Detroit Lake Temperature and Suspended Sediment Model Completed
The USGS has worked since 1998 to monitor and study sediment and turbidity throughout the North Santiam River watershed. As part of that assessment, a focused effort was undertaken to examine the effect that Detroit Lake has on temperature issues and sediment transport. In particular, developing a model that simulates the transport and fate of suspended sediment and the dynamics of water temperature in Detroit Lake was deemed to provide an important component of understanding how the lake affects suspended sediment and temperature in the North Santiam and Santiam Rivers downstream.
The objectives of this study were to:
- Develop a model of Detroit Lake to simulate circulation, water temperature, total dissolved solids, and suspended sediment in both the reservoir and its outflow,
- Understand processes affecting suspended sediment, quantify sediment sources and transport to the lake outlet, and quantify sediment deposition in the lake, and
- Understand processes controlling water temperature in Detroit Lake and its outflow, and demonstrate the water temperature effects of a hypothetical selective withdrawal device.
To meet these objectives, USGS personnel constructed, calibrated, and tested a model of circulation, water temperature, and suspended sediment in Detroit Lake. The model was constructed to simulate conditions that occurred in the entire calendar years of 2002 and 2003, as well as the period December 1, 2005, through February 1, 2006, in order to simulate some large winter storm events. During January 2006, about 70 centimeters (27.6 inches) of precipitation were recorded at Detroit Dam, making it the wettest January ever recorded and breaking the previous record set in 1970. Processes occurring in Big Cliff reservoir, the reregulating reservoir below Detroit Lake, were not included in this model.
After the model was constructed, calibrated, and tested, it was used to: (a) examine the sources of sediment to Detroit Lake and the lake's ability to trap those sediments, (b) estimate the amount and pattern of sediment deposition, and (c) simulate the in-lake and downstream effects of adding a hypothetical selective withdrawal to Detroit Dam to control release temperatures.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
North Santiam River Basin Study
Water Temperature Modeling in the Middle Fork Willamette and South Santiam River Basins
Environmental Flow Studies for Middle Fork Willamette, McKenzie, and Santiam River Basins
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Detroit Lake water-quality data
Calibrated Detroit Lake model for the year 2002
Calibrated Detroit Lake model for the year 2003
Calibrated Detroit Lake model for the year 2006
Calibrated Detroit Lake model for the year 2011
Digital Elevation Model of Detroit Lake
National Water Information System (NWIS) - Oregon
National Water Information System: Mapper (Oregon)
Oregon Streamflow Data by Basin
View real-time streamflow data in Oregon river basins.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Modeling Hydrodynamics, Water Temperature, and Suspended Sediment in Detroit Lake, Oregon
Simulations of a hypothetical temperature control structure at Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, northwestern Oregon
Simulating potential structural and operational changes for Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, Oregon, for downstream temperature management
Simulating potential structural and operational changes for Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, Oregon-Interim Results
Monitoring instream turbidity to estimate continuous suspended-sediment loads and yields and clay-water volumes in the upper North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, 1998-2000
Below are software products associated with this project.
CE-QUAL-W2 - Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Model
CE-QUAL-W2 is a water quality and hydrodynamic model in 2D (longitudinal-vertical) for rivers, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and river basin systems. W2 models basic eutrophication processes such as temperature-nutrient-algae-dissolved oxygen-organic matter and sediment relationships.
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
The USGS has worked since 1998 to monitor and study sediment and turbidity throughout the North Santiam River watershed. As part of that assessment, a focused effort was undertaken to examine the effect that Detroit Lake has on temperature issues and sediment transport. In particular, developing a model that simulates the transport and fate of suspended sediment and the dynamics of water temperature in Detroit Lake was deemed to provide an important component of understanding how the lake affects suspended sediment and temperature in the North Santiam and Santiam Rivers downstream.
The objectives of this study were to:
- Develop a model of Detroit Lake to simulate circulation, water temperature, total dissolved solids, and suspended sediment in both the reservoir and its outflow,
- Understand processes affecting suspended sediment, quantify sediment sources and transport to the lake outlet, and quantify sediment deposition in the lake, and
- Understand processes controlling water temperature in Detroit Lake and its outflow, and demonstrate the water temperature effects of a hypothetical selective withdrawal device.
To meet these objectives, USGS personnel constructed, calibrated, and tested a model of circulation, water temperature, and suspended sediment in Detroit Lake. The model was constructed to simulate conditions that occurred in the entire calendar years of 2002 and 2003, as well as the period December 1, 2005, through February 1, 2006, in order to simulate some large winter storm events. During January 2006, about 70 centimeters (27.6 inches) of precipitation were recorded at Detroit Dam, making it the wettest January ever recorded and breaking the previous record set in 1970. Processes occurring in Big Cliff reservoir, the reregulating reservoir below Detroit Lake, were not included in this model.
After the model was constructed, calibrated, and tested, it was used to: (a) examine the sources of sediment to Detroit Lake and the lake's ability to trap those sediments, (b) estimate the amount and pattern of sediment deposition, and (c) simulate the in-lake and downstream effects of adding a hypothetical selective withdrawal to Detroit Dam to control release temperatures.
- Develop a model of Detroit Lake to simulate circulation, water temperature, total dissolved solids, and suspended sediment in both the reservoir and its outflow,
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
North Santiam River Basin Study
The streamflow and water-quality conditions monitored by the USGS in the North Santiam River basin provide valuable information to water resource managersWater Temperature Modeling in the Middle Fork Willamette and South Santiam River Basins
Hills Creek, Lookout Point, and Dexter Dams are located on the Middle Fork Willamette River upstream of Eugene in western Oregon, and are important resources managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for flood control, hydroelectric power, recreation, navigation, and irrigation. On the South Santiam River east of Albany in western Oregon, Green Peter and Foster Dams provide functions and...Environmental Flow Studies for Middle Fork Willamette, McKenzie, and Santiam River Basins
Environmental flows are defined as "streamflow needed to sustain ecosystems while continuing to meet human needs." - Data
Below are data or web applications associated with this project.
Detroit Lake water-quality data
Calibrated Detroit Lake model for the year 2002
Calibrated Detroit Lake model for the year 2003
Calibrated Detroit Lake model for the year 2006
Calibrated Detroit Lake model for the year 2011
Digital Elevation Model of Detroit Lake
National Water Information System (NWIS) - Oregon
National Water Information System: Mapper (Oregon)
Oregon Streamflow Data by Basin
View real-time streamflow data in Oregon river basins.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Modeling Hydrodynamics, Water Temperature, and Suspended Sediment in Detroit Lake, Oregon
Detroit Lake is a large reservoir on the North Santiam River in west-central Oregon. Water temperature and suspended sediment are issues of concern in the river downstream of the reservoir. A CE-QUAL-W2 model was constructed to simulate hydrodynamics, water temperature, total dissolved solids, and suspended sediment in Detroit Lake. The model was calibrated for calendar years 2002 and 2003, and foAuthorsAnnett B. Sullivan, Stewart A. Rounds, Steven Sobieszczyk, Heather M. BraggSimulations of a hypothetical temperature control structure at Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, northwestern Oregon
Water temperature models of Detroit Lake, Big Cliff Lake, and the North Santiam River in northwestern Oregon were used to assess the potential for a hypothetical structure with variable intake elevations and an internal connection to power turbines at Detroit Dam (scenario SlidingWeir) to release more natural, pre-dam temperatures year round. This hypothetical structure improved outflow temperaturAuthorsNorman L. Buccola, Adam J. Stonewall, Stewart A. RoundsSimulating potential structural and operational changes for Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, Oregon, for downstream temperature management
Detroit Dam was constructed in 1953 on the North Santiam River in western Oregon and resulted in the formation of Detroit Lake. With a full-pool storage volume of 455,100 acre-feet and a dam height of 463 feet, Detroit Lake is one of the largest and most important reservoirs in the Willamette River basin in terms of power generation, recreation, and water storage and releases. The U.S. Army CorpsAuthorsNorman L. Buccola, Stewart A. Rounds, Annett B. Sullivan, John C. RisleySimulating potential structural and operational changes for Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River, Oregon-Interim Results
Prior to operational changes in 2007, Detroit Dam on the North Santiam River in western Oregon had a well-documented effect on downstream water temperature that was problematic for endangered salmonid fish species. In this U.S. Geological Survey study, done in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, an existing calibrated CE-QUAL-W2 model of Detroit Lake (the impounded waterbody behindAuthorsNorman L. Buccola, Stewart A. RoundsMonitoring instream turbidity to estimate continuous suspended-sediment loads and yields and clay-water volumes in the upper North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, 1998-2000
Three real-time, instream water-quality and turbidity-monitoring sites were established in October 1998 in the upper North Santiam River Basin on the North Santiam River, the Breitenbush River, and Blowout Creek, the main tributary inputs to Detroit Lake, a large, controlled reservoir that extends from river mile 61 to 70. Suspended-sediment samples were collected biweekly to monthly at each statiAuthorsMark A. Uhrich, Heather M. Bragg - Software
Below are software products associated with this project.
CE-QUAL-W2 - Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Model
CE-QUAL-W2 is a water quality and hydrodynamic model in 2D (longitudinal-vertical) for rivers, estuaries, lakes, reservoirs and river basin systems. W2 models basic eutrophication processes such as temperature-nutrient-algae-dissolved oxygen-organic matter and sediment relationships.
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.