Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report. Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report. Kevin Fitzsimmons1 1 Alberta Conservation Association, Box 1420, Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, T4C 1B4 i Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report. Disclaimer: This document is an independent report prepared by the Alberta Conservation Association. The author is solely responsible for the interpretations of data and statements made within this report. Reproduction and Availability: This report and its contents may be reproduced in whole, or in part, provided that this title page is included with such reproduction and/or appropriate acknowledgements are provided to the author and sponsors of this project. Suggested citation: Fitzsimmons, K. 2005. Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report, produced by Alberta Conservation Association, Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. 110 pp. Digital copies of this and other conservation reports can be obtained from: www.ab‐conservation.com ii Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author acknowledges the following individuals and agencies for their contributions and assistance. Thanks to David Christiansen (Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fisheries Management) for establishing the idea for this project and for providing helpful comments on a draft of this report. Craig Johnson (Alberta Conservation Association), Andrew Paul (University of Calgary), John Post (University of Calgary) and Shane Richards (University of Calgary) provided help in project design and data analysis. Thanks to Lisa Preston who assisted with field deployment of temperature loggers. Craig Johnson, and Cal McLeod (Alberta Conservation Association) provided helpful comments on drafts of this report. Neil Assmus and Rocklyn Konynenbelt provided data on behalf of Alberta Environment and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Fisheries Management, respectively. The G‐8 Legacy Chair in Wildlife Ecology generously furnished us with the use of their temperature loggers for use in this program. This program would not have been possible without the financial support of Alberta’s hunters and anglers through the ACA’s Fisheries Management Enhancement Program. iii Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report. iv Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................ iii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................viii LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... xiv 1.0 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................1 2.0 STUDY AREA ................................................................................................4 3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS...................................................................6 3.1 Stream Temperature Data..................................................................................6 3.2 Data Analysis.......................................................................................................7 3.3 Assessment of the Models..................................................................................8 4.0 RESULTS.......................................................................................................11 4.1 Raven River and North Raven River..............................................................11 4.2 James River.........................................................................................................17 4.3 Fallentimber Creek............................................................................................22 4.4 Little Red Deer River ........................................................................................28 4.5 Dogpound Creek...............................................................................................35 4.6 Jumpingpound Creek.......................................................................................42 4.7 Threepoint Creek...............................................................................................47 4.8 Sheep River ........................................................................................................52 4.9 Highwood River................................................................................................57 4.10 Pekisko Creek and Stimson Creek..................................................................64 4.11 Assessment of the Models................................................................................70 5.0 DISCUSSION ...............................................................................................74 6.0 LITERATURE CITED..................................................................................77 7.0 APPENDICES ..............................................................................................79 7.1 Appendix 1. Stream name, Universal Transverse Mercator location (North American Datum 1983) of stream temperature logger and date of deployment of stream temperature loggers deployed by Alberta Conservation Association in the summer of 2004.....................................80 7.2 Appendix 2. Stream temperature (°C) data collected by Alberta Conservation Association in the summer of 2004 in the Red Deer, Bow and Highwood river drainages. Included is date and time of temperature readings....82 v Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report. 7.3 Appendix 3. Interactive models for the prediction of stream temperatures. Models are arranged by stream drainage. Included is instructions for the use of the models. ..........................................................................................82 7.4 Appendix 4. Daily maximum stream temperatures (°C) recorded from July to September, 2004 in the Raven and North Raven rivers at Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) stream temperature monitoring sites and at Alberta Environment (AENV) real‐time stream temperature‐monitoring station on the Raven River near the Town of Raven. ...............................83 7.5 Appendix 5. Daily maximum stream temperatures (°C) recorded from July to September, 2004 in the James River at Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) stream temperature monitoring sites and at Alberta Environment (AENV) real‐time stream temperature‐monitoring station on the Little Red Deer River near the mouth. ..........................................................................86 7.6 Appendix 6. Daily maximum stream temperatures (°C) recorded from July to September, 2004 in the Fallentimber Creek at Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) stream temperature monitoring sites and at Alberta Environment (AENV) real‐time stream temperature‐monitoring station on the Little Red Deer River near the mouth. .................................................88 7.7 Appendix 7. Daily maximum stream temperatures (°C) recorded from July to September, 2004 in the Little Red Deer River at Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) stream temperature monitoring sites and at Alberta Environment (AENV) real‐time stream temperature‐monitoring station on the Little Red Deer River near the mouth. .................................................90 7.8 Appendix 8. Daily maximum stream temperatures (°C) recorded from July to September, 2004 in the Dogpound Creek at Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) stream temperature monitoring sites and at Alberta Environment (AENV) real‐time stream temperature‐monitoring station on the Little Red Deer River near the mouth. .................................................93 7.9 Appendix 9. Daily maximum stream temperatures (°C) recorded from July to September, 2004 in the Jumpingpound Creek at Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) stream temperature monitoring sites and at Alberta Environment (AENV) real‐time stream temperature‐monitoring station on Threepoint Creek near the Town of Millarville.........................................96 vi Stream Temperature Monitoring and the Development of Models to Predict Stream Temperatures in Priority Drainages in the East Slopes; 2004/2005 Technical Report. 7.10 Appendix 10. Daily maximum stream temperatures (°C) recorded from July to September, 2004 in the Threepoint Creek at Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) stream temperature monitoring sites and at Alberta Environment (AENV) real‐time stream temperature‐monitoring station on Threepoint Creek near the Town of Millarville.........................................99 7.11