Connectivity, Climate Change, and the Clean Water Act: Evolving protections of Oregon’s Headwater Streams

Headwater streams are essential habitat and provide clean water to downstream users. Their federal protection depends upon their connectivity to downstream waters, which is changing in response to climate and weather patterns. In this talk, I review both the science and policy that govern headwater stream protections. In particular, I highlight a 70+ year study at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest (near Blue River, Oregon in the Cascade Range) to document the changing flows, connectivity, and protections that could be anticipated in the coming decades.