In cooperation with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency Morphological Analyses and Simulated Flood Elevations in a Watershed with Dredged and Leveed Stream Channels, Wheeling Creek, Eastern Ohio Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5133 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover. Looking downstream at cross-section C-5 on Wheeling Creek in Maynard, Ohio, after dredging was completed in 1985. (Photograph by G.F. Koltun, U.S. Geological Survey) Above. Looking downstream at cross-section C-5 (photograph taken from same location as cover photograph) on Wheeling Creek in Maynard, Ohio, summer 2006. (Photograph by James M. Sherwood, U.S. Geological Survey) Morphological Analyses and Simulated Flood Elevations in a Watershed with Dredged and Leveed Stream Channels, Wheeling Creek, Eastern Ohio By James M. Sherwood, Carrie A. Huitger, Andrew D. Ebner, and G.F. Koltun In cooperation with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5133 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008 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: Sherwood, J.M., Huitger, C.A., Ebner, A.D., and Koltun, G.F., 2008, Morphological analyses and simulated flood eleva- tions in a watershed with dredged and leveed stream channels, Wheeling Creek, Eastern Ohio: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5133, 67 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Background and Previous Studies ....................................................................................................3 Study Approach.....................................................................................................................................5 Setting and Land Use ...........................................................................................................................6 Collection of Field Data in Study Reaches .................................................................................................8 Resurvey of Previously Surveyed Cross Sections in Dredged Reaches .....................................8 Bankfull Profile and Cross-Section Surveys in Undredged Reaches ..........................................8 Survey of Bridges and Open-Channel Cross Sections for Step-Backwater Models ................9 Morphological Data Analyses ............................................................................................................9 Long-Term Changes in Mean Streambed Elevations in Previously Dredged Reaches ............9 Bankfull Characteristics from Field Surveys Compared to Regional Estimates in Undredged Reaches .............................................................................................................15 Bankfull Characteristics Determined from Field Surveys ...................................................17 Measured Bankfull Characteristics Compared to Equation Estimates and Regional Curves ............................................................................................................17 Step-Backwater Analyses and Simulated Flood Elevations ................................................................19 Development of Step-Backwater Models ......................................................................................19 Flood Elevations for Existing Conditions in Previously Dredged Reaches ................................20 Flood Elevations for Simulated Levee Conditions in Previously Dredged Reaches ................24 Flood Elevations for Simulated Dredging and Aggradation Conditions in Undredged Reaches .............................................................................................................27 Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................30 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................30 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................30 Maps and Water-Surface Profiles ............................................................................................................33 Data Tables ...................................................................................................................................................49 Figures [Those at back of report are flagged with an asterisk (*) next to the page number(s).] 1. Map showing locations of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamflow-gaging station 03111548, 12 sites selected for bankfull surveys, and dredged and undredged reaches studied in the Wheeling Creek Basin ..........................................4 2a–5a. Maps showing locations of cross sections used to create step- backwater models of dredged reaches of Wheeling Creek in the communities of 2a, Lafferty, Ohio; 3a, Crabapple, Ohio; 4a, Maynard, Ohio; and 5a, Crescent, Ohio ...................................................................................34, 36, 38, 40* iv 2b–5b. Graphs showing water-surface profiles estimated from step-backwater models for existing conditions of dredged reaches of Wheeling Creek in the communities of 2b, Lafferty, Ohio; 3b, Crabapple, Ohio; 4b, Maynard, Ohio; and 5b, Crescent, Ohio ...................................................................................35, 37, 39, 41* 6. Graph showing annual peak streamflows for 1983 through 2006 and peak streamflows for 2004 greater than a 5-year recurrence interval for USGS streamflow-gaging station Wheeling Creek below Blaine, Ohio (03111548) ............5 7. Schematic diagram showing geomorphic features of a stream valley and channel .........................................................................................................................8 8–11. Plots showing cross-sectional data for 1987 and 2006 stream-channel surveys for Wheeling Creek cross sections in the communities of 8, Lafferty, Ohio; 9, Crabapple, Ohio; 10, Maynard, Ohio; and 11, Crescent, Ohio ......................10 12. Schematic diagram showing method used to compute width-averaged bed elevation .....................................................................................................................15 13. Plots showing measured bankfull characteristics for 12 sites on Wheeling Creek compared to 50 sites and regional curves from an Ohio statewide study .................................................................................................................19 14. Schematic diagram showing levee heights above the water-surface elevation and flooding on the landward side of the levees by water submerging or flowing around the levees, in plan view and cross-sectional plots .........................23 15. Plot showing cross-sectional data for a previously dredged site with (A) current conditions and (B) simulated levees required to contain a 100-year flood ....................................................................................................................24 16. Plot showing cross-sectional data for an undredged site showing current conditions and selected conditions where the streambed was lowered or raised to simulate dredging and aggradation ..............................................................27 17a–19a. Maps showing locations of cross sections used to create step- backwater models of undredged reaches of Wheeling Creek: 17a, below the community of Lafferty, Ohio; 18a, between the communities of Maynard and Crescent, Ohio; and 19a, below the community of Crescent, Ohio ..............................................................................42, 44, 46* 17b–19b. Graphs showing water-surface profiles estimated from step- backwater models for existing conditions of undredged reaches of Wheeling Creek: 17b, below Lafferty, Ohio; 18b, between Maynard and Crescent, Ohio; and 19b, below Crescent, Ohio .......................................43, 45, 47* 20. Plots showing cross-sectional data for an undredged site with current conditions and changes in bed elevations, and the corresponding water-surface elevations for the 2- and 100-year flood recurrence intervals .......29 Tables [Those at back of report are flagged with an asterisk (*) next to the page number.] 1. Land-cover classifications