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Applications of a high-resolution version of the New England spatial statistical network model to the Meduxnekeag: Restoration potential for thermal regimes
Citation:
Detenbeck, N., S. Figary, AND C. O'Donnell. Applications of a high-resolution version of the New England spatial statistical network model to the Meduxnekeag: Restoration potential for thermal regimes. To be Presented at Maine Water Temperature Working Group, Augusta, ME, December 03, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
This work supports an international collaboration among the Maliseet Indians, US and Canadian Federal agencies and the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, to maintain and restore aquatic habitat in the Wolastoq (Saint John) River, which crosses the Maine/New Brunswick border. The Maliseet tribal bands are working toward restoring existing populations of brook trout and reinstating native Atlantic salmon to the Meduxnekeag River, a tributary to the Wolastoq. Temperature and flow are both critical habitat variables for maintenance of aquatic fisheries, particularly coldwater fish communities. Development and application of a fine-resolution version of the New England spatial statistical network model to predict water temperatures is allowing the tribe to map out the extent of existing coldwater habitat and coldwater refuge areas and to plan restoration activities to improve thermal regimes in the watershed. Refinement of the existing SSN model structure using the new high resolution National Hydrography Dataset allowed us to examine the appropriate forested buffer widths and lengths necessary to protect thermal regimes.
Description:
The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians (HBMI) are working with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to build a stream temperature spatial statistical network (SSN) model for the Meduxnekeag Watershed. The Meduxnekeag Watershed is a 1336 km2 watershed that flows through Maliseet tribal lands and is split by international boundaries with headwaters in Maine, United States and the outlet at the confluence with the Wolastoq (Saint John) River in New Brunswick, Canada. Creating spatial models across international boundaries adds challenges because datasets are usually constrained to political boundaries, and data resolution and collection methods can differ between countries. The 2017 release of the High Resolution National Hydrology Dataset Plus included watersheds that cross international boundaries and enabled creating fine resolution SSN temperature models consistent with management scales for riparian buffers in the Meduxnekeag Watershed. The model was developed using 53 stream temperature monitoring stations throughout the watershed and watershed attribute data from both the United States and Canada. Models were developed separately for the July, August, and September median stream temperatures and the growing season maximum stream temperature. The models were used to predict the stream temperatures throughout the watershed during a wet year (2011) and a dry year (2010). Additionally, the models were used to predict the changes in stream temperature expected if the stream segments bordered by agricultural or developed land were restored to either a forested 30-m stream buffer or a forested 90-m stream buffer. Critical areas for coldwater refuges were identified, as well as width (30 meters) and lengths of upstream forested buffers influencing thermal regimes. The best indicators of riparian buffer influence extended upstream by 3 travel hours (monthly models) or 1 kilometer (growing season maxima).