And Streamflow Gain and Loss (2010) of the Brazos River from the New Mexico–Texas State Line to Waco, Texas
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Prepared in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board Base Flow (1966–2009) and Streamflow Gain and Loss (2010) of the Brazos River from the New Mexico–Texas State Line to Waco, Texas Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5224 Version 1.1, June 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Front cover: Looking downstream from Highway 16 and U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08088610 Brazos River near Graford, Texas Back cover: Looking downstream from U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08091500 Paluxy River at Glen Rose, Texas, April 27, 2010 Base Flow (1966–2009) and Streamflow Gain and Loss (2010) of the Brazos River from the New Mexico–Texas State Line to Waco, Texas By Stanley Baldys III and Frank E. Schalla Prepared in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5224 Version 1.1, June 2016 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2012 First release: 2012 Revised: June 2016 (ver. 1.1) For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/. 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: Baldys, Stanley, III, and Schalla, F.E., 2016, Base flow (1966–2009) and streamflow gain and loss (2010) of the Brazos River from the New Mexico–Texas State line to Waco, Texas (ver. 1.1, June 2016): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5224, 53 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20115224. ISSN 2328-031X (print) ISSN 2328-0328 (online) ISBN 978-1-4113-3318-5 iii Acknowledgments The authors thank the following individuals for their assistance with data-collection activities throughout the study: Clint Walker, John R. Howell, Dana A. Blanchette, Gary F. Burke, Brandon A. Cooper, Travis T. Dowell, Nathan J. McSloy, Samuel W. Kelley, Jeffrey T. Sandlin, Michael D. Scheider, Phillip C. Teeters, Jason L. Taylor, and Steven T. Loesch. v Contents Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................iii Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................6 Methods.........................................................................................................................................................12 Hydrograph Separation and Trend Analysis ..................................................................................12 Data Collection ....................................................................................................................................15 Streamflow Gain and Loss Computation .........................................................................................20 Quality Assurance...............................................................................................................................20 Base Flow ......................................................................................................................................................20 Salt Fork and Double Mountain Fork Brazos River Basin ............................................................21 Clear Fork Brazos River Basin ..........................................................................................................21 North Bosque River Basin .................................................................................................................21 Brazos River Basin (main stem) .......................................................................................................27 Streamflow Gain and Loss Assessment ..................................................................................................33 Salt Fork Brazos River Basin .............................................................................................................33 Double Mountain Fork Brazos River Basin .....................................................................................34 Clear Fork Brazos River Basin ..........................................................................................................35 North Bosque River Basin ...............................................................................................................36 Brazos River Basin (main stem) .......................................................................................................38 Contributions of Streamflow to the Main Channels of Each of the Five Subbasins ...............41 Summary .......................................................................................................................................................41 References ....................................................................................................................................................44 Appendix 1. Hydrographic Separation Results ...................................................................................46 Figures 1. Map showing upper Brazos River Basin, Texas ......................................................................3 2. Map showing major-aquifer boundaries and sites where streamflow and specific conductance were measured, June and October 2010, upper Brazos River Basin, Texas ...........................................................................................................4 3. Map showing minor-aquifer boundaries and sites where streamflow and specific conductance were measured, June and October 2010, upper Brazos River Basin, Texas ...........................................................................................................5 4. Map showing sites where streamflow and specific conductance were measured in June and October 2010, Salt Fork Brazos River Basin, Texas ........................7 5. Map showing sites where streamflow and specific conductance were measured in June and October 2010, Double Mountain Fork Brazos River Basin, Texas ...................................................................................................................................8 vi 6. Map showing sites where streamflow and specific conductance were measured in June and October 2010, Clear Fork Brazos River Basin, Texas .....................9 7. Map showing sites where streamflow and specific conductance were measured in June and October 2010, North Bosque River Basin, Texas ..........................10 8. Map showing sites where streamflow and specific conductance were measured in June and October 2010, main stem of the Brazos River and tributaries to the main stem, Texas .........................................................................................11 9. Graph showing hydrograph separation of streamflow for U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08089000 Brazos River near Palo Pinto, Texas, 1978 water year...............................................................................................................14 10. Graph showing annual base-flow index for U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08082000 Salt Fork Brazos River near Aspermont, Texas, 1966–2009 ...................................................................................................22 11. Graph showing annual base-flow index for U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08080500 Double Mountain Fork Brazos River near Aspermont, Texas, 1966–2009 ..........................................................................................22 12. Graphs showing A, Time series of annual base-flow index and B, Relation between annual base-flow index for U.S. Geological Survey streamflow- gaging stations 08080500 Double Mountain Fork Brazos River near Aspermont, Texas, and 08082000 Salt Fork Brazos River near Aspermont, Tex., 1966–2009 ............................................................................................................................23 13. Graph showing annual base-flow index for U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08084000 Clear Fork Brazos River at Nugent, Texas, 1966–2009 .........................................................................................................................24 14. Graph showing annual base-flow index for U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08085500 Clear Fork Brazos River at Fort Griffin, Texas, 1966–2009 .........................................................................................................................24