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Water temperature is an important physical property of every river and stream. Many plants, animals, and other organisms living in streams can only in a specific range of water temperatures. Temperature can affect certain aspects of water quality. For example, higher temperatures reduce levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, which can negatively affect the growth and of aquatic life. Persistently warmer temperatures in streams can accelerate natural chemical reactions and release excess nutrients into the water. Temperatures can naturally along the length of a stream, from cold temperatures near a source of meltwater to higher temperatures near its outlet to the sea. The temperature at any given point is a product of many different factors, including sources of water, the amount of water in the stream, air temperature, plants along the , and the amount of development within the watershed. Over time, however, an area’s climate has the strongest natural influence on a stream’s temperature.