Sunday, August 2, 2026
Science

Climate change could dramatically reduce water flowing from the West's headwaters

The small mountain streams that feed many of the West's rivers may face a much drier future. A new study led by NAU researchers found that groundwater-fed streamflow, known as base flow, has been steadily declining across headwater watersheds in the western United States since 1950 and could decreas...

Climate change could dramatically reduce water flowing from the West's headwaters
Image: Phys.org
The small mountain streams that feed many of the West's rivers may face a much drier future. A new study led by NAU researchers found that groundwater-fed streamflow, known as base flow, has been steadily declining across headwater watersheds in the western United States since 1950 and could decrease by 45% to 65% by the end of this century if current climate trends continue.

Originally published at Phys.org

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