Our Office
Science Director, Tag Engstrom
Holt Hall, Room 221
530-898-6748
tengstrom@csuchico.edu
Regular Hours
8 a.m.–5 p.m. (Monday–Friday)
Mailing Address
Center for Water & the Environment
400 W. First St.
Chico, CA 95929–0555
Big Chico Creek Water Quality Monitoring
Main | Data Table | Temperature | Electrical Conductivity | pH | Dissolved Oxygen | Turbidity | Nutrients | Metals
Disclaimer: Data presented on this webpage were acquired following internal (non-standard) procedures and are therefore for information purposes only and not citable until independent peer review and publication.
Temperature
Why is water temperature important?
Resource: Water Science School - Temperature and Water (USGS)
Water temperature directly affects the biological and chemical processes of a waterway. Aquatic species have an optimal temperature range within which they are adapted to thrive. If the temperature is too high or too low, it can lead to stress, slower metabolism, slower growth rate, and in extreme cases, may be fatal. Water temperature also affects the rate of chemical reactions. For example, higher temperatures will cause more compounds to dissolve into ions, increasing electrical conductivity. Additionally, warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen than colder water, so during the warmer seasons when water temperature is higher, dissolved oxygen concentrations are lower.
Water Temperature and Streamflow in Big Chico Creek
