Suspended-Sediment Concentration and Pool Sedimentation Data for the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, September 2000 through October 2001 Open-File Report 03-185 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED 2003 N/A - 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER Suspended-Sediment Concentration and Pool Sedimentation Data for the 5b. GRANT NUMBER Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, September 2000 Through October 2001 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey 1849 C. Street, REPORT NUMBER NW Washington, DC 20240 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S) 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release, distribution unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT 15. SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF ABSTRACT OF PAGES RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE UU 20 unclassified unclassified unclassified Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Suspended-Sediment Concentration and Pool Sedimentation Data for the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, September 2000 through October 2001 By Peter R. Wright and Ronald B. Zelt Open-File Report 03-185 Prepared in cooperation with the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Cheyenne, Wyoming 2003 i U.S. Department of the Interior GALE A. NORTON, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government For additional information write to: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey, WRD 2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite B Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001 Copies of this report can be purchased from: U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 ii SEDIMENTATION DATA FOR THE GIBBON RIVER, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK CONTENTS Page Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and scope....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Description of area...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Methods................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Streamflow.................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Suspended sediment.................................................................................................................................................... 3 Geomorphology of pools............................................................................................................................................ 4 References............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Data tables............................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Figures 1. Location of streamflow-gaging stations, sediment-measurement sites, and pool study reach points along the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming................................................................................. 2 Tables 1. Daily mean streamflow data for station 06037100, Gibbon River at Grand Loop Road Bridge at Madison Junction, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, March 23 through September 30, 2001............................... 9 2. Streamflow measurements and width- and depth-integrated suspended-sediment data for the Gibbon River, September 14, 2000 through October 11, 2001................................................................................................ 10 3. Suspended-sediment data for automatic-pumped samples collected at station 06036950, Gibbon River below Canyon Creek, near West Yellowstone, Montana, March 22 through June 28, 2001............................ 11 4. Suspended-sediment data for automatic-pumped samples collected at station 06037100, Gibbon River at Grand Loop Road Bridge at Madison Junction, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, April 7 through June 28, 2001.......................................................................................................................... 12 5. Daily mean suspended-sediment concentrations and loads for station 06037100, Gibbon River at Grand Loop Road Bridge, at Madison Junction, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, April 1 through June 30, 2001.................................................................................................................................................... 13 6. Summary of pool geometry measurements in the Gibbon River, October 2000..................................................... 14 7. Particle-size distribution of fine bed sediment in pools, Gibbon River, October 2000........................................... 15 8. Particle-size distribution of surficial bed material in a riffle, Gibbon River, October 2000.................................... 16 CONTENTS iii CONVERSION FACTORS, DATUMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Multiply By To obtain Length foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) inch (in) 2.54 centimeter (cm) inch (in) 25.40 millimeter (mm) mile (mile) 1.609 kilometer (km) Area square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) Load ton per day (ton/d) 907.2 kilogram per day Temperature can be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (oF) or degrees Celcius (oC) as follows: oF = 9/5 (oC) + 32 oC = 5/9 (oF-32) In this report, vertical coordinate information is referenced to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD of 1929); horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27). Abbreviations used in this report: cm centimeter ft3/s cubic foot per second GCLAS Graphical constituent loading analysis system m meter m2 square meter m3 cubic meter m3/s cubic meter per second mg/L milligrams per liter mm millimeter µm micrometer USGS U.S. Geological Survey YNP Yellowstone National Park iv SEDIMENTATION DATA FOR THE GIBBON RIVER, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Suspended-Sediment Concentration and Pool Sedimentation Data for the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, September 2000 through October 2001 By Peter R. Wright and Ronald B. Zelt ABSTRACT produced debris flows that deposited large volumes of sediment and rock along and within the channel of the This report presents data on streamflow, sus- Gibbon River during 1989-91 (Meyer, 1993). Lastly, pended-sediment concentration, geomorphic mea- reconstruction and partial re-routing of the paved Park surements of pools, and particle-size distribution Service road along the Gibbon River commenced in the spring of 2001, which could represent a source of of surficial bed material, collected along a potential sediment erosion. Road reconstruction is 5-mile reach of the Gibbon River in Yellowstone planned to be completed in several phases over the fol- National Park. The study was done in cooperation lowing 4 to 6 years (National Park Service, 1999). with the National Park Service. The Park Service was concerned about the potential effects that road Deposition of fine sediment on the streambed can reconstruction would have on water quality. cause decreased survival of salmonid eggs and alevins A streamflow-gaging station and two auto- by restricting flow and dissolved-oxygen distribution matic pumping samplers were installed in Septem- through streambed gravel, resulting in suffocation. Filling of pools with fine sediment deposits can reduce ber 2000 to collect suspended-sediment samples. available habitat for benthic invertebrate communities The gage and samplers were operated seasonally that live on the surfaces of coarse substrate. Sediment- from March through September 2001. The geo- caused turbidity decreases light penetration, which morphic survey of pools and sampling of bed may inhibit primary production and disrupt food-chain material occurred during October 2000. energy transfer. Finally, increased turbidity adversely affects aesthetic values of streams, an important con- sideration for high-profile streams such as those in INTRODUCTION YNP. The Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park Concerns about the potential effects that road (YNP) (fig. 1) is an important trout fishery, featuring reconstruction would have on water quality prompted geothermally affected water in which fish and inverte- the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Sur- brates are buffered against extremely low temperatures vey (USGS) to enter into an agreement to characterize and ice formations (Varley and Schullery, 1983). In sediment conditions in the Gibbon River. The study 1997, the Gibbon River ranked sixth in popularity was designed to: (1) document the mean daily a mong 73streams and lakes fished in YNP (National suspended-sediment concentrations, fine bed-sediment Park Service, 1999). Several events in the Gibbon size distribution in pools, and degree of pool sedimen- watershed since 1988 have individual or cumulative tation of the Gibbon River prior to the road reconstruc- potential to increase sediment yields. The Gibbon tion activity, (2) monitor conditions during the River drainage was severely burned in the Greater Yel- reconstruction period, and (3) compare the post- lowstone fires of 1988 (Greater Yellowstone Coordi- construction conditions with the pre-construction base- nating Committee, 1989). Subsequent rain runoff line to evaluate any substantial changes. ABSTRACT 1 IN T R O D U C T IO N 2 Figure 1. Location of streamflow-gaging stations, sediment-measurement sites, and pool study reach points along the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Purpose and Scope METHODS The purpose of this report is to present the data The studied segment of the Gibbon River was collected during the first two seasons of this study based upon the area of road reconstruction. The study (September 2000 through October 2001). Streamflow segment extends from the Gibbon Falls picnic area and suspended-sediment data are published here and as downstream to the Grand Loop Road Bridge at Madi- part of the Wyoming Water Resources Data Report for son Junction—a distance of about 5 mi. At the upper the 2001 water year (Swanson and others, 2002). Other end of the study segment, which starts just below the data in this report include the geomorphic survey data mouth of Canyon Creek, a portable automatic water- for 16 pools, along with particle-size data for 18 sam- quality sampler was installed. At the lower end of the ples of fine bed-sediment in pools. Methods of data study segment, a streamflow-gaging station and a por- collection and quality-assurance data are included in table automatic water-quality sampler were installed on this report. the downstream side of the Grand Loop Road Bridge at Madison Junction (station 06037100). Within the study segment, 7 reaches were delineated for geomor- Description of Area phic pool surveys and 16 individual pool areas were identified for data collection. The Gibbon River originates at Grebe Lake at an elevation of 8023 ft (feet) above NGVD of 1929 and flows 29 miles southwesterly to join the Firehole River Streamflow at an elevation of 6798 ft. The upper river drains a high, mountainous area with small tributaries fed by Streamflow-gaging station 06037100 was installed snowmelt and cold springs. Middle reaches of the river in September 2000 and activated on March 20, 2001. It receive tributary flows fed by snowmelt and cold was operated until it was closed down for the cold- springs (such as Solfatara Creek, Canyon Creek, and weather season on October 11, 2001. Levels were sur- Secret Valley Creek), and effluent from geyser basins veyed to establish a datum for which relative gage (Norris, Gibbon, and Monument) and hot springs (such heights could be reported. Streamflow was measured as Sylvan, Beryl, and Iron). Soils are sandy, originating periodically to establish a stage-flow rating, and daily chiefly from glacial till or colluvium (National Park mean streamflow records were computed in accordance Service, 1999). Streambed materials are primarily vol- with standard USGS methods (Rantz and others, 1982). canic rhyolite, with gravel constituting the largest size Daily streamflow records for the seasonal period of fraction (Vincent, 1967). gage operation are presented in table 1 at the back of this report. Streamflow measurements are listed in table The snowmelt runoff period typically begins in 2 at the back of this report. mid-April, peaks by mid-June, and then declines rap- idly until mid-July. During the remainder of the year, flows generally are low and relatively constant, although heavy rains and ensuing runoff events are not Suspended Sediment uncommon. The geyser and hot spring effluent contrib- ute about 2 percent of total flow of the river during the Two automatic pumping samplers were installed snowmelt runoff period, and about 6 percent during in the Gibbon River in September 2000. Each of these low-flow conditions (Vincent, 1967). During the period samplers, one just below the inflow of Canyon Creek from March 23, 2001 to October 11, 2001, the Gibbon (station 06036950) and the other at Madison Junction River at Grand Loop Road Bridge had a maximum (station 06037100), were used to collect water samples daily mean flow of 584 ft3/s (cubic feet per second) on that were analyzed for suspended-sediment concentra- May 16 and a minimum daily mean flow of 7 9ft3/s on tion. The sampler immediately below the confluence September 4. Daily mean sediment loads during this of Canyon Creek was installed to attempt to detect pos- same period reached a maximum daily load of 596 sible effects of sediment inputs from debris torrents or tons/d (tons per day) on May 16 and a minimum daily erosion of debris fans that are not associated with road load of 0.77 tons/d on June 27. reconstruction. METHODS 3 Both automatic samplers were operated using the To determine the daily suspended-sediment load same sampling frequency. The samplers were pro- (suspended-sediment mass discharged over a 24-hour grammed to collect once-daily samples from March 22 period), daily suspended-sediment concentrations from through June 28, 2001. A subset of these samples rep- automatic samples and streamflow data were utilized resenting every other day from April 13 through May with data from depth-integrated cross-sectional sam- 5, 2001 was sent for analysis. Samples for May 6 ples using the computer program “Graphical Constitu- through May 13, 2001 were lost in transit. All daily ent Loading Analysis System” (GCLAS) of the USGS samples for May 14 through June 28, 2001 were sent (McKallip and others, 2001). Mean-daily suspended- for analysis. sediment concentration and load data, calculated using GCLAS, are presented in table 5 for station 06037100. After the snowmelt runoff period had ended in June, the samplers were reprogrammed to collect storm runoff “event” samples. An “event” was defined as any Geomorphology of Pools flow magnitude within the upper 10 percent of the flow- duration curve. The Gibbon River did not have any Seven reaches of the Gibbon River distributed events large enough to reach the upper 10 percent of the about evenly along the study segment between duration curve so no “event” samples were collected. s ediment-measurement sites (fig.1) were selected for targeted geomorphic sampling. These reaches pro- Automatic samplers are efficient tools for the col- vided a suitable set of pools for monitoring fine- lection of water samples in remote areas or during sediment deposition during low flow. The study short-duration events. However, these samples do not reaches have gradients and pool spacing typical of represent the “true” mean suspended-sediment concen- pool-riffle or plane-bed channel types (Montgomery tration of the stream at the time of collection, because and Buffington, 1993). For the purposes of this study, the sample is pumped from a single point in the cross pools were defined at low flow as areas of the channel section (Edwards and Glysson, 1999). To determine with reduced velocity, little surface turbulence, deeper the “true” mean, a relation needs to be determined by water than surrounding areas (Fitzpatrick and others, comparing automatic point samples with depth- 1998), a distinct downstream terminus (“riffle crest”), integrated, cross-sectional samples over the full range and containing the channel thalweg (Lisle and Hilton, of flow (Edwards and Glysson, 1999). Depth- 1992). The residual pool is defined as the portion of the integrated, equal-width increment, cross-sectional pool that is deeper than the hydraulic control (riffle samples ( table2) were collected concurrently with cor- crest) at the downstream end of the pool. In other responding automatic point samples. Cross-sectional words, the residual pool is the portion of the pool that samples were collected in accordance with standard would remain filled with water when the stream is USGS protocols described by Edwards and Glysson barely flowing. (1999). These protocols are designed to provide discharge-weighted composite samples that best repre- Within these 7 reaches, a total of 16 pools were sent the mean suspended-sediment concentration measured and sampled in October 2000 using methods across the entire cross section. described by Hilton and Lisle (1993). Data were col- lected and used to determine the proportion of residual All samples submitted to the laboratory were ana- pool volume filled by fine sediment (Lisle and Hilton, lyzed for suspended-sediment concentration, and 1992, 1999) during low flow. The fraction of residual approximately 30 percent of those samples were ana- pool volume filled with fine sediment (V ) is the ratio lyzed for sand-silt distribution (percent less than * of fine-sediment volume (V ) to the combined pool 0.062-mm (millimter) diameter). Suspended-sediment rf water and fine-sediment volume (V ) (Lisle and Hilton, concentration and particle-size distribution data for r 1992, 1999). p oint samples collected at station06036950 are pre- sented in table 3, and for station 06037100 are pre- The calculation of V requires measurements of * sented in table 4. Samples were analyzed by the USGS the water and fine-sediment volumes within the “resid- sediment laboratory in Helena, Montana, in accordance ual” part of each pool. The first step in measuring each with methods described in Guy (1969) and Lambing pool was to measure the riffle-crest depth. This was and Dodge (1993). measured as the mean of several soundings in the thal- METHODS 4