Tidal–hydrological dynamics of water temperature across freshwater forested wetlands on the northeastern Pacific coast

Buenau, Kate E.; Diefenderfer, Heida L.; Mckeon, Maggie A.; Borde, Amy B.

doi:10.1111/1752-1688.13249

Title: Tidal–hydrological dynamics of water temperature across freshwater forested wetlands on the northeastern Pacific coast

Journal Article · 02 January 2025 · Journal of the American Water Resources Association

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.13249 · OSTI ID:2496313

^[1]; Diefenderfer, Heida L. ^[2]; Mckeon, Maggie A. ^[1]; Borde, Amy B. ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sequim, WA (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sequim, WA (United States); University of Washington, Seattle WA (United States)

Tidal freshwater forests were once extensive across temperate coastlines, but loss and fragmentation have made estimation of their ecosystem functions challenging. We measured water temperature for 2 years in three Sitka spruce tidal forests, a restoration site, and an adjacent emergent marsh on the Columbia River, Washington, United States. We assessed spatial variability of water temperature within sites including the effects of hydrology, differences among bay and tributary tidal forests, and differences between the tidal forests and the mainstem Columbia, the restoration site, and the emergent marsh. The tidal forests nearest to the bay had lower interior water temperatures than their channel confluences by up to 2.5°C (weekly median temperature) and 2.0°C (weekly maximum temperature), with most cooling occurring during the low-flow months of July–September. Tributary sites had maximum temperatures up to 1.9°C cooler than bay sites and 4.2°C cooler than the mainstem. Temperatures in the two bay sites decreased by -0.16°C/100 m and -0.07°C/100 m, on average. The restoration site had the smallest within-site temperature gradient. Differences in maximum temperatures were greatest when tidal range was low, while higher tidal ranges were associated with warmer and more variable site interiors relative to their confluences. These results suggest that water temperatures in these tidal forests can provide temperature refugia for cold water biota including salmon.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2496313

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--204947

Journal Information:: Journal of the American Water Resources Association, Journal Name: Journal of the American Water Resources Association Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 61; ISSN 1093-474X

Publisher:: Wiley - American Water Resources AssociationCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
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Title: Tidal–hydrological dynamics of water temperature across freshwater forested wetlands on the northeastern Pacific coast

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