Geomorphology, sediment composition, hydrology, and sediment and wood transport data for an urban headwater stream in southwest Ohio, collected from January 2022 to July 2023 before and after large woody debris restoration

This dataset is associated with a study that sought to determine if large woody debris would be an effective, low-cost method of stream restoration in urban headwater streams. The data were collected before and after large woody debris was added to Cooper Creek, an urban headwater stream in Cincinnati, OH. The data were collected in four 60-meter reaches, which included two treatment reaches that received wood additions and two control reaches that did not. The four reaches were separated into two treatment/control pairs located either upstream or downstream of the storm sewer outfall, which caused a difference in hydrology between the reach pairs. The before period lasted from January 2022 until the wood was added in May 2022. The after period lasted from May 2022 until July 2023.

The file "CooperCreek_flow.csv" contains stream stage observations that were made using a level logger consisting of a pressure transducer and a stilling well. Stage observations were made at 5 minute intervals throughout the study period and were used along with flow rating curves to estimate discharge in the upstream and downstream reach pairs.

The file "CooperCreek_discharge_measurements.csv" contains direct measurements of stream discharge that were used along with the level logger data to produce the flow rating curves. The rating curves were generated in R using the bdrc package (Hrafnkelsson et. el., 2021) and were used to estimate discharge at any stage recorded by the level loggers. The stage and discharge values were used to create graphs and were also used as parameters for sediment movement models.

The file "CooperCreek_xs_surveys.csv" contains the points from auto level surveys at fixed cross-sections located throughout the study reaches. These points were used to plot the cross-sections and compare channel morphology through time. The plots were then used to calculate bankfull depth and bankfull area for each cross-section.

"CooperCreek_xs_areas.csv" compiles all the bankfull area calculations into a single file which was used to determine the effect of the wood installations on pool habitat availability.

"CooperCreek_thalweg_profiles.csv" contains longitudinal depth profiles for each reach before and after the large woody debris additions. This file was used to plot the profiles to visualize changes in pool habitat through time and was also used to calculate the area of individual pools. Those areas were then compiled into a single file, "CooperCreek_pool_areas.csv", which was used to determine the effect of the wood installations on pool habitat availability.

"CooperCreek_pebble_counts.csv" contains pebble count data from surveys that were done at each cross section. This data was used to determine the effect of the wood installations on sediment sizes. The proportion of pebbles in each size class were compiled to create "CooperCreek_pebble_count_proportions.csv" which was then used to make cumulative distribution plots to visualize changes in sediment size distributions through time.

"CooperCreek_rock_movements_with_measurement.csv" contains data on rocks that were tracked over the study period using passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. The rocks were relocated after storms that caused flow to occur in the streams and the distance they moved was recorded. That data was then used to determine the effect the wood additions had on erosion. The proportion of rocks that moved in each event was compiled into the file "CooperCreek_rock_movement_proportions.csv" which was used to create plots to show how the likelihood of mobilization changed after the wood installation.

"CooperCreek_rock_flow.csv" summarizes the maximum stage and discharge between rock relocations. That file was used to create graphs that show the conditions in the stream between relocation surveys.

"CooperCreek_fine_sediment_transport.csv" contains data from sediment traps that were placed throughout the study reaches. The traps collected fine sediments as they were transported during storms. We then collected those sediments and weighed them to compare the amount of fine sediment that was being transported in the stream before and after the wood additions.

Abbreviations and acronyms used in this data include: cms = cubic meters per second, m = meters, cm = centimeters, xs = cross section, LWD = large woody debris. y = yes, n = no, T1 = upstream treatment site, C1 = upstream control site, T2 = downstream treatment site, C2 = downstream control site.

References:

Hrafnkelsson, Birgir & Sigurdarson, Helgi & Rögnvaldsson, Sölvi & Jansson, Axel & Vias, Rafael & Gardarsson, Sigurdur. (2021). Generalization of the power‐law rating curve using hydrodynamic theory and Bayesian hierarchical modeling. Environmetrics. 33. 10.1002/env.2711.