Evaluation of Two Low-Flow Releases from Big Tujunga Reservoir, Los Angeles County, California, 2003

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Evaluation of Two Low-Flow Releases from Big Tujunga Reservoir, Los Angeles County, California, 2003 Evaluation of Two Low-Flow Releases from Big Tujunga Reservoir, Los Angeles County, California, 2003 By Gregory O. Mendez In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5003 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 For more information about the USGS and its products: Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication 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: Mendez, G.O., 2005, Evaluation of two low-flow releases from Big Tujunga Reservoir, Los Angeles County, California, 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5003, 15 p. iii Contents Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Purpose and Scope ……………………………………………………………………… 2 Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………………………… 2 Study Design ………………………………………………………………………………… 2 Description of Sampling Sites …………………………………………………………… 4 Methods ……………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Temperature Measurements …………………………………………………………… 4 Discharge Measurements ……………………………………………………………… 4 Data Analysis ………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Flow Releases …………………………………………………………………………… 6 Travel-Time Data ………………………………………………………………………… 6 Monitoring of Pool Stage ………………………………………………………………… 6 Discharge Measurements ……………………………………………………………… 6 Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………… 15 References Cited ……………………………………………………………………………… 15 Figures Figure 1. Map showing location of the lower Big Tujunga Creek study area. ………………… 3 Figure 2. Map showing location of surface-water sites. ……………………………………… 5 Figure 3. Graphs showing temperature data at sites 2,3,4, and 6 during the first release (August 2003) on Big Tujunga Creek, Los Angeles County, California. ……………… 7 Figure 4. Graph showing typical pool-stage response on Big Tujunga Creek (site 4) during the first release, August 2003, Los Angeles County, California. ……………… 9 Figure 5. Graph showing flow at sites 3-6 on Big Tujunga Creek during the first release, August 2003, Los Angeles County, California. ……………………………………… 11 Figure 6. Graph showing flow at sites 3–6 on Big Tujunga Creek during the second release, October 2003, Los Angeles County, California. …………………………… 14 iv Tables Table 1. Site identification numbers and corresponding site names, lower Big Tujunga Creek, Los Angeles County, California. ……………………………………………… 5 Table 2. Discharge measurements at five sites on lower Big Tujunga Creek during the first release from Big Tujunga Dam, August 2003, Los Angeles County, California …………………………………………………………………………… 10 Table 3. Discharge measurements at five sites on lower Big Tujunga Creek during the second release from Big Tujunga Dam, October 2003, Los Angeles County, California …………………………………………………………………………… 12 Conversion Factors, Datum, and Abbreviations Multiply By To obtain acre 4,047 square meter acre-foot (acre-ft) 1,233 cubic meter (m3) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s) inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows: °F=(1.8×°C)+32 Datums Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum. Abbreviations LACDPW Los Angeles County Department of Public Works USFS U.S. Forest Service Evaluation of Two Low-Flow Releases from Big Tujunga Reservoir, Los Angeles County, California, 2003 By Gregory O. Mendez measurement made before flow decreased due to flow from Abstract dam being shut off. Losses in the plunge pool, directly below the dam were assumed to be negligible for this study. Overall Since 1973, the Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus san- creek loss between the dam and site 6 (the last site) was taanae) has been listed as a threatened species under the estimated to be between 4.0 and 4.2 ft3/s (cubic feet per Endangered Species Act. The Lower Big Tujunga Creek, in second). Estimated losses between the dam and intermedi- Los Angeles County, is one of the areas in southern California ate sites were about 1.5 ft3/s to site 3; 2.5 ft3/s to site 4; and where the Santa Ana Sucker is still present. This study was between 3.7 and 4.1 ft3/s to site 5. designed to assess two flow releases from Big Tujunga Dam that may contribute to favorable habitat conditions for the Santa Ana Sucker. It is important for the Santa Ana Sucker’s survival that pools in the lower reach of the study area are Introduction replenished periodically. The focus of the study area was on the Lower Big Tujunga Creek within a reach extending The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service approximately 6 miles downstream from the Big Tujunga (USFS), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Reservoir. Six sites were established from the Big Tujunga Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, the City Dam to Delta Flats day-use area for data collection. This of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Department of Public report describes the study design, discharge measurements, Works (LACDPW), and the Upper Los Angeles River Area and the flow data collected from the two releases. Watermaster have been working closely over the last several Two scheduled flows (phases 1 and 2) were released years to develop a flow-release strategy for maintaining and from the Big Tujunga Reservoir in August and September enhancing Santa Ana Sucker habitat within the lower Big 2003. During the first phase, which lasted 50 hours, travel Tujunga Creek. The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation times from the dam to four sites downstream were determined. with the USFS conducted a low-flow study on the Lower Big Arrival times at the four sites were determined on the basis of Tijunga Creek to evaluate the creek’s response to low-flow temperature data. Travel time from the dam to site 6 (the fur- releases. thest downstream site) was about 51.5 hours. Travel times for Potential flow-release considerations include releasing subreaches were 3 hours from site 1 to site 2, 6.5 hours from water periodically during the summer months to refresh the site 2 to site 3, almost 18 hours from site 3 to site 4, and 24 numerous pools within the study reach and providing con- hours from site 4 to site 6. The temperature probe at site 5 was tinuous low flows during the year to maintain sucker habitat destroyed, and thus the arrival time could not be estimated. A throughout the study reach. Pools provide habitat for the probe that measures stage was placed in one of the many pools Santa Ana Sucker during summer dry months and early fall downstream from site 4 to evaluate a typical pool response to a when most of the stream channel outside of pool areas is dry. low-flow release. Also, discharge measurements were taken at Pools within the study area are maintained during the summer four sites along the study reach. through subsurface seepage and occasional releases from the In phase 2, which lasted 5 days (121 hours), flow losses dam. Because water is expensive and is needed for recharge along the 6-mile reach were analyzed. Losses were estimated downstream from the study area, releasing only enough flow by measuring difference in flow from the dam to sites 3, 4, 5, to make it to the end of the reach will save money and reduce and 6, when flow was most stable at each site or when the last the potential for lost recharge. 2 Evaluation of Two Low-Flow Releases from Big Tujunga Reservoir, Los Angeles County, California, 2003 The Santa Ana Sucker (Catostomus santaanae), one of reduced because of sedimentation. The elevation decline of the only a few fish native to southern California, was listed as a creek within the 6-mile study reach is more than 400 ft. threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (amended in 2000). The Santa Ana Sucker is about 6 in. in length and has large thick lips with a small mouth that enable Purpose and Scope it to vacuum algae and invertebrates from the streambed. Santa The purpose of this report is to present an evaluation of Ana Suckers appear to be most abundant in clean, clear water the effects of different flow releases from the Big Tujunga although they can tolerate seasonally murky water. The native Reservoir on a reach extending 6 miles downstream from the range for the Santa Ana Sucker includes the Los Angeles, San dam. The study was designed to release water from the Big Gabriel, and Santa Ana River drainage systems (Smith, 1966). Tujunga Reservoir in two phases. The first phase was used to The lower reach of the Big Tujunga Creek, in Los Angeles determine travel times to selected sites downstream and the County, is one of the areas in southern California where the second phase was used to determine flow losses in specific Santa Ana Sucker is still present (Haglund and Baskin, 2001). reaches downstream. The Los Angeles County Department The reach below the Big Tujunga Dam consists of many pools of Public Works provided two releases from the reservoir; the and riffles, which with the right water-supply conditions can first release (50 hours) was in August 2003 and the second be suitable habitat for the Santa Ana Sucker.
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