Geomorphic and Hydraulic Assessment of the Bear River in and Near Evanston, Wyoming
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GEOMORPHIC AND HYDRAULIC ASSESSMENT OF THE BEAR RIVER IN AND NEAR EVANSTON, WYOMING By M.E. SMITH anc/M.L. MADERAK____________________ U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 93-4032 Prepared in cooperation with the CITY OF EVANSTON and UINTA COUNTY Cheyenne, Wyoming 1993 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ROBERT M. HIRSCH, Acting Director For additional information Copies of this report may be write to: purchased from: U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Information Center District Chief Open-File Reports Section U.S. Geological Survey Box 25286, MS 517 2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite B Denver Federal Center Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001 Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Abstract..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction................................................................................._^ 2 Purpose and scope....................................................................................................................................... 2 Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................................... 2 Approach................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Methods of analysis.................................................................................................................................... 4 Geomorphology............................................................................................................................ 4 Hydraulics of flow........................................................................................................................ 5 Channel roughness evaluation...................................................................................................... 6 Limitations of methods................................................................................................................. 6 Compilation of data.................................................................................................................................... 7 Hydrologic and streamflow conditions........................................................................................ 7 Geomorphic characteristics.......................................................................................................... 11 Onsite measurements and sampling............................................................................................. 15 Geomorphic and hydraulic assessment..................................................................................................................... 16 Reasons for channel instability................................................................................................................... 16 Geomorphology.......................................................................................................................................... 17 Reach sinuosity and valley slope................................................................................................. 21 Channel-pattern geometry............................................................................................................ 22 Hydraulics of flow...................................................................................................................................... 24 Bankfull-discharge determination................................................................................................ 25 Present-day hydraulic properties.................................................................................................. 25 Relation of geomorphic properties to flow hydraulics............................................................................... 31 Relation of sediment-transport data to flow hydraulics.............................................................................. 32 Instream gravel mining................................................................................................................. 33 Bank erosion and channel migration............................................................................................ 37 Effects of channel renovation on channel roughness ................................................................................. 37 Conclusions............................................................................................................................................................... 40 References cited........................................................................................................................................................ 42 Supplemental data..................................................................................................................................................... 45 iii FIGURES 1. Map showing location of the study reaches and streamflow-gaging stations and streamflow- measurement sites................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Hydrograph showing relation of streamflow conditions during the study period to long-term average conditions.................................................................................................................. 8 3. Flow-duration curve for streamflow-gaging station 10019000 (Bear River near Evanston), 1944 and 1946-56.................................................................................................................................... 10 4-6. Aerial photographs showing channel-pattern changes and onsite-measurement locations in: 4. Study reach 1, Bear River................................................................................................................ 12 5. Study reach 2, Bear River................................................................................................................ 13 6. Study reach 3, Bear River................................................................................................................ 14 7. Definition sketch for bend and meander properties................................................................................ 15 8. Sketch showing the present-day (1986) and historical channel patterns of the Bear River in Evanston.............................................................................................................................................. 18 9. Photographs of the Bear River showing the resistant bedrock outcrops controlling the channel immediately upstream from Interstate 80 near Evanston........................................................................ 19 10. Photographs showing: A, present-day bank erosion and riprap materials used for bank protection; B, deposition of debris and channel braiding downstream from Evanston.......................... 20 11. Graph showing relation of bend length to bend radius of curvature....................................................... 24 12. Graph showing present-day bed and bankfull water-surface profiles through the study reach.............. 29 13. Boxplots showing a comparison of bankfull hydraulic properties for reaches 1, 2, and 3 of the present-day channel........................................................................................................................... 30 14. Graphs showing bedload- and suspended-sediment-discharge data for the three measurement sites.......................................................................................................................................................... 34 15. Sediment-transport curves for bedload discharge and suspended-sediment discharge for the three measurement sites.......................................................................................................................... 36 TABLES 1. Recurrence intervals and peak discharges for the Bear River study reach............................................. 9 2. Peak discharges recorded at streamflow-gaging station 10016900 (Bear River at Evanston), 1984-89 ................................................ 9 3. Summary of present-day flow and cross-section properties for bankfull discharge (3,600 cubic feet per second)............................................................................................................................. 28 4. Flow and cross-section properties at cross-section 25, with and without the proposed diversion structure for the 100-year peak discharge (4,000 cubic feet per second)............................................... 31 5. Summary of sediment-transport relations for measured bedload and suspended-sediment discharges at each measurement site....................................................................................................... 35 6. Base values and adjustment factors of Manning's n for various bed/bank stabilization options ........... 39 7. Measured geomorphic properties of the study reach.............................................................................. 46 8. Flow and sediment-transport characteristics measured during onsite sampling..................................... 48 9. Physical properties, major ions, nutrients, trace elements, and pesticides in water samples from the Bear River................................................................................................................................