Climate Change Impacts

Climate Change Impacts at the MNRRA 

Increases in precipitation and flooding events are a key climate change concern at the MNRRA
Increases in heavy precipitation and flooding events are key climate change concerns at the MNRRA; Photo Credit: Courtney Peterson, Colorado State University

Key climate change impacts considered for the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) include: 

  • Increased temperatures, especially at night, and increased precipitation in heavier rain and flooding events 
  • Increased drought stress in the summer and dramatic decreases in snow water equivalent 

Climate change will present challenges and opportunities for accomplishing the management objectives in ash-elm floodplain forest ecosystems, like those in the MNRRA, including:

CHALLENGES

  • Tree species currently found in the MNRRA are expected to see reduced habitat suitability under climate change, including northern white cedar, black willow, silver maple, cottonwood, and boxelder 
  • Ash species are declining due to emerald ash borer and are expected to largely disappear from the forest canopy 

 OPPORTUNITES

  • Some tree species are expected to have increased habitat suitability under climate change, including bur oak, swamp white oak, hackberry, American elm, and red mulberry
  • Habitat suitability for honey locust, sycamore, and swamp white oak is also projected to increase (currently found in similar floodplain forests in southern Minnesota and Iowa) 

 

Climate Change Impacts
Management Goals & Treatments
Monitoring & Next Steps