Bedload and River Hydraulics- inferences from the East Fork River, Wyoming By LUNA B. LEOPOLD and WILLIAM W. EMMETT U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1583 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary I U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publications Data Leopold, Luna Bergere, 1915- Bedload and river hydraulics : inferences from the East Fork River, Wyoming / by Luna B. Leopold and William W. Emmett, p. cm. -- (U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1583) Includes bibliographical references. Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.16:1583 1. Bed load--Wyoming--East Fork River. 2. Stream measurements--Wyoming--East Fork River. I. Emmett, William W. Title. 111. Series. GB 1299.8.W8L64 1997 55 I .48'2--dc21 97-44113 CIP ISBN 0-607-88893-8 For sale by U.S.Geological Survey, Branch of Information Services Box 25286, Mail Stop 306, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract ................................................................... ............................................................................................. 1 General statement ........ .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Research area ....................................................................................................... ............................................. 2 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Geologic and geomorphic setting ........................................ .......................................................... 3 Pre-Pleistocene geology ................................................................................................................... 3 Glacial sequence .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Glacial outwash terraces near the bedload project site ........................... .......................................... 5 Archaeology............................................. ........................................................................................................... 11 Characteristics of the river ............................................................................................... .................................. 15 The bedload project site ........................................................................................ .............................................. 16 Bed material and its distribution ............................................................................................................... 17 Hydraulic geometry ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 Development and operation of the bedload trap .................................................................................................................... 24 Initial design .............. ..... ........................................ ........................................................ 24 Successful design ......................................................................................................................................................... 24 ............................................................................................................................................................. 26 Bedload and river hydraulics ................................................................ ......................................................... 31 Cross-channel variation of transport rate ........................................................... ............................. 35 Hydraulic resistance .............................. ...................................................................... 36 Sediment rating curve computed from hydraulic geometry ........................................................................................ 36 Scour and movement of bed material ....................................................................................................... 37 Movement of marked rocks in relation to bed shear ...................................................... 37 Distance moved by marked rocks ...................................................................................................................... 37 Sand marked by fluorescent dye .................................... ............................................................ 38 Water-surface topography ............................................................................................................................................ 39 Cross-channel profile .................................................................................... ............................................... 39 Topography in a straight reach .............. ............................................................. ................ 39 Concluding statement ............................................................................................................................................................ 43 Selected references ................................................................................................................................................................ 43 Bedload data and hydraulic parameters ................................................................................................................................. 47 FIGURES 1. Map showing location of the bedload project site. channel cross sections. and streamflow-gaging station 09203000. East Fork River near Big Sandy. Wyoming ............................................................................. 4 2 . Diagram showing long profile of terraces along New Fork River. Boulder Creek. and Boulder Lake ... 7 3 . Map showing terrace remnants in the vicinity of the bedload project site ............................................................ 8 4 . Cross sections of channels and terraces at three locations along East Fork River and one location on Muddy Creek ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 5.7 . Photographs showing: 5 . East Fork River in the vicinity of the bedload project site ............................................................................ 10 . 6 . Wasatch beds that supply source sediment when eroded .............................................................................. 12 7 . Paleo-Indian hearth in Parker-Temple Lake terrace. and crude artifacts found on surface hillslopes of Cora Butte .... ...................................................................................................................... 14 8. Hydrographs showing mean and median daily discharge. East Fork River near Big Sandy. Wyoming. water years 1939-92............................................................................................................................................... 15 Contents 111 Page 9-12. Graphs showing: 9. Flood-frequency curve, East Fork River near Big Sandy, Wyoming, water years 1939-92......................... 15 10. Diurnal fluctuation in discharge of East Fork River at the bedload project site. .......................... 16 11. Flow-duration curve, East Fork River near Big Sandy, Wyoming, water years 16 12. Year-to-year variation of annual peak discharge and mean annual flow, and relation of annual peak discharge to mean annual flow, East Fork River near Big Sandy, Wyoming, water years 1939-92................................................. .............................................................................. 17 13-15. Photographs showing: 13. Aerial view of East Fork River valley upstream from the site of the bedload trap. 18 14. Research site before installation of the bedload trap. .............................................................................. 19 15. Site of the bedload trap at low flow and high flow ....................................................................................... 20 16. Cross section of East Fork River channel at the site of the bedload trap, prior to construction ........................... 21 17. Graph showing discharge rating curve for East Fork River at the site of the bedload trap .... ..................... 21 18. Graphs showing size distributions of bed material in East Fork River at State Highway 353, and of bed material and bedload at the project site ................................................ 21 19. Map showing distribution of bed material in the project reach, July 12, 1976 ..................................................... 22 20. Photographs showing the initial unsuccessful bedload trap installed at the same location where the successful machine was constructed later ......................... ..................................... 25 21. Simplified engineering drawings of mechanism for the bedload trap 27 22. Photographs showing the bedload trap on East Fork River ............................................. 28 23-29. Graphs showing: 23. Typical measurements of weight