Did you know that some of Maine's most iconic fish species, including the Eastern brook trout and Atlantic salmon, cannot survive water temperatures above a certain threshold (70-80 degrees Fahrenheit)? How will climate change impact these sensitive populations? Answer these questions and more!
WHEN: Thursday, February 24th at 6:00 PM.
WHERE: Zoom. A link will be sent following registration below.
KELT is delighted to welcome Kirstin Underwood, Fish and Wildlife Biologist at US FWS for a lecture on Fish and Water Temperature.
Stream temperature is a primary control on the distribution and abundance of many aquatic creatures, and climate change is expected to have dramatic effects on these species. The Maine Water Temperature Working Group and Interagency Monitoring Effort was established in 2014 in response to a growing need to identify and protect climate-resilient watersheds. To date, 27 state, tribal, federal, and non-governmental organizations have participated in this effort and contributed stream temperature records to over 2,000 sites across all of Maine's watersheds. These data inform a stream temperature model that helps resource management agencies identify and prioritize climate-resilient watersheds that will continue to host populations of coldwater species overtime.
Kirstin Underwood
Kirstin Underwood is a fish and wildlife biolgist with the Gulf of Maine Coastal Program in Falmouth, ME. She grew up in rural Maine and was excited to return to her home state after conducting research on Pacific salmon populations for 3.5 years on the west coast. Kirstin coordinates MWTWG activities collaboratively with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, and works with partners to assess, monitor and restore diadromous fish habitat in Maine streams.
Eager to get exploring? Check out these resources featuring Kirstin’s work!