Characterization of Suspended Sediment Loading to and from John Redmond Reservoir, East-Central Kansas, 2007–2008
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Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Characterization of Suspended Sediment Loading to and from John Redmond Reservoir, East-Central Kansas, 2007–2008 Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5123 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Outflow from John Redmond Reservoir, east-central Kansas (photograph taken by Ashli Maddox, U.S. Geological Survey). Characterization of Suspended-Sediment Loading to and from John Redmond Reservoir, East-Central Kansas, 2007–2008 By Casey J. Lee, Patrick P. Rasmussen, and Andrew C. Ziegler Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5123 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Lee, Casey J., Rasmussen, Patrick P., and Ziegler, Andrew C., 2008, Characterization of suspended-sediment loading to and from John Redmond Reservoir, east-central Kansas, 2007–2008: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5123, 25 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................3 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................3 Previous Sediment Transport Investigations ...................................................................................3 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................4 Continuous Water-Quality and Streamflow Monitoring .................................................................4 Suspended-Sediment Sample Collection and Analysis .................................................................5 Quality Assurance.................................................................................................................................5 Regression Models ...............................................................................................................................5 Computation of Sediment Concentrations, Loads, and Yields.......................................................6 Characterization of Sediment Loading To and From John Redmond Reservoir ..................................7 Hydrologic Conditions ..........................................................................................................................7 Regression Models ...............................................................................................................................9 Stormflow Effects on Sediment Loading .........................................................................................10 Effects of Upstream Reservoirs on Sediment Loading .................................................................15 Trapping Efficiency and Storage Loss .............................................................................................16 Comparison to Historical Data ..........................................................................................................19 Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................20 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................23 Figures 1. Map showing location of watershed boundaries, land use, and sampling sites upstream and downstream from John Redmond Reservoir, east-central Kansas, February 2007–2008 ......................................................................................................................2 2–11. Graphs showing: 2. Relation between cross-sectional median and in-stream turbidity readings at John Redmond sites, February 2007–2008 ..........................................................................................6 3. Annual flow at John Redmond sites, 1964–2007 ......................................................................8 4. Time-series streamflow values and storms delineated by number, John Redmond sites, February 2007–2008 ......................................................................................................................9 5. Streamflow duration curves at John Redmond sites, February 2007–2008 ......................10 6. Regression models between optical sensors and suspended-sediment concentration at study area sites, February 2007–2008 .................................................................................13 7. Relation between sediment loading and streamflow volume during stormflow events at John Redmond sites, February 2007–2008 ..............................................................................16 8. Suspended-sediment load duration curves at John Redmond sites, February 2007–2008 .....................................................................................................................................17 9. Estimation of streamflow and sediment loading originating from Council Grove Reservoir at the Neosho River near Americus, April 8–26, 2007 ........................................19 10. Approximate suspended-sediment load to and from John Redmond Reservoir, February 2007–2008 ....................................................................................................................20 iv 11. Relations between streamflow and suspended-sediment load (SSL) for historic sediment samples at study area sites .....................................................................................22 Tables 1. Location and contributing drainage area of sampling sites upstream and downstream from John Redmond Reservoir, east-central Kansas, February 2007–08 ............................3 2. Approximate land use in riparian areas of various sized streams in the Neosho River basin, east-central Kansas, 2004 ...............................................................................................4 3. Suspended-sediment concentration, percent silt/clay (<63 um diameter), and grain- size distribution from discrete samples collected from John Redmond sites, Febru- ary 2007–2008 ..............................................................................................................................11 4. Regression models and statistics for estimating suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) from turbidity values at study area sites, February 2007–2008 ................................12 5. Dates, streamflow, and suspended sediment loading of stormflow for study period at John Redmond sites, February 2007–2008 ..............................................................................14 6. Streamflow, sediment load, and sediment yield from regulated and unregulated drain- age areas at monitoring sites upstream from John Redmond Reservoir, February 2007–08 ........................................................................................................................18 7. Estimate of storage lost in John Redmond Reservoir under varying estimates of bulk density, February 2007–08 .........................................................................................................20 8. Regression models and statistics for estimating suspended-sediment load (SSL) using historic (1964–1978) sediment and streamflow at study area sites, February 2007–2008 .....................................................................................................................................21 9. Comparison of total sediment loads estimated from turbidity (2007–2008) and historic (1964–1978) streamflow measurements , February 2007–2008 ...........................................23 v Conversion Factors Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) foot per mile 0.1894 meter per kilometer mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) Area acre 4,047 square meter (m2) square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) Volume gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L) gallon (gal) 0.003785 cubic meter (m3) cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s) cubic foot per day (ft3/d) 0.02832 cubic meter per day (m3/d) million gallons per day (Mgal/d) 0.04381 cubic meter per second (m3/s) acre-foot 1,233 cubic meter (m3) acre-feet per square mile 476 cubic meters per square