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(E.1-2) Geomorphology of the Hells Canyon Reach of the Snake River

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(E.1-2) Geomorphology of the Hells Canyon Reach of the Snake River Geomorphology of the Hells Canyon Reach of the Snake River Steve Miller, CH2M HILL Dick Glanzman, CH2M HILL Sherrill Doran, CH2M HILL Shaun Parkinson, Idaho Power Company John Buffington, University of Idaho and Jim Milligan, University of Idaho (Ret.) Technical Report Appendix E.1-2 May 2002 Revised July 2003 Hells Canyon Complex FERC No. 1971 Copyright © 2003 by Idaho Power Company Idaho Power Company Geomorphology of the Snake River Basin and Hells Canyon CONTENTS Chapter Page Definitions...................................................................................................................................... xi Acronyms.................................................................................................................................... xvii Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................C-1 Preface..........................................................................................................................................C-5 1. Introduction and Geologic and Geomorphic History............................................................... 1-1 1.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.2. Current Physiographic Description .................................................................................. 1-3 1.3. Pre-Quaternary Geologic History..................................................................................... 1-7 1.3.1. Tectonic Formation of Hells Canyon Area ............................................................. 1-7 1.3.2. Emplacement of Idaho Batholith............................................................................. 1-7 1.3.3. Development of Basin and Range Province............................................................ 1-8 1.3.4. Eruption of the Columbia River Basalts.................................................................. 1-9 1.3.5. Development of Snake River Plain ......................................................................... 1-9 1.3.6. Formation of Lake Idaho....................................................................................... 1-10 1.3.7. Capture of the Snake River and Incision of Hells Canyon.................................... 1-10 1.4. Quaternary Geologic History ......................................................................................... 1-11 1.4.1. Pleistocene Climate Conditions............................................................................. 1-11 1.4.2. Lake Bonneville Flood Event................................................................................ 1-12 1.4.3. Holocene Climate Conditions ............................................................................... 1-13 1.5. Influence of Geology on Sediment Supply .................................................................... 1-14 Hells Canyon Complex Page i Geomorphology of the Snake River Basin and Hells Canyon Idaho Power Company Chapter Page 2. Anthropogenic Influences .......................................................................................................2-1 2.1. Historical Land Uses Within the Study Area and Hells Canyon.....................................2-2 2.1.1. Trapping..................................................................................................................2-4 2.1.2. Mining.....................................................................................................................2-4 2.1.3. Forest Management ................................................................................................2-7 2.1.4. Wild and Prescribed Fires.......................................................................................2-8 2.1.5. Livestock Grazing...................................................................................................2-9 2.1.6. Agriculture and Irrigation .....................................................................................2-10 2.1.7. Urbanization .........................................................................................................2-10 2.2. Water Regulation and Storage.......................................................................................2-10 2.3. Current Land Uses Within the Study Area and Hells Canyon ......................................2-12 2.3.1. Hells Canyon Land Uses ......................................................................................2-13 2.3.2. Hells Canyon Recreational Uses ..........................................................................2-13 3. Inventory of Current Physical Conditions................................................................................3-1 3.1. Topography.......................................................................................................................3-2 3.2. Climate..............................................................................................................................3-2 3.3. Geology.............................................................................................................................3-4 3.4. Hydrology.........................................................................................................................3-5 3.5. Soils ..................................................................................................................................3-5 3.6. Vegetation.........................................................................................................................3-7 4. Hydrology, Morphology, and Sediment Dynamics Upstream from Hells Canyon Dam .......4-1 4.1. Upstream from the HCC..................................................................................................4-3 4.1.1. Mainstem Upstream from Owyhee River (RM 393)..............................................4-4 4.1.2. Major Tributaries Between Owyhee River (RM 393) and Weiser River (RM 351)....................................................................................................................4-9 Page ii Hells Canyon Complex Idaho Power Company Geomorphology of the Snake River Basin and Hells Canyon Chapter Page 4.1.3. Mainstem Between Owyhee River (RM 393) and Brownlee Reservoir (RM 335)..................................................................................................................4-13 4.2. Within the HCC .............................................................................................................4-19 4.2.1. Stream Flows ........................................................................................................4-19 4.2.2. Morphology ..........................................................................................................4-21 4.2.3. Sediment Dynamics..............................................................................................4-21 5. Hydrology, Morphology, and Sediment Dynamics Downstream of Hells Canyon Dam.......5-1 5.1. Stream Flows ...................................................................................................................5-2 5.1.1. Outflows to Hells Canyon ......................................................................................5-2 5.1.2. Comparison of Pre- and Post-HCC Stream Flows .................................................5-3 5.2. Morphology .....................................................................................................................5-4 5.2.1. Nearshore Characterization ....................................................................................5-5 5.2.2. Channel Morphology..............................................................................................5-6 5.3. Sediment Dynamics ........................................................................................................5-14 5.3.1. Potential Sediment Sources ..................................................................................5-14 5.3.2. Mainstem Sediment Dynamics .............................................................................5-31 6. Effects of the HCC on Stream Flows, Sediment Dynamics, and Channel Morphology of Hells Canyon ........................................................................................................................6-1 6.1. Influence on Stream Flows ..............................................................................................6-2 6.2. Influence on Sediment Dynamics.....................................................................................6-2 6.3. Influence on Channel Morphology...................................................................................6-8 6.3.1. Current Morphology ................................................................................................6-8 6.3.2. Potential Channel Adjustments................................................................................6-9 7. Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................7-1 8. Literature Cited .......................................................................................................................8-1 Hells Canyon Complex Page iii *HRPRUSKRORJ\ RI WKH 6QDNH 5LYHU %DVLQ DQG +HOOV &DQ\RQ ,GDKR 3RZHU &RPSDQ\ /LVWRI7DEOHV 6XPPDU\RI'RPLQDQW/LWKRORJLHVE\'UDLQDJH%DVLQ DFUHV 7 6XPPDU\RI6WRUDJH)DFLOLWLHV8SVWUHDPIURP+HOOV&DQ\RQ 7 6XPPDU\RI6WXG\$UHD/DQG8VH
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