Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 1492 |
|---|---|
| Citation | Rebellato, B, Collins, C, Nesbit, S, and Garbutt, K. 2009. Water temperatures for selected watercourses and groundwater off-channel restoration projects in the Thompson and Shuswap River Systems, British Columbia 1997-2001. Canadian Data Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1214. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. |
| Organization | DFO |
| URL | http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/337315.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This Data Report presents summarized and raw water temperature data recorded in various watercourses within the Thompson and Shuswap River systems through a monitoring study undertaken primarily from 1997 to 2001 by Fisheries & Oceans Canada, B.C. Interior-South. The monitoring study was undertaken with the primary objective of comparing water temperatures between the mainstem of selected watercourses and associated groundwater-fed offchannel habitats, specifically from the perspective of benefits to endangered Interior Fraser coho salmon. One focus of fish habitat restoration by DFO in the Southern Interior of B.C. has been the development of groundwater-fed off-channels, particularly within watersheds exhibiting flow and temperature impacts. Many watercourses within the Thompson and Shuswap River watersheds have been identified as limiting in available salmonid rearing habitat due to impacts from low flows and high water temperatures during critical summer months. Groundwater can buffer these harmful effects and greatly enhance salmonid rearing productivity. Secondary, but also important objectives of this study include: ﾕ comparing temperatures between tributaries and mainstem; ﾕ identifying watersheds where extreme temperatures are limiting available summer and winter habitat for juvenile coho; ﾕ providing additional information for regulatory agencies involved in sensitive stream designations; ﾕ increasing the temperature database within the watersheds of the Thompson and Shuswap Rivers for the purposes of assisting agencies and individuals in understanding sensitive habitats and in developing programs to improve stream water quantity and quality; and ﾕ initiating a temperature monitoring study that can be continued over the long-term. This study was undertaken to compare the water temperatures of primarily groundwater-fed offchannel fish habitat restoration projects with associated mainstem watercourses, to investigate the potential benefits of groundwater temperature and flow characteristics for rearing salmonids. Accordingly, some detailed discussion of restoration projects and associated mainstem watercourses has been included in this report. Unfortunately in this study, there are a few instances where some water temperature data is incomplete due in part to thermograph loss or damage. , stream temperature, groundwater, water quality |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Thompson, Shuswap |
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| Project status | complete |
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