Progress report, investigations of fluvial sediments of the Niobrara River near Cody, Nebraska

Comparison of sediment concentrations at a naturally contracted section on the Niobrara River near Cody, Nebraska, with those measured at the regular gaging station one quarter mile upstream, indicates that approximately 50 percent of the sediment is transported as bed load at the regular gaging station. The bed load percentage varied from 24 to 68 for the 34 determinations available, without significant correlation with water or sediment discharge. The investigation indicates that practically the total sediment load is transported in suspension at the contracted section. The normal sediment load is essentially bed material, averaging about 0.20 millimeters in diameter.