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Environmental Flow Framework for the Mckenzie River Basin, Oregon

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Environmental Flow Framework for the Mckenzie River Basin, Oregon Prepared in cooperation with the Eugene Water & Electric Board and The Nature Conservancy Development of an Environmental Flow Framework for the McKenzie River Basin, Oregon Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5016 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Lower McKenzie River near Springfield, Oregon. Photograph taken by John Risley, U.S. Geological Survey, July 2008. Development of an Environmental Flow Framework for the McKenzie River Basin, Oregon By John Risley, J. Rose Wallick, Ian Waite, and Adam Stonewall Prepared in cooperation with the Eugene Water & Electric Board and The Nature Conservancy Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5016 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010 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 To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov 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: Risley, John, Wallick, J.R., Waite, Ian, and Stonewall, Adam, 2010, Development of an environmental flow framework for the McKenzie River basin, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010-5016, 94 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction and Background ......................................................................................................................1 Key Elements .........................................................................................................................................1 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................................2 Study Goals and Tasks .........................................................................................................................2 Purpose of this Report .........................................................................................................................3 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................3 Study Framework ..................................................................................................................................8 Streamflow Regulation ......................................................................................................................10 Previous McKenzie River Basin Studies .........................................................................................12 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................................................13 Key Elements .......................................................................................................................................13 Methods................................................................................................................................................13 Streamflow Data ........................................................................................................................13 Measured and Estimated Streamflow ...........................................................................13 Computed Unregulated Streamflow ..............................................................................15 Simulated Regulated Streamflow ..................................................................................16 Bankfull Streamflow Estimation ..............................................................................................16 Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration ........................................................................................17 Hydrology Results and Discussion ..................................................................................................20 McKenzie River—Reach 1 .......................................................................................................22 South Fork McKenzie River—Reach 3 ...................................................................................30 Blue River—Reach 5 .................................................................................................................32 McKenzie River near Vida—Reach 7 .....................................................................................34 Leaburg and Walterville Canals—Reaches 8 and 10 ..........................................................36 McKenzie River—Reach 12 .....................................................................................................38 Stream-Temperature Assessment ............................................................................................................40 Key Elements .......................................................................................................................................40 Stream-Temperature Criteria ............................................................................................................40 Effect of Reservoirs ............................................................................................................................42 Stream-Temperature Data .................................................................................................................42 Results and Discussion ......................................................................................................................43 Geomorphology and Ecology .....................................................................................................................46 Key Elements .......................................................................................................................................46 Endangered Species Act Background ............................................................................................46 Methods................................................................................................................................................47 Reach Characterization ............................................................................................................47 Historical Channel Mapping ....................................................................................................47 Specific Gage Analysis .............................................................................................................48 iv Contents —Continued Geomorphology and Ecology—Continued Factors Governing the Distribution of Key Habitat Types ............................................................48 Pools .........................................................................................................................................48 Aquatic Offchannel Habitat ......................................................................................................49 Alluvial Bed Features ................................................................................................................50 Floodplain Habitat and Riparian Vegetation ..........................................................................50 Description of Channel Morphology and Habitat Limitation for Key Species ..........................51 Upper McKenzie River Basin—Reaches 1 and 2 .................................................................52 Channel Morphology and Controls on Physical Habitat Availability ........................52 Habitat Limitation ..............................................................................................................58 Middle McKenzie River Basin—Reaches 3–8 ......................................................................58 Channel Morphology and Controls on Physical Habitat Availability ........................58 Habitat Limitation ..............................................................................................................59 Lower McKenzie River Basin—Reaches 9–12 .....................................................................60 Channel Morphology and Controls on Physical Habitat Availability ........................60 Habitat Limitation ..............................................................................................................62 Relations Between Streamflow, Geomorphology, and Ecology...........................................................64 Key Elements .......................................................................................................................................64 Flow and Physical Habitat .................................................................................................................64 Pool Habitat.................................................................................................................................65
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