RCMAP - North Fork Gunnison River at Hotchkiss, Colorado
Science Center Objects
The U.S. Geological Survey was engaged in a program to monitor and assess the long-term geomorphic behavior of selected river and stream reaches that previously had undergone some physical modification. These modifications included natural channel adjustments to floods as well as intentional channel reconfigurations to alter the function or appearance of a river reach.
The reconfiguration objectives of the North Fork Gunnison River project reach were to confine a braided channel into a single-thread channel with lower sinuosity to facilitate bedmaterial transport and stabilize streambanks to protect an irrigation canal and headgate. Other objectives were to stabilize the streambed near the Highway 92 bridge, create stable floodplain areas, create off-channel, backwater aquatic habitat, and provide whitewater recreation.
Looking upstream from Cross Section 8, October 7, 2001. Discharge: 70 cfs
Location:
The North Fork Gunnison River drains headwaters in the Elk and West Elk Mountains of west-central Colorado. The North Fork Gunnison hydrograph is dominated by snowmelt, and the river has a channel composed of coarse bed material. The river channel near Hotchkiss was unstable and prone to flooding owing to a history of in-channel gravel mining, riparian vegetation eradication, artificial sinuosity reduction, and large bedload discharges. The 1880-m-long monitored reach begins ~100 m upstream (east) from the State Highway 92 bridge (cross section 3) in Hotchkiss, Delta County, Colorado, and extends ~250 m downstream from the County Road 3400 bridge (cross section 14).
Streamflow Data:
Current streamflow: USGS 09134100 North Fork Gunnison River below Paonia
Photographic History:
Upper Monitored Reach
Lower Monitored Reach
Sediment Surveys
See Sediment Distribution Charts for North Fork Gunnison River at Hotchkiss
Channel Surveys
See Cross Section Data for sites on the North Fork Gunnison River at Hotchkiss
Reconfigured Channel Monitoring and Assessment Program (RCMAP)
Channel reconfiguration to mitigate a variety of riverine problems has become an important issue in the Western United States. Reasons cited for channel reconfiguration include restoration to more natural or historical conditions, improved water conveyance in flood-prone areas, mitigation of unstable streambed and streambanks, increased sediment transport, and enhancement of riparian habitat...
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Date published: January 23, 2015Status: CompletedRCMAP - Muddy Creek below Wolford Mountain Reservoir near Kremmling, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey was engaged in a program to monitor and assess the long-term geomorphic behavior of selected river and stream reaches that previously had undergone some physical modification. These modifications included natural channel adjustments to floods as well as intentional channel reconfigurations to alter the function or appearance of a river reach.
Reaches 1 and 2...
Contacts: Cory A WilliamsAttribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center -
Date published: January 23, 2015Status: CompletedRCMAP - Lake Fork of the Gunnison near Lake City, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey was engaged in a program to monitor and assess the long-term geomorphic behavior of selected river and stream reaches that previously had undergone some physical modification. These modifications included natural channel adjustments to floods as well as intentional channel reconfigurations to alter the function or appearance of a river reach.
In cooperation...
Contacts: Cory A WilliamsAttribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center -
Date published: November 21, 2014Status: CompletedRCMAP - Gunnison River at the Hartland Dam near Delta, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey was engaged in a program to monitor and assess the long-term geomorphic behavior of selected river and stream reaches that previously had undergone some physical modification. These modifications included natural channel adjustments to floods as well as intentional channel reconfigurations to alter the function or appearance of a river reach.
The Hartland...
Contacts: Cory A WilliamsAttribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center -
Date published: December 19, 2010Status: CompletedRCMAP - Gunnison River at Spann Diversion at Gunnison, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey was engaged in a program to monitor and assess the long-term geomorphic behavior of selected river and stream reaches that previously had undergone some physical modification. These modifications included natural channel adjustments to floods as well as intentional channel reconfigurations to alter the function or appearance of a river reach.
Gunnison...
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center -
Date published: November 21, 2009Status: CompletedRCMAP - Uncompahgre River at Ridgway, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey was engaged in a program to monitor and assess the long-term geomorphic behavior of selected river and stream reaches that previously had undergone some physical modification. These modifications included natural channel adjustments to floods as well as intentional channel reconfigurations to alter the function or appearance of a river reach.
The Uncompahgre...
Contacts: Cory A WilliamsAttribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center -
Date published: October 11, 2008Status: CompletedRCMAP - Roaring Fork River at Basalt, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey was engaged in a program to monitor and assess the long-term geomorphic behavior of selected river and stream reaches that previously had undergone some physical modification. These modifications included natural channel adjustments to floods as well as intentional channel reconfigurations to alter the function or appearance of a river reach.
The Roaring Fork...
Contacts: Cory A WilliamsAttribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center -
Date published: November 21, 2006Status: CompletedRCMAP - Lake Fork at Gateview, Colorado
The U.S. Geological Survey was engaged in a program to monitor and assess the long-term geomorphic behavior of selected river and stream reaches that previously had undergone some physical modification. These modifications included natural channel adjustments to floods as well as intentional channel reconfigurations to alter the function or appearance of a river reach.
Land use in the...
Contacts: Cory A WilliamsAttribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Colorado Water Science Center
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Year Published: 2009Geomorphic changes resulting from floods in reconfigured gravel-bed river channels in Colorado, USA
Geomorphic changes in reconfi gured reaches of three Colorado rivers in response to floods in 2005 provide a benchmark for "restoration" assessment. Sedimententrainment potential is expressed as the ratio of the shear stress from the 2 yr, 5 yr, 10 yr, and 2005 floods to the critical shear stress for sediment. Some observed response was explained...
Elliott, J.G.; Capesius, J.P.Attribution: Colorado Water Science CenterView CitationGeomorphic changes resulting from floods in reconfigured gravel-bed river channels in Colorado, USA; 2009; Article; Journal; Special Paper of the Geological Society of America; Elliott, J. G.; Capesius, J. P.
Reconfigured-Channel Monitoring and Assessment Program
Elliott, John G.; Parker, Randolph S.
Sediment record from North Fork Gunnison at Hotchkiss, Colorado
This sediment record from North Fork Gunnison at Hotchkiss contains maps of the monitored reaches and cumulative sediment-size distribution graphs for each sediment within each reach.
Channel Surveys from North Fork Gunnison River at Hotchkiss, Colorado
This channel survey record from North Fork Gunnison at Hotchkiss, Colorado contains a map of the monitored reaches and channel survey graphs for each cross-section within each reach.