Prepared in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Estimated Bankfull Discharge for Selected Michigan Rivers and Regional Hydraulic Geometry Curves for Estimating Bankfull Characteristics in Southern Michigan Rivers Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5133 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Looking Glass River near Eagle, Michigan, July 2007. (Photograph by C.M. Rachol, U.S. Geological Survey.) Estimated Bankfull Discharge for Selected Michigan Rivers and Regional Hydraulic Geometry Curves for Estimating Bankfull Characteristics in Southern Michigan Rivers By Cynthia M. Rachol and Kristine Boley-Morse Prepared in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5133 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2009 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: Rachol, C.M., and Boley-Morse, Kristine, 2009, Estimated bankfull discharge for selected Michigan rivers and regional hydraulic geometry curves for estimating bankfull characteristics in southern Michigan rivers: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5133, 300 p. iii Acknowledgments The author would like to acknowledge the following people for their contributions to and support of this study. Field survey crews led by Jessica Mistak and Chris Freiburger of the Fisheries Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and by James Selegan of the Detroit District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contributed data from several sites for use in this study. Additional field assistance was provided by Ralph Reznick and Matthew Staron, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Water Bureau; Heather Rawlings and Andrea Ania, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Coreen Stryzalka, Michigan Department of Transportation; and Mary Weidel, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Technical advice and expertise was provided by William Bartlett (USGS Surface Water Specialist, Northeast and Midwest Areas). Technical reviews of this report were performed by Carrie Huitger (Hydrologist, USGS Ohio Water Science Center) and Christiane Mulvihill (Physical Scientist, USGS New York Water Science Center). Editorial assistance was provided by Elizabeth Ciganovich (Technical Editor, USGS Columbus Publishing Service Center). Bureau approval was granted by Dorothy Tepper (USGS Eastern Region Report Approving Official). iv Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................iii Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 Ecoregions of Michigan .......................................................................................................................2 Regional Hydraulic Geometry Curves and Their Applications ......................................................5 Methods...........................................................................................................................................................5 Site Selection.........................................................................................................................................5 Survey Data Collection and Analysis ................................................................................................6 Bankfull Discharge Comparison to Flood-Frequency Statistics .........................................................12 Regional Hydraulic Geometry Curves ......................................................................................................14 Summary and Conclusions .........................................................................................................................16 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................16 (Appendixes 1 through 3–2 are available as separate downloadable PDF files through links on the HTML index page at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009-5133/) Appendix 1. Longitudinal-profile survey data ......................................................................................19 Appendix 2–1. Riffle cross-section survey data used for regional curve development and bankfull discharge estimation ............................................................................103 Appendix 2–2. Ancillary riffle cross-section survey data ................................................................159 Appendix 3–1. Riffle pebble-count data .............................................................................................201 Appendix 3–2. Reach average pebble-count data ...........................................................................263 Figures 1. Map showing surveyed streamgage locations and Albert Ecoregions in Michigan ........3 2. Maps showing glacial drift thickness and texture, land-surface elevation, and 2001 land-cover distribution in Michigan ..........................................................................4 3–5. Photographs showing: 3. Unstable banks at U.S. Geological Survey streamgage 04153500 Salt River near North Bradley, Michigan ...........................................................................................6 4. Unstable banks at USGS streamgage 04153500 Salt River near North Bradley, Michigan ....................................................................................................6 5. Vegetated sandbar formed from material deposited as a result of bank erosion at USGS streamgage 04153500 Salt River near North Bradley, Michigan .................6 6. Graph showing longitudinal profile data collected at USGS streamgage 04161580 Stony Creek near Romeo, Michigan .........................................................................7 7. Graph showing riffle cross-section data collected at USGS streamgage 04161580 Stony Creek near Romeo, Michigan .......................................................................10 v 8. Schematic diagram of generic reach average pebble-count survey distribution based upon available stream features ..............................................................11 9–11. Graphs showing: 9. Comparison of riffle cross-section data collected at USGS streamgage 04046000 Black River near Garnet, Michigan, by two independent survey teams ...............................................................................................11 10. Regional bankfull width, depth, and area curves for the Southern Lower Michigan Ecoregion ..............................................................................................15 11. Regional bankfull discharge curve for the Southern Lower Michigan Ecoregion ..........................................................................................................15 Tables 1. Surveyed streamgages, drainage area, riffle geometry summary, and water- surface slope for the Southern Lower Michigan Ecoregion .................................................8 2. Surveyed streamgages, drainage area, riffle geometry summary, and water- surface slope for the Northern Lacustrine-Influenced Lower Michigan Ecoregion .......................................................................................................................................9 3. Surveyed streamgages, drainage area, riffle geometry summary, and water- surface slope for the Northern Lacustrine-Influenced Upper Michigan and Wisconsin Ecoregion .................................................................................................................10 4. Surveyed streamgages, drainage area, riffle geometry summary, and water- surface slope for the Northern Continental Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Ecoregion .................................................................................................................10 5. Comparison of survey data collected at USGS streamgage 04046000 Black River near Garnet, Michigan ...............................................................................................................12