Operational Plan for the Restoration of Diadromous Fishes to the ...

Water Temperature
Water temperature is recorded annually at various sites in the Penobscot, in
cooperation with Penobscot Indian Nation, who also record water temperatures.
Water temperature monitoring in the Penobscot basin falls within a larger state-wide
water temperature monitoring plan for Atlantic salmon waters. Recently, DMR
BSRFH has been scaling back the number of temperature loggers deployed
annually, and is concentrating on monitoring key index sites and using additional
loggers to rotate among sites for interest. This correlates water temperatures at new
sites to the index site(s) and allows a prediction model to be constructed. Water
temperature should continue to be recorded at index sites, while additional loggers
shall be deployed at sites of interest. New sites may be chosen using a GTRS
method. This will provide unbiased water temperature information for the basin.
The amount of effort to put into water temperature monitoring should be kept at or
below current levels, unless a well-defined study is put forth. More effort should be
put into analysis and interpretation of water temperature data. Notably, a stream
classification system should be finalized and put into general use statewide (Figure
1).
Figure 1. Stream classification system based on summer water temperature
variability and magnitude.
Temperature Range
Connectivity
Extreme
(> 6°)
Moderate
(3-6°)
Stable
(< 3°)
Cold/Extreme Cool/Extreme Warm/Extreme
Cold/Moderate Cool/Moderate Warm/Moderate
Cold/Stable Cool/Stable Warm/Stable
Cold (< 16°) Cool (16 - 22°) Warm (> 22°)
Average Temperature
Fish passage at dams
Pursue additional fish passage studies (Atlantic salmon adult and smolt, other
species as needed) at dams where studies have not been done, are incomplete, out
of date, or insufficient. Such information is critical for large scale management
decisions. Without knowledge of dam-related mortality, all management actions
PRFP Page 188