Stream Sense

Headwater streams can be ephemeral, intermittent or perennial and these tributaries of rivers are a primary source of water downstream. They convey not just water but nutrients, sediment, organic matter and biologically connected to aquatic life downstream. Headwater streams, however, are markedly influenced by riparian land-use that can alter the chemical and physical composition of the stream. Alterations that can have a profound impact on aquatic species and the role streams and rivers play as a water source of consumption and recreation.
As our climate warms, headwater and 1st and 2nd order stream temperatures may increase to levels that exceed the threshold of tolerance for individual aquatic fauna and impact their reproduction or survival. However, we have limited data about small stream (headwater, 1st and 2nd order) temperatures. The Stream Sense Project was established to enlist the support of community residents in documenting existing stream temperatures and overtime changes in stream temperatures. By enlisting community support, we are building a massive, distributed network of temperature monitoring that traditional agencies cannot match.