Aquatic thermal refugium system, device and methods

A system to provide at least one thermal refugium in a body of water comprising:

• at least one enclosure configured to partially isolate at least one local volume of water from the body of water, wherein the enclosure defines an opening configured to allow wildlife to enter and exit the enclosure, wherein the at least one enclosure further extends from an upstream region to a downstream region and defines a downstream opening, the opening configured to allow wildlife to enter and exit the enclosure comprising the downstream opening, wherein the upstream region comprises an upstream sidewall extending across an upstream opening of the at least one enclosure, and wherein the downstream opening allows the wildlife to enter the enclosure;
• at least one heat exchanger within the at least one enclosure to transfer heat into or out of the at least one local volume of water;
• a thermal apparatus operably coupled to the at least one heat exchanger and configured to transfer the heat in and out of a fluid, the fluid being circulated between the thermal apparatus and the at least one heat exchanger;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the thermal apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to control the transfer of the heat into or out of the at least one local volume of water to maintain a local temperature in the at least one local volume of water sustainable for the wildlife living in the body of water.

A system to provide a thermal refugium in a body of water comprising:

• at least one enclosure configured to provide at least one local volume of water from the body of water, wherein the body of water comprises a naturally occurring river or stream, wherein the enclosure defines an opening configured to allow wildlife to freely enter the enclosure from the body of water and freely exit the enclosure to the body of water;
• a heat exchanger within the at least one enclosure to perform at least one of cooling and heating the at least one local volume of water of the body of water;
• a thermal apparatus operably coupled to the heat exchanger;
• a fluid disposed within at least one of the heat exchanger and the thermal apparatus;
• a controller operably coupled to the thermal apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to automatically maintain a local temperature of the at least one local volume of water, and wherein the local temperature comprises a set temperature that is set by a user;
• and
• a power source operably coupled to the controller.

A system to provide a thermal refugium in a body of water comprising:

• at least one enclosure configured to provide at least one local volume of water from the body of water, wherein the enclosure defines an opening configured to allow wildlife to freely enter the enclosure from the body of water and freely exit the enclosure to the body of water, wherein the opening is configured to allow wildlife to swim between the enclosure and the body of water;
• a heat exchanger within the at least one enclosure to perform at least one of cooling and heating the at least one local volume of water of the body of water;
• a thermal apparatus operably coupled to the heat exchanger;
• a fluid disposed within at least one of the heat exchanger and the thermal apparatus;
• a controller operably coupled to the thermal apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to automatically maintain a local temperature of the at least one local volume of water, and wherein the local temperature comprises a set temperature that is set by a user;
• and
• a power source operably coupled to the controller.

A system to provide at least one thermal refugium in a body of water comprising:

• at least one enclosure configured to partially isolate at least one local volume of water from the body of water, wherein the enclosure defines an opening configured to allow wildlife to freely enter the enclosure from the body of water and freely exit the enclosure to the body of water, and wherein the body of water comprises a naturally occurring river or stream;
• at least one heat exchanger within the at least one enclosure to transfer heat into or out of the at least one local volume of water;
• a thermal apparatus operably coupled to the at least one heat exchanger and configured to transfer the heat in and out of a fluid, the fluid being circulated between the thermal apparatus and the at least one heat exchanger;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the thermal apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to control the transfer of the heat into or out of the at least one local volume of water to maintain a local temperature in the at least one local volume of water sustainable for the wildlife living in the body of water.