Truckee River Water Temperature Monitoring

The temperature characteristics of a river play an important role in the overall health of the system. Anthropogenic effects can modify the thermal regime of rivers and, as a result, can affect fisheries and aquatic resources. Many biological factors and conditions, as well as stream productivity, are strongly linked to stream water temperature. Seasonal and daily variations of water temperatures are important determinants for the distribution of aquatic species.

Water temperature variability can occur naturally or as a result of anthropogenic perturbations, such as thermal pollution, deforestation, flow modification and climate change. The thermal regime of rivers is highly influenced by meteorological and river conditions as well as by their geographical setting. River temperature is arguably one of the most important parameters which determines many aquatic habitat attributes and the general health of river ecosystems. Both the study of natural stream water variability and changes due to anthropogenic perturbations are also important for environmental assessment as well as assessing future climate scenarios on fish habitat.

USFW has twenty-six water temperature monitoring sites that have been collecting data since 2008. This project will replace aging temperature monitors and add four more monitors in the lower river between Reno and Pyramid Lake. Labor will involve downloading the monitors quarterly for two years.

TMWA Benefit:

VII: Meet Multiple Objectives: Projects that remove pollution from the Truckee River.