-scale predictions of salmonid habitat parameters (grain size for spawning).  The rain-dominated system and strong influence of glacial lag material in the streams yield a different channel forms than I have been used to seeing in the snow-melt basins of the western US.

In this research we investigate how climate-driven changes in streamflow will alter the physical habitat for salmonids in mountain basins of different regions and hydroclimates. We explore the potential consequences for the incubation period of different salmonid species. Watersheds in northern latitudes provide critical habitat for salmon and trout, and many species are adapted to the streamflow frequency, magnitude and timing of flows that can scour incubating embryos. Therefore, climate-related shifts in the flow regime are expected to influence the the early life stages of these species.

    Rivers carved into bedrock often display elegant sculpted features, such as potholes, reflecting processes of erosion. We are investigating the sediment transport dynamics of the gravel-sized tools potentially responsible for erosion (formation and maintenance) of these forms. These experiments were conducted this past winter at the Center for Ecohydraulics Stream Laboratory. Collaborators: Dr. Elowyn Yager (University of Idaho) and Dr. John Buffington (US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station)