Waterway Management

Waterway Management - Cool Creeks with trees for trout

by lowering the temp, trees along streams help trout survive there

May 18, 2021 

Shroud water research center

The Shroud water research center is a nonprofit that uses 5 percent of its budget to collect environmental data and other R&D. They are really going to have a great impact on the future of our environment by using sensors to collect data on our local streams to analyze and then provide municipal best practices.

We are in the infancy of data collection and have not really been able to put the data into best suggested practice which would benefit the environment. Allowing for small adjustments of existing processes that allow for marine life to live in our local streams. 

From the temperature of the streams directly affecting trout mortality to the impact of salts in our streams, this data allows for information to let us know exactly what we can do to protect fish and other marine life in our streams.

Pennsylvania offers grants to nonprofits to plant trees along streams to lessen the stream's temperature to the range trout can survive. This is also providing a larger area that can sustain trout as well. 

How temperature effects on fish populations

How stream temperature varies over time

If you are using sensors that do not take real-time data and only take a sample periodically like once a day or once a month, you do not get a full picture of the environment. Realtime data can show fluctuations that are life and death to the marine habitat. It tells a false story without having real-time data. Shown below is how the temperature fluctuates day and night. 

Benefits of a stream having Forest Cover

Every 10% of forested shade cover of a stream, you decrease the temperature by .5 degrees Celsius. 

Looks like Aquashicola, Punches, and Cobbs Creek is good habitat for trout during the summer temperatures.

NOTE: Only one Pennsylvania creek can support trout 11 months out of the year. All the other creeks can only support trout for a few months. If we plant more trees along the creeks that will change. We can actually make that creek able to support trout year round by using this sensor data and potentially other creeks throughout the state.

Citing: Shroud presenting at Delaware River Keeper's Watershed congress 2020