Channel Morphology and Bed-Sediment Characteristics Before

Channel Morphology and Bed-Sediment Characteristics Before

Channel Morphology and Bed-Sediment Characteristics Before and After Riparian Vegetation Clearing in the Cottonwood Ranch, Platte River, Nebraska, Water Years 2001–2004 By Paul J. Kinzel, Jonathan M. Nelson, and Ashley K. Heckman Prepared in cooperation with the Platte River Endangered Species Partnership Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5285 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior P. Lynn Scarlett, Acting Secretary U.S. Geological Survey P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS 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: Kinzel, P.J., Nelson, J.M., and Heckman, A.K., 2006, Channel morphology and bed-sediment characteristics before and after riparian vegetation clearing in the Cottonwood Ranch, Platte River, Nebraska, water years 2001–2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5285, 25 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................2 Study Area..............................................................................................................................................3 Geomorphology ............................................................................................................................3 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................................3 Management Activities ........................................................................................................................4 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................5 Streamflow .............................................................................................................................................5 Geomorphic Monitoring .......................................................................................................................5 Channel Morphology ............................................................................................................................6 Sampling of Bed and Bank Sediment ................................................................................................9 Ground Photography ..........................................................................................................................10 Aerial Photography .............................................................................................................................10 Statistical Analysis .............................................................................................................................10 Channel Morphology ...................................................................................................................................11 Bed-Sediment Characteristics ..................................................................................................................13 Additional Analysis ......................................................................................................................................13 Stage Trend ..........................................................................................................................................14 Trends in Mean Bed Elevation from Channel Surveys .................................................................20 Streamflow ...........................................................................................................................................22 Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................23 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................24 Figures 1. Map showing the Overton to Elm Creek reach of the Platte River, the Cottonwood Ranch Property, intensive monitoring reaches, monitoring transects, and streamflow-gaging stations .............................................................................4 2. Natural-color aerial photograph taken October 7, 2002, showing the Input Monitoring Reach in the Cottonwood Ranch Property ................................................6 3. Natural-color aerial photograph taken October 7, 2002, showing the Managed Monitoring Reach in the Cottonwood Ranch Property ........................................7 4. Natural-color aerial photograph taken October 7, 2002, showing the Output Monitoring Reach in the Cottonwood Ranch Property .............................................8 iv 5. Aerial photograph taken of the Cottonwood Ranch Property: (A) August 21, 1938, mean daily flow at the Overton streamflow-gaging station 9 cubic meters per second; (B) November 18, 1951, mean daily flow at Overton 56 cubic meters per second; (C) October 7, 2002, mean daily flow at Overton 15 cubic meters per second; and (D) March 31, 2003, mean daily flow at Overton 19 cubic meters per second ......................................................................................11 6. Bank stratigraphy near (A) Input Reach transect 9, September 9, 2000; (B) Output Reach transect 9, November 1, 2001; and (C) Output Reach transect 25, November 1, 2001 ..................................................................................................19 7. Graph showing the linear trend slopes of mean bed elevation along the middle channel of the Platte River near the Cottonwood Ranch for U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, and Nebraska Public Power District transect surveys ..................................................................................21 8. Average mean daily discharge measured at USGS streamflow-gaging station 06768000, Platte River near Overton, 1931–2004, compared with discharges measured during this study, water years 2001 through 2004, at the Overton and Cottonwood Ranch gages .......................................................................22 9. Percentage of the mean of the annual flows, 1931–2004, measured at the Overton gage, water years 2001 through 2004, and percentage of the annual flow measured at the Overton gage that was measured at the Cottonwood Ranch gage for water years 2001–2004 ...........................................................23 Tables 1. Results of the analysis of variance between pre- and postclearing channel-morphology variables in the Input Reach ...............................................................15 2. Results of the analysis of variance between pre- and postclearing channel-morphology variables in the Managed Reach .......................................................16 3. Results of the analysis of variance between pre- and postclearing channel-morphology variables in the Output Reach ............................................................17 4. Results of the analysis of variance between pre- and postclearing bed-sediment variables for transects sampled in the Input Reach ...................................18 5. Results of the analysis of variance between pre- and postclearing bed-sediment variables for transects sampled in the Managed Reach ...........................18 6. Results of the analysis of variance between pre- and postclearing bed-sediment variables for transects sampled in the Output Reach ................................18 v Conversion Factors Multiply By To obtain Length millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.) meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft) kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi) meter (m) 1.094 yard (yd) Area square meter (m2) 0.0002471 acre square kilometer (km2) 247.1 acre square kilometer (km2) 0.3861 square mile (mi2) Volume cubic meter (m3) 35.31 cubic foot (ft3) cubic meter (m3) 1.308 cubic yard (yd3) Mass gram (g) 0.03527 ounce, avoirdupois (oz) kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb) 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). Water year: The 12-month period October 1 through September 30. The water year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends. Channel Morphology and Bed-Sediment Characteristics Before and After Riparian Vegetation Clearing in the Cottonwood Ranch, Platte River, Nebraska,

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