Gila National Forest Stream Temperature and Intermittency Monitoring Network to Assess Effects of a Changing Climate for Native Fishes of Special Interest

Authors: Tyler Wallin, Colleen A. Caldwell

Year: 2016 (xlviii)

Abstract

Stream temperature, flow, and the presence of non-native fishes can affect the distribution of native cold- and cool-water fishes. This is especially true for native fishes that have already experienced significant contractions in their historic range. The Gila and Mimbres drainages, located in southwestern New Mexico, support a unique cold- and cool-water native fish fauna adapted to the arid stream systems in which they evolved. These fishes, however, are losing ground to non-native fishes and the loss of habitat due to intermittency from stream drying. The objective of this work is to establish a stream temperature and intermittency- monitoring network throughout the two drainages in coordination with federal, state, and NGO partners. Temperature data from this network will be used to model current and future distribution of native fishes and co-occurrence of non-native fishes. Implementing this network will require three types of temperature data loggers over 100 sites across two drainages. Either the ProV2 or the Tidbit loggers (Onset, Inc.) will be used to record hourly water temperature across varying habitat conditions. In addition, a modified HOBO’ Pendant Temperature/Light data logger will be deployed in streams to document intermittency from drying (presumably loss of fish habitat). The use of these loggers coupled with current and historical fish population data will allow us to model current and future critical habitat. The monitoring network is planned to extend past the lifetime of the WRRI grant and continue to aid in the management of fishes of greatest conservation need.