Stream Habitat Stewardship
Goal: Develop and apply a general approach for stream habitat
characterization, management, and restoration, in particular with
respect to temperature regimes required by species of
conservation concern.
Background: Temperature is a fundamental determinate of
habitat suitability for aquatic organisms. Water temperature is
determined by a complex interplay of prevailing meteorology, local
riparian canopy structure and solar exposure, streambed
morphology, and surface and subsurface flow patterns. We have
developed a methodology for spatial-temporal analysis of stream
temperature regimes. Our approach synthesizes long-term
records of stream flow and water temperature, meteorology,
stream morphology, observed temperature regimes, riparian
canopy structure and solar exposure, prediction of temperature
regimes, and characterization of species requirements. This
approach can be applied to a broad spectrum of streams for
habitat assessment, stream conservation, restoration to
accommodate diverse habitat needs, and examination of potential
impacts of climate change.
download stream habitat conservation prospectus pdf
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Goal: Develop and apply a general approach for stream habitat
characterization, management, and restoration, in particular with
respect to temperature regimes required by species of
conservation concern.
Background: Temperature is a fundamental determinate of
habitat suitability for aquatic organisms. Water temperature is
determined by a complex interplay of prevailing meteorology, local
riparian canopy structure and solar exposure, streambed
morphology, and surface and subsurface flow patterns. We have
developed a methodology for spatial-temporal analysis of stream
temperature regimes. Our approach synthesizes long-term
records of stream flow and water temperature, meteorology,
stream morphology, observed temperature regimes, riparian
canopy structure and solar exposure, prediction of temperature
regimes, and characterization of species requirements. This
approach can be applied to a broad spectrum of streams for
habitat assessment, stream conservation, restoration to
accommodate diverse habitat needs, and examination of potential
impacts of climate change.
download stream habitat conservation prospectus pdf
view presentation
| Copyright 2008 © Creekside Center for Earth Observation LLC. All rights reserved. |
Elements of Stream Habitat Stewardship:
- Long-Term Records: assemble historic and current records
concerning patterns of stream flow and water temperature
from gauging stations, and meteorology from nearby
weather stations; - Stream Morphology: analyze channel characteristics
(profile, gradient, substrate, etc.) from field characterization
and GIS analysis; - Riparian Vegetation: measure canopy structure and solar
exposure using hemispherical (fisheye) photography and
canopy LIDAR remote sensing; - Sensor Network: measure temperature regimes using
IButton Thermochrons; - Habitat Requirements: determine temperature and other
habitat needs of key organisms; - Habitat Model: develop habitat suitability model, based on
calculation of time series of water temperature in response
to heat fluxes using biophysical principles; - Education and Outreach: develop general and site-specific
resources (curriculum, web, brochures, presentations,
signage, etc.) for education and interpretation of stream
processes; - Planning and Review: plan site-specific adaptive
management of stream habitat, with periodic review of
success and reassessment of goals; facilitate
communication/collaboration among stakeholders
(scientists, public, resource managers, and decision
makers).
Benefits
Contacts
Our Approach
Stream Habitat Characterization: We employ hemispherical
photography, stream morphology, and meteorological sensors,
together with biophysical models of energy balance and
temperature to engineer best management strategies. This
comprehensive approach enables us to identify, maintain, and
restore riparian canopy structure that provides suitable
microsites, with respect to solar exposure and temperature.
Initial Findings for San Francisquito Creek: Water
temperature co-varies with air temperature, diurnally with a lag,
and over longer periods; stream reaches with high solar
exposure display higher temperature variability (up to 5° C
differential from baseline), whereas shaded reaches display
modest temperature variability (0.5 - 1.0° C differential); and
subsurface flow through gravel beds can decrease temperature
by 2 - 3° C. Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) requires
relatively cool microsites, whereas California red-legged frog
(Rana aurora draytonii) and western pond turtle (Clemmys
marmorata) require warmer microsites.
Comprehensive Solutions: Our approach merges basic
science, advanced technology, and adaptive management to
restore and conserve stream habitat.
- Conservation of critical stream habitat
- Sound scientific basis for proactive, cost-effective stream
habitat restoration and management - Standardized methodology for comparison across
different streams and different watersheds
Contacts
- Stuart B. Weiss, PhD, CEO and Chief Scientist, Creekside
Center for Earth Observation, stu at creeksidescience.com - Paul M. Rich, PhD, Senior Scientist, Creekside Center for
Earth Observation, paul at creeksidescience.com - Karen Ritchie Shihadeh, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Ventana
Wildlife Society, karenshihadeh at ventanaws.org
Our Approach
Stream Habitat Characterization: We employ hemispherical
photography, stream morphology, and meteorological sensors,
together with biophysical models of energy balance and
temperature to engineer best management strategies. This
comprehensive approach enables us to identify, maintain, and
restore riparian canopy structure that provides suitable
microsites, with respect to solar exposure and temperature.
Initial Findings for San Francisquito Creek: Water
temperature co-varies with air temperature, diurnally with a lag,
and over longer periods; stream reaches with high solar
exposure display higher temperature variability (up to 5° C
differential from baseline), whereas shaded reaches display
modest temperature variability (0.5 - 1.0° C differential); and
subsurface flow through gravel beds can decrease temperature
by 2 - 3° C. Steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) requires
relatively cool microsites, whereas California red-legged frog
(Rana aurora draytonii) and western pond turtle (Clemmys
marmorata) require warmer microsites.
Comprehensive Solutions: Our approach merges basic
science, advanced technology, and adaptive management to
restore and conserve stream habitat.
| Upward looking hemispherical (fisheye) photograph from a closed canopy reach of San Francisquito Creek (San Francisco Peninsula, California). |
| Hemispherical photograph from a more open reach of San Francisquito Creek. Overlay of the sunpath enables calculation of solar exposure. This location receives high morning insolation. |
| Mean hourly temperature for air and closed versus open canopy reaches of San Francisquito Creek. |
| Daily temperature for closed versus open canopy reaches of San Francisquito Creek. |
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Creekside Center
for Earth Observation
for Earth Observation
 |
Key Literature:
Weiss, S.B., P.M. Rich, and A.E. Launer. 2008. San
Francisquito Creek Habitat Monitoring Project Final Report.
Creekside Center for Earth Observation Report. pdf (report,
1.9MB) pdf (appendix, 2.2 MB)
Weiss, S.B., P.M. Rich, and A.E. Launer. 2008. San
Francisquito Creek Habitat Monitoring Project Final Report.
Creekside Center for Earth Observation Report. pdf (report,
1.9MB) pdf (appendix, 2.2 MB)
