Predicting and Assessing Areas of Thermal Refuge on Rivers in the Northern Adirondack Region of the Lake Champlain Basin, NY
Rising water temperatures in the Lake Champlain Basin pose a critical threat to native coldwater species such as brook trout and Atlantic salmon, which depend on cold-water refuges to survive thermal stress. Identifying the location, extent, and persistence of these refuges is essential for guiding management decisions, restoration projects, and conservation strategies. By combining advanced thermal imaging with on-the-ground validation, this project will provide critical new data to inform fisheries management, riparian restoration, and aquatic organism passage planning. The outcomes will support climate resilience, sustain sportfishing economies, and enhance long-term survival prospects for coldwater fish populations in the Adirondack rivers of the Lake Champlain Basin.