Climate Warming Threatens U.S. Salmon

January 7, 2008 10:35 a.m. EST

Portland, OR (AHN) - Biologists say that global climate warming is threatening salmon in America and will probably wipe out the most fragile runs of salmon in the Columbia River and other U.S. streams.

According to a report in Portland's The Oregonian newspaper, scientists have said that the cold-water fish could soon be fighting for their survival as the water in rivers and streams continues to grow warmer.

Aquatic ecologist Robert Bilby said that temperatures are expected to rise by 0.2 to 1 degree per decade over the next century. That means that instead of snow falling more rain will fall, not only warming the water but causing flooding that will sweep salmon eggs away from their hatching areas, destroying many of them.

Water temperatures are already high enough to be lethal to salmon at times. For example, 100 dead salmon found in July wiped out the salmon population in one tributary to the Columbia River, The Oregonian reports.

"With a warming climate, these are the sorts of things we will probably see more of," the UPI quoted Bilby. "We're talking about the survival of a cold-water fish in warming conditions."

Steelhead trout are also threatened in the U.S. by the global climate change that is warming rivers and streams.

By the year 2040, according to the Independent Scientific Advisory Board, river temperatures are expected to increase by nearly two degrees overall.