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Monday January 20, 2025

USGS

As droughts become more frequent and severe, freshwater ecosystems and the valuable fisheries they support face increasing challenges. Drought reduces streamflows, raises water temperatures, and stresses fish populations, particularly cold-water species like trout. These impacts can lead to declines in trout populations, threatening biodiversity, ecosystem health, and local economies. To address these threats, scientists at the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center and Montana State University are developing Drought Early Warning Systems (DEWS) to help resource managers better understand and manage drought effects on valuable freshwater fisheries. By integrating biological, hydrological, and climate data, DEWS provide real-time drought forecasts and long-term insights into how water management impacts fish populations and freshwater habitats. This enables proactive decision-making to protect fish, water resources, and human communities. With the 2025 launch of Fish-Cast, a web-based data visualization and decision-making platform, DEWS will help stakeholders across the western U.S. prepare for and respond to drought, strengthening resilience in freshwater ecosystems.

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