Department of the Interior Grant: Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) System

Recipient will be responsible for the methods and approaches that will be used to answer the research question include data collection, numerical modeling, and collaborative data interpretation of the results. The Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) system will be installed in the existing Big Boulder Creek (BBC) channel for approximately one month over the summer of 2008; two weeks prior to construction and two weeks following construction. The set of fiber optic cables installed continuously report air temperature, location of solar radiation (1 m resolution), and water temperature. A Campbell weather station records relative humidity, solar radiation, as well as wind speed and direction. These continuous field measurements will be complemented by weekly site visits to characterize shade conditions, measure stream temperatures, bed temperatures, and to measure stream flow during the time it is installed. When the new channel construction is completed at the end of the summer 2008, the existing channel will be filled and the flow will be conveyed into the new channel, with the fiber optic system re-installed in this location.

During the winter of 2008, the data obtained from the existing channel will be analyzed and a stream temperature numerical model will be constructed. These data will allow validation of the model and for accurate predictions of impacts from specific management/restoration activities. The results of this initial work will be disseminated to end users prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2009.

During the summer of 2009, the fiber optic cable will again be placed in the new BBC channel and the same data will be collected. Over the winter of 2009 and into 2010, numerical modeling process will be repeated using the new data and comparisons between the two systems can be made. Initial results will be disseminated to the end users prior to the end of FY2009. Final results and proposed use of equipment will be disseminated to end users in 2010.

The Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs (CTWSRO), the Nature Conservancy and private landowners like Les Zaitz of Boulder Creek Ranch are actively restoring the Middle Fork and Mainstem John Day Rivers as well as major tributaries to the river (such as Big Boulder) in an effort to restore salmon runs in the basin. As stated earlier, temperature is the major limiting factor in the John Day Basin and the DTS will go a long way to helping us understand the impacts of our restoration efforts.