Noreast: A Stream Temperature Inventory Mapper and Web Portal for Evaluating Climate Change Effects On New England, Mid Atlantic and Great Lakes States Streams

Climate change is expected to alter stream temperature and flow regimes over the coming decades, and in turn influence distributions of aquatic species in those freshwater ecosystems. Effects of climate change on streams are expected to vary both spatially and temporally and will also be influenced by landscape factors such as geographic setting. To better anticipate these changes, there is a need to collect and compile both short- and long-term stream temperature data for managers to gain an understanding of baseline conditions, historic trends, and future projections. NorEaST is a web portal that was developed to serve as a coordinated, multi-agency regional framework to map and store continuous stream temperature locations and data for New England, Mid Atlantic, and Great Lakes States. Stream temperature monitoring locations and metadata can be viewed for more than 7,500 monitoring locations across 22 states, contributed by over 40 different Federal, State, County agencies, Interstate commissions, Universities, and non-governmental organizations. NorEaST is built using ArcServer and web services and will provide a framework to upload new sample locations and store data. The information will help managers coordinate stream monitoring efforts and provide information to plan for and assess the effects of climate change on streams.