EPSCOR SCTC Salmon 2050 Scenario 2: Industrial Boom

The sustainability of salmon within this ever-changing climate is a question posed by many whose lives focus on this natural resource and its future. South Central Alaska is no exception to this, and as such the Salmon 2050 Project through EPSCOR places focus upon the South Central area to address this issue. Five hypothetical scenarios have been constructed in order to address the future of salmon.

Scenario 2: “Climate warms significantly as indicated by an average July air temperature increase of 1.6 C across the watershed. Evaporative loss causes drying across the lowlands, exacerbating the warming effects on low gradient rivers and streams. Economic development increases with new liquid natural gas facility in Nikiski and continued development of oil and gas wells in the Cook Inlet. Ocean acidification leads to a 10% reduction in food availability for salmon. Local population growth follows the current trend with 25,000 residents living in the watershed. Both sport fishing and personal use fisher participation declines.”