Date of Award
5-2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
College/School
College of Science and Mathematics
Department/Program
Earth and Environmental Studies
Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair
Joshua C. Galster
Committee Member
Greg Pope
Committee Member
Beth Styler Barry
Abstract
Water temperature changes in rivers can happen quickly for multiple reasons, and can drastically impact the river in many ways. The potential for temperature shifts to impact rivers is especially important in the summer, for aquatic habitats, as the warm temperatures can stress populations. This is especially true for trout populations, a temperature-sensitive fish. Since temperature is the most important factor in the growth of trout, these temperature changes can be life threatening. Therefore it is important to monitor temperatures in the Musconetcong River, classified as trout maintenance waters (Musconetcong Advisory Committee et al., 2003), because of the potential negative impact on trout. The summer water temperatures in the upper Musconetcong River, New Jersey, were assessed during 2011, 2012, and 2013, to see how suitable the water temperatures are for trout. Sensors in the river recorded the water temperature every 15 minutes at three to four spots. Water temperature and river discharge data was compared from the same time period using the USGS gage immediately upstream of the field sites. An important initial finding is that the air temperature has a positive correlation with the water temperature while discharge has a negative correlation with the water temperature. During low discharge conditions air temperature has a greater influence on water temperature than when discharge is high.
File Format
Recommended Citation
Kowalski, Joseph Anthony, "Summer River Water Temperature Changes in the Musconetcong River and Their Potential Impact on Aquatic Habitat" (2014). Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects. 445.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/etd/445