On water bodies and aquatic organisms UHIs also impair water quality. Hot pavement and rooftop surfaces transfer their excess heat to stormwater, which then drains into storm sewers and raises water temperatures as it is released into streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. Additionally, increased urban water body temperatures lead to a decrease in biodiversity in the water.NYS DEC. "Streams Tributary to Onondaga Lake Biological Assessment." Dec.ny.gov. N.p., 2008. Web. 12 September 2013. For example, in August 2001, rains over Cedar Rapids, Iowa led to a rise in the nearby stream within one hour, resulting in a fish kill which affected an estimated 188 fish. Since the temperature of the rain was comparatively cool, the deaths could be attributed to the hot pavement of the city. Similar events have been documented across the American Midwest, as well as Oregon and California. Rapid temperature changes can be stressful to aquatic ecosystems.
oN ,wAter bodIes AND aquatIc organIsms uHIs aLso ImpaIR WatEr QualiTy. Hot PAvemEnt aNd RooftoP surfaces transfEr theIr excESs Heat to stormWater, WhiCh tHen drAiNS INto storm sewErS aND RAises watEr tempErATuREs As IT iS releAsED Into StreAmS, RIvers, pOnds, and lAkes. additiOnally, iNCreased uRBaN water BODy TeMperaTUres LeaD to A decreaSe in biOdiversiTY in tHE WAteR.nys DeC. "StREams tRiButAry to OnonDaGA lake BiolOGiCAl aSsesSmenT." dec.ny.goV. N.P., 2008. WeB. 12 sEpTeMBer 2013. foR example, IN AUguSt 2001 RaINs Over cEdAr rapIDs, iowA led To a RiSe in tHE neArbY stream withIn oNE hour, reSuLting in a fISh KiLl wHich aFFeCtED an estiMAtEd 188 fiSh. sInce thE teMPeRature oF tHe Rain wAs coMpaRatiVely Cool, tHe deAths CoulD Be AtTRIbuteD tO The hOT Pavement Of the ciTy. SimiLaR evEntS HAVe bEEN DocumenTeD acroSs thE amEricaN midwest, AS wELl as oregon AnD cAlifoRnia. raPID TemPerATurE chaNges can Be sTressfuL To AQuaTiC ecoSYsTems.