Millennial-Length Records of Streamflow From Three Major Upper Colorado River Tributaries1

摘要: Gray, Stephen T., Jeffrey J. Lukas, and Connie A. Woodhouse, 2011. Millennial-Length Records of Streamflow From Three Major Upper Colorado River Tributaries. Journal the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(4):702-712. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2011.00535.x Abstract:  Drought, climate change, shifting consumptive use are prompting a widespread reassessment water availability in basin. Here, we present millennial-length records year (October-September) streamflow for key tributaries: White, Yampa, Little Snake Rivers. Based on tree rings, these represent first paleohydrological reconstructions from subbasins to overlap with series Medieval droughts (∼ad 800 1300). The show marked interannual variability imbedded nonstationary behavior over decadal multidecadal time scales. These suggest that, even millennial context, gaged flows handful years (e.g., 1977 2002) were extremely dry. However, much greater duration magnitude than any instrumental record regular features prior 1900. Likewise point unusual wetness gage period, potential recent observations paint an overly optimistic picture regional supplies. future will be determined by combination inherent hydroclimatic broad range human-induced changes. It is then essential that managers, users, policy makers alike consider broader scenarios offered alone.