English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

A study was made during the summer seasons of 1956 and 1957 to determine the use of water by a water-spreading system in Box Creek basin, Converse County, Wyo., which was designed to reduce sediment yield and fluvial erosion. The water-spreading system on Box Creek consists of 27 small dams that divert the flow directly onto the flood plain, where it is used to irrigate a hay meadow of 360 acres. Two gaging stations were established, one above the water-spreading system and one below, to measure inflow, outflow, and suspended sediment. Also, a network of precipitation gages, ground-water observation wells, and observations on soil-moisture were an integral part of the hydrologic investigation. There were six runoff events during the 1956 and 1957 seasons for which inflow and outflow through the water-spreading system could be determined. The total inflow for the six runoff periods was 2,026 acre-feet and the outflow was 1,330 acre-feet, which represents a loss of 34 percent of surface flow entering the water spreader. Total reduction in suspended-sediment load for the six runoff periods was not determined because of the many ungaged tributaries between gaging stations. However, two of the storms originated above the upper gaging station and the suspended-sediment load in the inflow was 4,513 tons and the outflow was 1,119 tons, which represents a decrease of 75 percent between stations. During the 2 years of observation, the total sediment deposition on the water-spreading system was 17.8 acre-feet or 0.049 acre-foot per acre. Most of this sediment was derived from slopes adjacent to the water spreader and, therefore, introduced some uncertainties in evaluating the sediment-retention efficiency of this type of land treatment. Data from ground-water observation wells show that some of the surface flow entering the water-spreading system at the upper end may penetrate to a perched water table. INTRODUCTION PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF STUDY This report presents the results of a study that was begun in July 1956 to determine the effect on streamflow and sedimentation of a particular type of land treatment. This and two other studies (Culler, 1961; Hadley and Schumm, 1961) are concerned with the problem of reducing the contribution of sediment to Angostura A-l A-2 HYDROLOGIC yE \ FFECTS OF LAND USE Reservoir on the Cheyenne River and the effect on streamflow of measures designed to reduce sediment transport. The treatment practice used on Box Creek represents a type that might be used in several other areas with the prospect of reducing appreciably the movement of sediment to Angostura Reservoir. The study area is located in a part of the valley of Box Creek owned by Jack Downs, whose ranch extends from near the mouth of Box Creek upstream for about 5 miles. (See fig. 1.) Land treatment within the area includes several diversion dams and dikes designed primarily to spread flood flows across the valley floor or flood plain of Box Creek, thereby furnishing flood irrigation on a hay meadow and preventing concentration of flow in the channels. As a result of the streamflow diversions and water spreading, a substantial part of the sediment carried into the reach is believed to have been trapped and deposited on the valley floor. Also, it may be assumed that streamflow entering the water spreader is depleted in some degree by infiltration on the valley floor. The specific objective of this study was to obtain quantitative data on the disposition of both streamflow and sediment. The studies were made in Box Creek basin in Converse County, Wyo., under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Field observations in the water-spreading system were made by the U.S. Geological Survey under the general supervision of C. C. McDonald, chief, General Hydrology Branch. The fieldwork was under the immediate supervision of K. R. Melin, project hydrologist. The data were analyzed and the report was prepared by R. F. Hadley and I. S. McQueen with the assistance of R. W. Lichty, G. C. Lusby, and C. T. Sumsion. Resident observer in the study area during the 1956 season was L. W. Greene and during the 1957 season was R. W. Lichty. Streamflow records for the gaging station, Box Creek near Bill, Wyo., which were used in computing inflow to the water spreader, were obtained by the Surface Water Branch under the immediate supervision of the late J. M. Terry, district engineer, Denver, Colo. Analyses of suspended-sediment samples were made by the Quality of Water Branch under the immediate supervision of T. F. Hanly, district engineer, Worland, Wyo.

Hydrologic effects of water spreading in Box Creek basin, Wyoming