Application of Streamflow Reconstruction to Water Resources Management - Dendroclimatology - page 236

Table 8.1 Summary of some published streamflow reconstructions in western North America (annual, water year, or summer)

Mean flow +
(m 3 /s)

River
Reference

Reconstruction
period Hydrologic change

−

South Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
Case and MacDonald (2003) ∗

303 1470 1992 Relatively high mean flows in twentieth century. Droughts more

severe in 1840s than in twentieth century.

Columbia, Oregon
Gedalof et al. (2004)

5407 1750-1987 1840s most severe low flow of the past 250 years, but 1930s nearly as

extreme. Runoff affected by land-use changes in twentieth century.

Sacramento, California
Earle and Fritts (1986) ∗

340 1560-1979 Both highest (1854-1916) and lowest (1917-1950) flow periods

occurred in the past 150 years.

Sacramento, Yuba, Feather, American
(sum), California
Meko et al. (2001) ∗

746 869-1977 Lowest average (10-50 years) means near 1300. Extreme single year

low flows in late 1500s.

Yellowstone, Wyoming
Graumlich et al. (2003)

88 1706-1977 Relatively high mean flows in twentieth century (except 1930s).

Drought of 1930s more severe than any reconstructed drought.

Colorado River, Arizona
Stockton and Jacoby ( 1976 ) ∗

588 1520-1961 Longest period of high-flow years 1907-1930. Drought in late 1500s

longer and more severe than any in twentieth century.

Colorado River, Arizona
Woodhouse et al. (2006) ∗

588 1490-1997 Severity of recent drought (2000-2004) likely exceeded six times in

past 5 centuries, and as recently as the 1850s.

South Platte, Colorado
Woodhouse and Lukas (2006) ∗

11 1685-1987 Record low twentieth-century flows are exceeded in severity in the late

1840s. Anomalous and persistent high flows in the early twentieth
century

Middle Boulder Creek, Colorado
Woodhouse (2001)

1.5 1703-1987 Low flows less persistent in twentieth century than nineteenth century.

Multiyear drought in 1840s more severe than any in twentieth
century.