Waiahole Stream Monitoring Project
Makawai Stream Restoration Alliance

WATER TEMPERATURE STUDIES

Run No. 1

An initial (August) placement of two of the temperature probes was used to compare water temperature in Waiahole Stream with that in Waianu Stream, a left-bank branch of Waiahole receiving a comparatively smaller input of water (about 2.5 mgd) from the Waiahole Ditch. Probes were submerged on each stream approximately 20-30 meters upstream of their confluence (that is, at Station 002 on Waiahole). In each case, a probe was submerged at least 6 inches in flowing water, hidden against the left bank, and in a shady location. Results of Run No. 1 are summarized in this table:

Temperature Monitoring Run No. 1
August 3 (~3:45 PM) - August 25 (~1:33 PM), 1999
Probe 1
Waiahole Stream
Probe 2
Waianu Stream
Probe 3
NOT USED
Sampling Rate
(First Measurement)
every 15-min
(3:48 PM)
every 15-min
(3:49 PM)
No. of measurements 2104 2104
Temperature Average 20.4oC 22.5oC
Temperature Minimum 19.7 oC 21.0 oC
Temperature Maximum 21.2 oC 24.7 oC

After three weeks of recording temperature, differences are readily apparent between Waiahole with substantially restored water flow and Waianu with a smaller volume of restored flow. Water temperature in Waiahole Stream varies hardly at all (just over 1 Co) between day and night and the water is cooler than the water flowing in Waianu. For any given pair of measurements collected at the same time, the water in Waianu was anywhere between 1.0 and 3.8 Co above the temperature in Waiahole Stream. The average of these paired differences is 2.1 oC. A graph of the results from Run No. 1 is posted. The graph shows the daily rise and fall of the temperature in each stream. Generally, the lowest temperature each day occurs between 6:00 and 8:00 AM; the highest temperature between 3:00 and 4:00 PM.

Run No. 2

Our second temperature run compares Waiahole Stream (at Station 2) with nearby Waikane Stream. Flows in these two streams at this time of year are substantially different. The results from monitoring between August 25 and November 16, 1999 are summarized in the following table:

Temperature Monitoring Run No. 2
August 25 (~14:20) -- November 16 (~12:00)
Probe 1
Waiahole Stream
Probe 2
NOT USED
Probe 3
Waikane Stream
Sampling Rate
(First Measurement)
every 15-min
(2:20 PM)
every 15-min
(2:23 PM)
No. of measurements 7781 7960
Temperature Average 20.2oC 22.8oC
Temperature Minimum 19.5oC 20.8oC
Temperature Maximum 21.2oC 24.3oC

It is clear that water in Waikane Stream is warmer and more variable between day and night than water in Waiahole Stream. Waikane temperature profile is similar to that of Waianu Stream, yet slightly warmer and less variable that Waianu. The monitoring location on Waikane is near Kamehameha Highway, at a lower elevation than the measurements made to date on either Waiahole or Waianu streams.

Run No. 3

On September 3, probe No. 2 was deployed at Station 001 in Waiahole Stream. This location is just above the Mauka lo`i intake and not expected to differ substantially from Station 002. However, Station 001 is a better location for long-term baseline monitoring in Waiahole Stream. The Optic Stowaway at Station 002 is still recording, to permit comparison between Stations 001 and 002 during our monitoring Run No. 3.

Temperature Monitoring Run No. 3
September 3 (~15:00) -- November 14 (~15:15)
Probe 1
Waiahole Stream
Sta. 002

Probe 2
Waiahole Stream
Sta. 001

Probe 3
Waikane Stream
see Run No. 2

Sampling Rate
(First Measurement)
every 15-min
(2:19 PM)
every 15-min
(2:15 PM)
No. of measurements 6916 6917
Temperature Average 19.96oC 20.16oC
Temperature Minimum 19.5oC 19.3oC
Temperature Maximum 21.2oC 20.8oC

Over this ten week period of recording temperatures a very slight difference can be seen to exist between Station 001 located just above the mauka lo`i and Station 002 in Waiahole Stream below the lo`i return water. Temperature, on average, is 0.2 Co cooler at Station 001. This is, of course, a miniscule difference, but demonstrates the analytical power of using a continuous sampling/recording device for temperature measurements. Temperature was slightly less variable at Station 001 (ranging over only 1.5 Co) during this period than at Station 002 (1.7 Co; see Table 1 above). Upon completion of this run, Station 001 will become the long-term monitoring location for Waiahole Stream.

Run No. 4

A recording probe was placed in Waianu Stream near the auwai diversion -- that is, upstream of the (Reppun) lo`i -- on November 8, 1999. This location is designated Waianu Station 001.


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