watervulnerability

Coconino National Forest Watershed Vulnerability Assessment, Southwest Region (R3)
Figure 19. Combined Values and Sensitivities
STEP 4 - Evaluate and Categorize Vulnerability
The final analysis step was to overlay areas with the highest exposure to potential climate change with
areas identified as having the highest resource value and sensitivity. As discussed in the section on
exposure, predicted temperature and precipitation changes across the Forest appear to be fairly uniform,
with the greatest hydrologic change likely to be the result of changes in snowmelt. Based on review of
the projections for change to runoff and snow water equivalent, and knowledge of the Forest conditions
and runoff processes, the ID team decided that those watersheds with elevations above 6400 ft would
probably be most susceptible to change, and could be termed most vulnerable. Subwatersheds were
evaluated and placed into three categories as displayed in Figure 20. These are low exposure, with no area
above 6400 ft; moderate exposure, with 10% of area above 6400 ft; and high exposure, with 90% of area
above 6400 ft.
150 Assessing the Vulnerability of Watersheds to Climate Change