|
|
| |
|
| PROGRAMS
|
| |
|
| RESOURCES
|
| |
|
| GET
INVOLVED |
| |
|
|
|
Temperature is recorded in degrees (°) Celsius (C). Temperature determines which kind of organisms can survive in water. Some bacteria can live in water that is almost boiling, at 98°C (208°F). Most plants, insects, and fish, however, require temperatures below 20°C (68°F). Temperature affects the amount of oxygen that can dissolve in the water and is therefore available to organisms for respiration. Fish and insects prefer lower temperatures because cold water holds greater levels of dissolved oxygen than warm water. The optimal temperature range for Brown Trout egg survival is between 2-13°C. Brown trout adults thrive at water temperatures between 12-19°C. The same holds true for macroinvertebrate stone, caddis, and mayfly nymphs. Most plants and other types of fish (such as bass, carp, and catfish) prefer warmer waters.
Water temperature in stream environments varies by season. Water is warmer in the summer than in the winter. Altitude also affects temperature with warmer water usually occurring at lower altitudes. Water uses, such as power plant cooling and manufacturing, influence temperature, causing water to warm up. Activities such as logging, ski area development, and agricultural practices can also raise water temperatures by contributing runoff to streams from land with little vegetative cover, and by reducing the shading effects of riparian habitat. Cold-water releases from dams like that at Ruedi Reservoir can stress fish because of a drastic change in water temperature. Temperature affects pH and respiration. Temperature will increase when moving further downstream, eventually leading to a change in species composition to those that thrive in warm water environments. The state standard for temperature in the cold-water Roaring Fork watershed is a maximum of 20°C. |
| |
Untitled Document
|
