The scope of this work encompasses USGS activities in the Kalamazoo River Area of Concern (AOC) to identify and characterize reference reaches that may be used to inform dam removal and other restoration projects to ensure that they meet stakeholders’ priorities for hydrologic connectivity, channel stability, and fish passage. This work ultimately focuses on creating a library of publicly available reference reaches that would be appropriate for the planned and previous dam removals along the Kalamazoo River from Plainwell to Allegan, Michigan.
Characterization of reference reaches will involve high-resolution 3D elevation mapping of the channel bed, banks, and floodplain as well as collection of water surface elevation time series. The resulting topographic/bathymetric digital elevation model (DEM) and hydrologic data will be used to characterize the cross-sectional geometry, longitudinal profile, and floodplain hydraulic connectivity of reference reaches. including an assessment of variability in reach characteristics. The library may also incorporate tools and models from an ongoing study of sediment rating curves for Michigan streams. There is interest in further characterization and expanding the reference reach library to other watersheds in Michigan and ultimately could be applied to other rivers in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs).
This project is organized in collaboration with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center (UMID) and will be completed in different phases. Phase one (October 2021 – December 2022) dam-removal restoration area encompasses the Kalamazoo River from upstream of the town of Plainwell, MI, through the town of Allegan, MI (Fig. 1A). The reference reach selected for the first phase of the study is an approximately 500m reach located upstream of Plainwell (Fig. 1C).
The phase 1 outcomes of the work include:
- Topobathymetric dataset of reference reach derived from existing and new elevation data, along with channel dimensions, bank heights, floodplain widths, and longitudinal profile extracted from the dataset. Substrate characteristics within the reach will also be recorded. These data could be used in future HEC-RAS 1-D or 2-D models.
- Water level data relative to floodplain surface, with analysis of duration and hydroperiod of floodplain connectivity
- Evaluation of the applicability of the reference reach approach to the range of geomorphic and habitat settings
- Data release of newly collected data available to the public including use by agencies and consultants working on the dam removals
- Summary and insights associated with historical and new sediment transport information after consultation with those working on Michigan sediment rating curves
- Memo and Powerpoint presentation of results for Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) – State of Michigan.
Phase II is scheduled to take place January 2023 – September 2024 and will be covering a new reference reach.
- Overview
The scope of this work encompasses USGS activities in the Kalamazoo River Area of Concern (AOC) to identify and characterize reference reaches that may be used to inform dam removal and other restoration projects to ensure that they meet stakeholders’ priorities for hydrologic connectivity, channel stability, and fish passage. This work ultimately focuses on creating a library of publicly available reference reaches that would be appropriate for the planned and previous dam removals along the Kalamazoo River from Plainwell to Allegan, Michigan.
Characterization of reference reaches will involve high-resolution 3D elevation mapping of the channel bed, banks, and floodplain as well as collection of water surface elevation time series. The resulting topographic/bathymetric digital elevation model (DEM) and hydrologic data will be used to characterize the cross-sectional geometry, longitudinal profile, and floodplain hydraulic connectivity of reference reaches. including an assessment of variability in reach characteristics. The library may also incorporate tools and models from an ongoing study of sediment rating curves for Michigan streams. There is interest in further characterization and expanding the reference reach library to other watersheds in Michigan and ultimately could be applied to other rivers in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs).
This project is organized in collaboration with the Upper Midwest Water Science Center (UMID) and will be completed in different phases. Phase one (October 2021 – December 2022) dam-removal restoration area encompasses the Kalamazoo River from upstream of the town of Plainwell, MI, through the town of Allegan, MI (Fig. 1A). The reference reach selected for the first phase of the study is an approximately 500m reach located upstream of Plainwell (Fig. 1C).
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Location map showing: A. Dam removal study area encompassing the dams (red bar symbols) from upstream of Plainwell to Allegan, MI. B. Location of Kalamazoo watershed within Michigan. C. Location of reference reach selected for phase one of this project, with preliminary bathymetry data shown. The phase 1 outcomes of the work include:
- Topobathymetric dataset of reference reach derived from existing and new elevation data, along with channel dimensions, bank heights, floodplain widths, and longitudinal profile extracted from the dataset. Substrate characteristics within the reach will also be recorded. These data could be used in future HEC-RAS 1-D or 2-D models.
- Water level data relative to floodplain surface, with analysis of duration and hydroperiod of floodplain connectivity
- Evaluation of the applicability of the reference reach approach to the range of geomorphic and habitat settings
- Data release of newly collected data available to the public including use by agencies and consultants working on the dam removals
- Summary and insights associated with historical and new sediment transport information after consultation with those working on Michigan sediment rating curves
- Memo and Powerpoint presentation of results for Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) – State of Michigan.
Phase II is scheduled to take place January 2023 – September 2024 and will be covering a new reference reach.