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Model-based scenario planning to inform climate change adaptation in the Northern Great Plains—Final report

Open-File Report 2017-1129
By: , , , , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171129

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Public Summary

We worked with managers in two focal areas to plan for the uncertain future by integrating quantitative climate change scenarios and simulation modeling into scenario planning exercises.

In our central North Dakota focal area, centered on Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, managers are concerned about how changes in flood severity and growing conditions for native and invasive plants may affect archaeological resources and cultural landscapes associated with the Knife and Missouri Rivers. Climate projections and hydrological modeling based on those projections indicate plausible changes in spring and summer soil moisture ranging from a 7 percent decrease to a 13 percent increase and maximum winter snowpack (important for spring flooding) changes ranging from a 13 percent decrease to a 47 percent increase. Facilitated discussions among managers and scientists exploring the implications of these different climate scenarios for resource management revealed potential conflicts between protecting archeological sites and fostering riparian cottonwood forests. The discussions also indicated the need to prioritize archeological sites for excavation or protection and culturally important plant species for intensive management attention.

In our southwestern South Dakota focal area, centered on Badlands National Park, managers are concerned about how changing climate will affect vegetation production, wildlife populations, and erosion of fossils, archeological artifacts, and roads. Climate scenarios explored by managers and scientists in this focal area ranged from a 13 percent decrease to a 33 percent increase in spring precipitation, which is critical to plant growth in the northern Great Plains region, and a slight decrease to a near doubling of intense rain events. Facilitated discussions in this focal area concluded that greater effort should be put into preparing for emergency protection, excavation, and preservation of exposed fossils or artifacts and revealed substantial opportunities for different agencies to learn from each other and cooperate on common management goals. Follow up quantitative simulation modeling of grassland dynamics helped quantify the degree of change expected in vegetation production under the wide range of climate scenarios and suggested that (a) low grazing rates could be adversely affecting vegetation composition in the national park and (b) understanding of the management practices needed to maintain desired vegetation conditions is incomplete.

Suggested Citation

Symstad, A.J., Miller, B.W., Friedman, J.M., Fisichelli, N.A., Ray, A.J., Rowland, Erika, and Schuurman, G.W., 2017, Model-based scenario planning to inform climate change adaptation in the Northern Great Plains—Final report: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1129, 22 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171129.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • 1. Public Summary
  • 2. Project Summary
  • 3. Report Body
  • 4. References Cited


Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Model-based scenario planning to inform climate change adaptation in the Northern Great Plains—Final report
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2017-1129
DOI 10.3133/ofr20171129
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Description Report: vii, 22 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details