Evaluation of Streamflow Records in Rogue River Basin, Oregon
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GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 187 \ EVALUATION OF STREAMFLOW RECORDS IN ROGUE RIVER BASIN, OREGON B!y Donald Rkhaideon UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY W. E. Wrather, Director GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 187 EVALUATION OF STREAMFLOW RECORDS IN ROGUE RIVER BASIN, OREGON By Donald Richardson Washington, D. C., 1952 Free on application to the Geological Surrey, Washington 25, D. C. ' CONTENTS Page Page Abstract................................. 1 Syllabus of gaging-stations records--Con. Introduction............................. 1 Gaging-station records-Continued Purpose and Scope...................... 1 Rogue River Continued Acknowledgments........................ 1 Little Butte Creek at Lake Creek... 25 Physical features- of the basin........... 2 Little Butte Creek above Eagle Utilization of water in the basin........ 2 Point............................ 25 Water resources data for Rogue River basin 5 Little Butte Creek near Eagle Streamflow records ..................... 5 Point............................ 25 Storage reservoirs..................... 6 Little Butte Creek below Eagle Adequacy of data....................... 6 Point............................ 26 Syllabus of gaging-station records....... 13 Emigrant Creek (head of Bear Creek) Explanation of data .................... 13 near Ashland..................... 27 Gaging-station records................. 13 Emigrant Creek below Walker Creek, Rogue River above Bybee Creek........ 13 near Ashland..................... 28 Rogue River above Prospect........... 13 Nell Creek near Ashland.......... 28 Rogue River at Prospect.............. 14 Nell Creek (near mouth) near Mill Creek near Prospect........... 14 Ashland........................ 28 Rogue River below Prospect........... 14 Bear Creek above Ashland Creek, at Rogue River below Prospect power Ashland.......................... 29 plant no. 1 ....................... 15 West Pork Ashland Creek (head of South Pork Rogue River above Imnaha Ashland Creek) near Ashland.... 29 Creek, near Prospect............. 15 East Pork Ashland Creek near Imnaha Creek near Prospect....... 15 Ashland...................... 29 South Pork Rogue River near Prospect 15 Ashland Creek at Ashland......... 29 Middle Fork Rogue River near Bear Creek near Ashland............ 30 Prospect....................... 16 Wagner Creek near TaJ.ent......... 30 Red Blanket Creek near Prosepct 16 Bear Creek at (Talent............... 30 Rogue River below South Pork Ro'gue Bear Creek below Phoenix Canal, River, near Prospect............... 16 near Talent...................... 31 Willow Creek (head of Big Butte Bear Creek at Medford.............. 31 Creek) near Butte Palls.......... 17 Bear Creek near Central Point...... 31 Big Butte Springs near Butte Palls 17 Rogue River at Raygold, near Central Rancheria Creek: Point...... ......................... 32 Pourbit Creek near Butte Palls. 17 Evans Creek above West Pork at Rancheria Creek near Butte Palls. 18 Meadow Bridge (near Bybee Springs) 32 South Pork Big Butte Creek (contin Evans Creek at Bybee Springs, near uation of Willow Creek) near Rogue River...................... 33 Butte Palls.................... 18 Evans Creek at Wimer............... 33 South Pork Big Butte Creek at Pleasant Creek near Rogue River.. 34 Butte Palls...................... 18 Rogue River at Grants Pass........... 34 North Pork Big Butte Creek near Applegate River near Copper........ 35 Butte Palls.................... 19 Applegate River near Ruch (Buncom). 36 Big Butte Creek below Butte Palls.. 19 Little Applegate River near Big Butte Creek near McLeod........ 19 Talent......................... 37 Elk Creek near Trail............... 20 Little Applegate River near Rogue River near Trail............... 20 Buncom......................... 37 Rogue River at Dodge Bridge, near West Pork Little Applegate River Eagle Point........................ 21 _near Buncom.................. 37 South Pork Little Butte Creek (head Little Applegate River near Ruch. 38 of Little Butte Creek) at Big Applegate River near Applegate..... 38 Elk ranger station............. 22 Thompson Creek near Applegate.... 38 Big Draw Creek near Deadwood..... 22 Williams Creek: Daley Creek near Lake Creek.... 22 East Pork Williams Creek near Dead Indian Creek near Lilyglen.. 22 Williams..................... 39 South Pork Little Butte Creek near West Pork Williams Creek near Lake Creek....'................... 22 Williams..................... 40 South Pork Little Butte Creek (near Hungers Creek near Williams.. 40 mouth) near take Creek........... 23 Powell Creek near Williams..... 40 North Pork Little Butte Creek at Applegate River at Murphy.......... 40 Pish Lake, near Lake Creek..... 23 Applegate River near Wilderville... 42 North Pork Little Butte Creek near Slate Creek at Wonder............ 42 Lake Creek..................... 23 Jumpoff Joe Creek near Merlin...... 42 North Pork Little Butte Creek Louse Creek near Grants ^ass..... 43 above Rogue River Valley Canal Rogue River near Galice.....'......... 43 intake, near Lake Creek........ 24 III IV Page Page Syllabus of gaging-stations records--Con. Syllabus of gaging-stations records--Con, Gaging-station.records--Continued Gaging-station records--Continued Rogue River--Continued Rogue River Continued Grave Creek at Pease Bridge, near East Fork Illinois River Continued Placer........................... 43 Althouse Creek near Kerby........ 45 Grave Creek near Placer............ 43 Sucker Creek: East Pork Illinois River (head of Grayback Creek near Holland.. 45 Illinois River) near Takilma..... 44 Sucker Creek near Holland......' 46 Loag Gulch at Basye 'Ranch, near West Pork Illinois River near Takilma........................ 45 0'Brien........................ 46 East Pork Illinois River below Wood Creek near O'Brien........ 46 Esterly middle canal, near Rough and Ready Creek near Takilma.......................... 45 O'Brien...................... 47 Althouse Creek near Holland...... 45 Illinois River at Kerby............ 47 Deer Creek near Dryden........... 48 ILLUSTRATIONS Page Figure 1. Map showing irrigated areas in Rogue River basin................................. 4 2. Map showing location and duration of streamflow records......................... 7 Plate 1. Map showing location of gaging stations In the Rogue River basin ...........In pocket TABLES Page Table 1. Municipal water supplies and wasteways in Rogue River basin....................... 3 2. Index of streamflow records in Rogue River basin................................. 8 3. Storage reservoirs in Rogue River basin........................................... 9 4. Streamflow records in relation to natural yield.................................. 10 5. Diversions in Rogue River basin, above Rogue River near Trail..................... 21 6. Diversions in Little Butte Creek basin, above North Fork Little Butte Creek above Rogue River Valley canal intake................................................. 24 7. Diversions in Little Butte Creek basin, above Little Butte Creek above Eagle Point 26 8. Diversions in Evans1 Creek basin, above Evans Creek at Wimer....................... 34 9. Diversions in Rogue River basin, above Rogue River at Grants Pass................. 36 10. Diversions in Applegate River basin,above Applegate River near Applegate.......... 39 11. Diversions in Thompson Creek basin, above Thompson Creek near Applegate........... 39 12. Diversions in Applegate River basin, above Applegate River at Murphy.............. 41 13. Diversions in Rogue River basin, above Illinois River at Kerby.................... 47 EVALUATION OF STREAMFLOW RECORDS IN ROGUE RIVER BASIN, OREGON ABSTRACT charge at that particular point. In a basin where natural runoff prevails, these records This report presents data which are, in gen depict the surface-water yield of the basin at eral, supplementary to those the surface-water that point. Such records are of great value investigations made in the past by the U. S. to the hydrologist or designing engineer, as Geological Survey. Those have been essentially they are a direct measure of the yield of the investigations of the operation of the many drainage basin. When upstream water use di gaging stations on the Rogue River and tribu verts and depletes the water supply, the dis taries. charge records no longer serve as a measure of the yield of the basin unless appropriate The data presented were obtained from a de adjustments are made. If the point of proposed tailed field investigation of the various diversion or future use is remote from the gag factors resulting from man-mad* structures ing station, it is even more important to have that influence the quantity or regimen of the complete knowledge of these factors. flow at the gaging stations. These factors include diversions from the stream, bypass The primary purpose of this report is to channels carrying water around the gaging sta evaluate each streamflow record in terms of the tions, return flow from irrigation'or other factors that influence or alter the flow of the projects, storage and release of flood waters, Yakima River and tributaries at the gaging sta and other similar factors. Where feasible, tion locations. Such factors include diversions, the location, size, effect upon the streamflow, bypass channels carrying water around the gaging periods of use, method of operation,, and simi stations, consumptive use, regulation by storage, lar information are given. The information is and other factors that alter the natural regimen