EXPLORING TEMPERATURE RESPONSES IN NON-PERENNIAL URBAN STREAMS

Non perennial streams are rivers that flow and run dry intermittently throughout the year. They provide a natural habitat for wildlife as well as draining the surrounding landscape during flow events. Despite being a part of nearly every river network in the world, their effects on the overall watersheds they are a part of are largely unknown. In order to study nonperennial stream behavior in an urban environment, we are using water temperature sensors to observe three non perennial streams in the Easton, Pennsylvania area. This water temperature data will detect when the rivers flow, allowing us to map their active channels during various rain events. These maps will help us learn more about how non perennial streams behave in urban to suburban watersheds, allowing us to better understand how these areas function as a part of the broader river network.