Through climate change and other influences, our coldwater streams are getting warmer. These periods of increased temperature can stress coldwater fish. To find solutions to this problem, DEC Region 4 (Central New York) Bureau of Ecosystem Health staff have partnered with Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Trout Unlimited, Tau Engineering, and the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District. The team will study groundwater upwelling in the Upper Delaware River watershed. Upwelling is part of a water cycle where cold groundwater rises to the streambed.
The team is looking for areas of groundwater upwelling that will provide coldwater fish with the most relief from high temperatures. Staff will be using special equipment withfiber optic technology to measure the water temperature in 1 km sections of selected streams. The team will use the results to create stream temperature profiles, which will be used to identify the best locations for habitat restoration.
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