Course IF312 - Stream Temperature Modeling

Course Description

This correspondence course concentrates on the theory and application of water temperature modeling. Participants will develop knowledge of stream geometry, hydrology, and meteorology to enable understanding and prediction of stream temperatures. Topics covered include the models' assumptions and limitations, calibration and verification, troubleshooting, field data collection, parameter estimation, handling missing data, quality control, reviewing a completed temperature study for quality assurance, and linkage to other IFIM programs. Hands-on exercises are used to reinforce concepts learned in lectures. Participants will be supplied with all relevant models and material that they will complete at their own pace. An instructor will be available by phone or E-mail for individual questions with a final exam gauging successful completion of the material.

Target Audience

Individuals directly involved with computer modeling of stream temperatures, including ecologists, fishery biologists, and hydrologists, or anyone who regularly comments on proposed changes in water project operations or helps in designing impact evaluation studies.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the theoretical basis for the models including their assumptions and limitations.
• Be fluent in the stream geometry, hydrology, and meteorology components of the models, and how combining these components create a stream system description.
• Understand how to enter data, run, and interpret results from the network and stream reach versions of the models.
• Be capable of calibrating the models given typical constraints, e.g., some data are missing.
• Be capable of using the models to estimate unknown temperatures in a baseline condition and predict water temperatures under altered conditions.

Depending on the needs of individual participants, he or she will be prepared to either:

1. Conduct a "live" temperature investigation, including how to plan a cost-effective study, gather needed input data, assemble that data into appropriate formats, and display results in a communicative manner;

or

2. Review a completed study, performed by another individual or organization, to assure its quality by critically analyzing the modeling components and evaluating the achievement of study objectives.

Dates and Locations

Self-study

Tuition

None

Length

Approx. 30-50 hours, self-paced.

Registration Procedure

(1) Download and print the IF 312 course material:

• Bartholow, J.M. 2000. The Stream Segment and Stream Network Temperature Models: A Self-Study Course, Version 2.0 U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 99-112. 276pp.
• Theurer, F.D., K.A. Voos, and W.J. Miller. 1984. Instream Water Temperature Model. Instream Flow Information Paper 16, FWS/OBS-84/15. Fort Collins, CO: Fish and Wildlife Service. 335 p.
• Bartholow, J.M. 1989. Stream Temperature Investigations: field and analytic methods. Instream Flow Information Paper No. 13. Biol. Rep. 89(17). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 139 p.

(2) Download additional supplemental material as needed. These include:

• Armour, C. L. 1991. Guidance for evaluating and recommending temperature regimes to protect fish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 90(22). 13 pp.
• Bartholow, J. M. 1991. A modeling assessment of the thermal regime for an urban sport fishery. Environmental Management 15(6):833-845. [Reprinted with permission]
• Bartholow, J. 1995. The stream network temperature model (SNTEMP): A decade of results. Pages 57-60 in Ahuja, L., K. Rojas, and E. Seeley, editors. Workshop on Computer Applications in Water Management, Proceedings of the 1995 Workshop. Water Resources Research Institute, Fort Collins, Colorado. Information Series No. 79. 292 pp. [Reprinted with permission]
• Coutant, C. 1976. Thermal effects on fish ecology. Pages 891-896 in Encyclopedia of Environmental Science and Engineering, V2. Gordon and Breach, NY. 1091 pp. [Reprinted with permission from the Francis and Taylor Group]

(3) Download additional training materials.

• EXTRA312.exe - (300 KB) A self-extracting file containing files referred to in the IF312 course material. Files include worksheet examples, BAD data files for testing, and additional example data sets for SNTEMP. Updated: 1/2/02

Course Contact

John Bartholow
Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Ave
Bldg C
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: 970.226.9319
Fax: 970.226.9230