Efforts to restore the salmon population in the Pacific Northwest and other regions will be affected by global warming, UW researchers reported.

According to a study released earlier this month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and scientists from the UW, higher air temperatures are likely to increase water temperatures, which could be harmful to salmon during the spawning, incubation and rearing stages of their lifecycle.

The research was specific for the habitat and populations of the Chinook and Summer Chum salmon, said Mary Ruckelshaus, UW alumna and NOAA team leader for the salmon risk evaluation group.

The study focused on the Pacific Northwest, but science shows that other areas will be affected as well.

The warming temperatures in the Northern regions may make things better for the salmon, while southern warming temperatures may have a negative effect on the salmon, said Tom Quinn, a professor at the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences.

The diversity in the salmon species and the varying temperature changes make finding a solution for the salmon a difficult task.

There are 16 watersheds working on recovery plans for the salmon population, yet the team lacks research for some watersheds, Ruckelshaus said.

"We know the future environment is going to be changing," Ruckelshaus said. "The NOAA modeled the research to make sure the science is as good as it can be. ... However, our research has only covered the specific species [Chinook and Summer Chum], and we are trying to broaden it."

However, the temperature increase is not the only thing that causes difficulties for the salmon.

"Climate change is projected to bring changes in not only average temperatures, but also levels of precipitation and the distribution of precipitation that falls as rain or snow, and the time of the year when the snowpack melts," Quinn said. "These may be at least as important as the temperature itself."

Whether the plans to recover the salmon will be successful and the salmon populations will replenish is still unclear.

"[The recovery plans] are very aggressive and forward-thinking for habitat and hatchery harvesting measures," Ruckelshaus said. "They have long-term strategies, and they have more specific implementation plans over ten year periods ... but it will be 30-50 years before the salmon recover. They are in it for the long haul."

Apart from scientific and governmental efforts, citizens can play an important role in the restoration of the salmon population as well.

"The restoration that we modeled has a lot of citizen action," Ruckelshaus said.

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions, helping to maintain a clean water supply for the salmon and removing old logging roads are just a few things that could help the salmon, she added.

There is still hope that the restoration plans will be able to help the salmon populations in the long run.

"What salmon mostly need is access to high quality habitat with good, regular supply of clean water and limits on fishing," Quinn said. "Salmon are actually pretty resilient, and I am optimistic that we can keep strong populations in many areas."

Reach reporter Celia Hunko at news@thedaily.washington.edu.