Precipitation is the amount of rainfall or rainfall equivalent measured in inches. The amount and timing of precipitation is important because rainfall can wash pollutants off the land surface and into rivers and streams. Daily precipitation data was obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Climatic Data Center weather station located in Bronx, NY (Station ID: GHCND-USC00300961) approximately 1.6 miles east of the Bronx Zoo.