What? Stream flow discharge is being monitored at the Robert’s Brook Gauge Station on the Chéticamp River in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. When? Hourly discharge measurements are taken in real time at the gauge station 365 days per year. How? Hourly discharge measurements are used to report an average daily discharge measurement to assess multiple metrics of flow regime for the year, including the timing, amplitude and duration of high and low water periods. Why? Hydrological regimes of streams play a critical role in determining the biodiversity and ecological processes of aquatic, wetland and riparian ecosystems. Hydrological characteristics provide important information on the integrity of freshwater systems and how they may be changing over time. Hydrological characteristics of a watershed reflect geology and soil type, catchment size and shape, land characteristics, forest cover, vegetation type, human use, and regional climate. Hydrological process can be altered by stressors such as roads, dams, water diversions, deforestation, development, and climate change.