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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Boise, Idaho » Northwest Watershed Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #121698
Title: LONG-TERM STREAM DISCHARGE AND SUSPENDED-SEDIMENT DATABASE, REYNOLDS CREEK EXPERIMENTAL WATERSHED, IDAHO, UNITED STATES

Author
item Pierson Jr, Frederick
item SLAUGHTER, CHARLES - UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
item CRAM, ZANE - UNIVERITY OF IDAHO

Submitted to: Water Resources Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2001
Publication Date: 11/20/2001
Citation: Pierson, Frederick B., Slaughter, Charles W., Cram, Zane K. Long-term stream discharge and suspended-sediment database, Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed, Idaho, United States. Water Resources Research 2001, v. 37, no. 11, p. 2857-2861

Interpretive Summary: The USDA-ARS, Northwest Watershed Research Center has published a long- term database of the majority of hydrologic, soils and vegetation data collected on Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW) starting in the early 1960's. This paper is one of a series of nine papers describing all the data and how the data can be accessed on an anonymous FTP site (ftp.nwrc.ars.usda.gov). Stream discharge data for 13 stream gauging stations and suspended sediment data for 3 locations are described in this chapter. This RCEW stream discharge and sedimentation database can be used to provide fundamental information on hydrologic processes, precipitation-runoff relationships, hydrograph characteristics, water yield, and the interactive effects of climate, vegetation, soils and land use on rangeland hydrologic response. The database also provides a basis for evaluating temporal variability in hydrologic regime and water yield, and for evaluating spatial variability within a typical upland rangeland landscape. Rangeland watersheds with high-elevation seasonal snowpacks are vital sources of stream flow during spring and early summer to support in-stream and near-stream habitat, and downstream uses including irrigation, recreation and hydropower generation.

Technical Abstract: The USDA-ARS, Northwest Watershed Research Center initiated a stream discharge and suspended sediment research program at Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW) in the early 1960's. Continuous discharge measurements began at two sites in 1963, at three additional sites in 1964, and at eight additional sites in subsequent years. Contributing areas to these gauging stations range from 1.03 ha to 23,822 ha, selected to represent the broad range of environmental settings found across northwestern rangelands. Quality-controlled, validated break- point and hourly stream discharge data sets are available for these 13 sites for the period 1963 through 1996 (or for a subset of that time for some sites). Suspended sediment data are available for three gauging stations (high elevation, mid-elevation, and low elevation). All data are available on the Northwest Watershed Research Center anonymous FTP site (ftp.nwrc.ars.usda.gov).