H.J. Andrews workshop: Cross-scale controls on low flows and stream temperature regimes in headwater catchments of western North America

The most important resource from national forests is not timber or scenic recreation spots, but something that often goes unseen: water.

Over the years, the Pacific Northwest Research Station has put considerable expertise and capacity toward making water more visible. Our legacy of innovation in watershed sciences includes advances in hydrology, aquatic ecology, fish biology, geomorphology, food webs, forest management, and plant ecophysiology. H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest has been at the epicenter of much of this pioneering work.

H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest: supporting research and collaboration

Research ecologist Sherri Johnson leads a discussion during the Northwest Waters workshop held in the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. USDA Forest Service photo.

In October 2022, 34 people gathered at H.J. Andrews for a science workshop to discuss the factors controlling low flows and stream temperature regimes in western North America.

Participants came from universities (Oregon State University; Simon Fraser University; The University of British Columbia; The University of Utah; University of

Texas at Austin; University of California, Berkeley; and University of Nevada, Reno), and from multiple land management and regulatory agencies (Canadian Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, and U.S. Geological Survey). The USDA Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest, Pacific Southwest, and Rocky Mountain Research Stations were also represented as well as its Pacific Northwest Region.

The 4-day workshop brought together diverse expertise to assess the current state of knowledge, and collaboratively explore the mechanisms controlling low-flow regimes and their late-summer stream temperatures. This inquiry was motivated by broad interest in predicting where streams might dry up or become too hot for fish or other aquatic organisms.

Participants discussed critical questions: How does the geology of a watershed, as revealed in the structure and architecture of the subsurface, affect late-season streamflow? What role do the snowpack or the trees play in influencing how much water is in the stream and what temperature it is? How do we take what we know from intensively studied landscapes and apply it to places where data is limited?

Launching a new research initiative: Northwest Water

The workshop was conceived and organized by a core team: Gordon Grant, Sherri Johnson, Steve Wondzell, David Dralle, Becky Fasth, Garett Pignotti, John Mallard, and Michael Wisdom, along with leadership support from Nora Miebach and Liz Dent. Gathering in person at H.J. Andrews provided a literal breath of fresh air after 2½ years of pandemic-induced isolation and video calls. 

Attendees were inspired by the beautiful setting (and enjoyed the food prepared by a Job Corps team). They were also delighted by a fascinating presentation on science communication by Nalini Nadkarni on innovative ideas about expanding traditional channels of science delivery and the rewards of “tapestry thinking,” which is a way of thinking about complex problems that involves integrating multiple perspectives, disciplines, and sources of information to create a rich and nuanced understanding of the issue at hand. 

Being together in person revealed what is sometimes overlooked: at its best, science can be a social activity. Collaborative thinking can fortify understanding and allow us to transcend individual fields of study. This has become more important than ever. Information has become so abundant, issues so complex, and expertise so specialized that trying to solve problems or generate new ideas alone puts any organization at a disadvantage. 

The workshop kick-started momentum for a new Pacific Northwest Research Station endeavor: the Northwest Water Research Initiative, a targeted four-year enterprise that will focus on developing new knowledge to assist resource managers and society in increasing the resilience of watersheds to rapid environmental change, including increasingly extreme events. Some of the most prestigious experts and high-profile partners in the region made great progress in collaboratively defining what the next big questions will be and what the most useful approaches might be for addressing them. This information will be valuable as the station begins shaping the Northwest Water Research Initiative. 

Related Research Priorities:Science to manage for resilient landscapes and provide ecosystem services