RCMAP - Uncompahgre River at Ridgway, Colorado Completed
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 River carries a high bedload of coarse material and has a braided channel with unstable bed and banks and shallow flow depth. Alluvial gravel mining upstream and in the lower part of the study reach has contributed to instability.
Approximately 3,000 ft of the Uncompahgre River was reconfigured in phases, beginning near the bridge October 2003 and continuing downstream July 2004. A 3,400-ft reach was monumented, surveyed, and photographed by the USGS in October 2003 that included approximately 800 ft of recently reconfigured channel immediately below the Highway 62 bridge and 2,600 ft of unaltered channel downstream. A second USGS survey was made in July 2004 of the entire 3,400-ft reach after reconfiguration activities were completed. A third USGS survey was made in July 2005.
Location:
NW ¼ of Sec 16, T45N, R8W, Ouray County, Colo. The monitoring reach begins at the Highway 62 bridge in Ridgway and extends approximately 3,400 ft downstream. Streamflow gaging station 09146200 Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, Colo., is approximately 1.8 river miles downstream from the lower end of the monitoring reach, located at Lat 38o11'02", Long 107o44'43",on the right bank 15 ft downstream from County Road 24 bridge, 0.2 mi downstream from Dry Creek.
Streamflow Data:
Current streamflow: USGS 09146200 Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, CO
View peak streamflow: 09146200 Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, CO
Photographic History:
Photo Monuments (upstream to downstream)
- Highway 62 Bridge (PM-02)
- LHP below Highway 62 Bridge (PM-04)
- LHP above Cross Section 1 (PM-05)
- Cross Section 1 (LHP-01)
- Between Cross Section 2 and 3 LHB (Hub-01)
- Below Cross Section 3 (PM-08)
- Between Cross Section 3 and 4 (PM-09)
- Cross Section 4 (PM-11)
- Cross Section 5 LHP (PM-10)
- Cross Section 5 RHP (RHP-05)
- Cross Section 6 LHP (LHP-06)
- Cross Section 7 LHP (LHP-07)
- Cross Section 7 RHP (RHP-07)
- Cross Section 8 RHP (RHP-08)
Sediment Surveys
See Sediment Distribution Charts for Uncompahgre River at Ridgway, Colorado
Channel Surveys
See Cross Section Data for sites on Uncompahgre River at Ridgway, Colorado
Below are other science projects associated with the Uncompahgre River at Ridgway RCMAP project.
Reconfigured Channel Monitoring and Assessment Program (RCMAP)
RCMAP - Muddy Creek below Wolford Mountain Reservoir near Kremmling, Colorado
RCMAP - Lake Fork of the Gunnison near Lake City, Colorado
RCMAP - North Fork Gunnison River at Hotchkiss, Colorado
RCMAP - Gunnison River at the Hartland Dam near Delta, Colorado
RCMAP - Gunnison River at Spann Diversion at Gunnison, Colorado
RCMAP - Roaring Fork River at Basalt, Colorado
RCMAP - Lake Fork at Gateview, Colorado
- Overview
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 River carries a high bedload of coarse material and has a braided channel with unstable bed and banks and shallow flow depth. Alluvial gravel mining upstream and in the lower part of the study reach has contributed to instability.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsCross Section 7, looking upstream channel, from right hand bank, October 23, 2003.Discharge: 180 cfs Approximately 3,000 ft of the Uncompahgre River was reconfigured in phases, beginning near the bridge October 2003 and continuing downstream July 2004. A 3,400-ft reach was monumented, surveyed, and photographed by the USGS in October 2003 that included approximately 800 ft of recently reconfigured channel immediately below the Highway 62 bridge and 2,600 ft of unaltered channel downstream. A second USGS survey was made in July 2004 of the entire 3,400-ft reach after reconfiguration activities were completed. A third USGS survey was made in July 2005.
Location:
NW ¼ of Sec 16, T45N, R8W, Ouray County, Colo. The monitoring reach begins at the Highway 62 bridge in Ridgway and extends approximately 3,400 ft downstream. Streamflow gaging station 09146200 Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, Colo., is approximately 1.8 river miles downstream from the lower end of the monitoring reach, located at Lat 38o11'02", Long 107o44'43",on the right bank 15 ft downstream from County Road 24 bridge, 0.2 mi downstream from Dry Creek.
Streamflow Data:
Current streamflow: USGS 09146200 Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, CO
View peak streamflow: 09146200 Uncompahgre River near Ridgway, CO
Photographic History:
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsPhoto Monuments (upstream to downstream)
- Highway 62 Bridge (PM-02)
- LHP below Highway 62 Bridge (PM-04)
- LHP above Cross Section 1 (PM-05)
- Cross Section 1 (LHP-01)
- Between Cross Section 2 and 3 LHB (Hub-01)
- Below Cross Section 3 (PM-08)
- Between Cross Section 3 and 4 (PM-09)
- Cross Section 4 (PM-11)
- Cross Section 5 LHP (PM-10)
- Cross Section 5 RHP (RHP-05)
- Cross Section 6 LHP (LHP-06)
- Cross Section 7 LHP (LHP-07)
- Cross Section 7 RHP (RHP-07)
- Cross Section 8 RHP (RHP-08)
Sediment Surveys
See Sediment Distribution Charts for Uncompahgre River at Ridgway, Colorado
Channel Surveys
See Cross Section Data for sites on Uncompahgre River at Ridgway, Colorado
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with the Uncompahgre River at Ridgway RCMAP project.
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 or...RCMAP - 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.RCMAP - 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.RCMAP - North Fork Gunnison River at Hotchkiss, 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.RCMAP - 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.RCMAP - 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.RCMAP - 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 River at...RCMAP - 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. - Multimedia
- Publications