Water temperature models, data and code for the Colorado, Green, San Juan, Yampa, and White rivers in the Colorado River basin

Publication Date

2020-12-11

Start Date

1950

End Date

2018

Dibble, K.L., Yackulic, C.B., and Bestgen, K.R., 2020, Water temperature models, data and code for the Colorado, Green, San Juan, Yampa, and White rivers in the Colorado River basin: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HFKV7Q.

Type: Related Primary Publication

These data were compiled for the following purpose: 1) as data inputs to a water temperature model developed for river segments across the Colorado River basin; 2) to determine the current and potential future thermal suitability of segments of river for native and nonnative fish species; and 3) examine the influence of withdrawal depth in reservoirs on thermal discontinuity in rivers across the western US. Data summaries are a result of decades of monitoring and research conducted by federal and state agencies and other entities. These data are all publicly available in raw form; here, we present summarized data used in water temperature and fish models. These data can be used by researchers who would like to run the water temperature model developed for rivers in the Colorado River basin under base conditions and under future warming or low storage scenarios. These data can also be used to calculate a thermal suitability index using predictions from the water temperature model to determine the current and potential future thermal suitability of river segments for native and nonnative fish species.

• USGS Data Release Products
• USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC)