Janet H Curran
Stream geomorphology and hydrology: channel migration, bank erosion, origin and controls on river valley-bottom features, fluvial dynamics, braided rivers
Statisical hydrology: flood-frequency regression, characterizing streamflow seasonality, identifying streamflow-generating mechanisms
Biography
Education
M.S. 1999 Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado Geology
B.S. 1990 University of Washington, Seattle, Washington Geological Sciences
B.S. 1990 University of Washington, Seattle, Washington Civil Engineering
Professional Experience
1999 - Present Hydrologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1998 - 1999 Hydrologist, USGS Water Resources Division, Portland, OR
1996 - 1998 Research Assistant, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
1991 - 1996 Engineering Geologist, GeoEngineers, Redmond, WA
Professional Activities and/or Memberships
American Geophysical Union
American Water Resources Association - Alaska Section
Science and Products
Flow Duration and Low-Flow Frequency Studies in Alaska
Flow duration and low-flow frequency statistics for streamgages and methods for estimating flow-duration and low-flow frequency statistics at ungaged sites in Alaska and conterminous basins in Canada are presented in U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 2003-4114.
Alaska Streamflow Statistics
The USGS conducts various studies of streamflow statistics for data collected at streamflow-gaging stations. Streamflow statistics for gaged streams and methods for estimating those statistics for ungaged streams are used by water resource planners and managers for designing infrastructure, managing floodplains, and protecting life, property, and aquatic resources. The most recent USGS studies...
Water Resources for Alaska GIS datasets Statewide Coverages
Legacy Data for AK Precipitation, Hydrologic Unit Map, and Streamflow analysis regions for AK and conterminous basins in Canada.
Glacial conditioning of stream position and flooding in the braid plain of the Exit Glacier foreland, Alaska
Flow spilling out of an active braid plain often signals the onset of channel migration or avulsion to previously occupied areas. In a recently deglaciated environment, distinguishing between shifts in active braid plain location, considered reversible by fluvial processes at short timescales, and more permanent glacier-...
Curran, Janet H.; Loso, Michael G.; Williams, Haley B.
Estimating flood magnitude and frequency at gaged and ungaged sites on streams in Alaska and conterminous basins in Canada, based on data through water year 2012
Estimates of the magnitude and frequency of floods are needed across Alaska for engineering design of transportation and water-conveyance structures, flood-insurance studies, flood-plain management, and other water-resource purposes. This report updates methods for estimating flood magnitude and frequency in Alaska and conterminous basins in...
Curran, Janet H.; Barth, Nancy A.; Veilleux, Andrea G.; Ourso, Robert T.
Streamflow record extension for selected streams in the Susitna River Basin, Alaska
Daily streamflow records for water years 1950–2010 in the Susitna River Basin range in length from 4 to 57 years, and many are distributed within that period in a way that might not adequately represent long-term streamflow conditions. Streamflow in the basin is affected by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), a multi-decadal climate...
Curran, Janet H.
Geomorphology and bank erosion of the Matanuska River, southcentral Alaska
Bank erosion along the Matanuska River, a braided, glacial river in southcentral Alaska, has damaged or threatened houses, roadways, and public facilities for decades. Mapping of river geomorphology and bank characteristics for a 65-mile study area from the Matanuska Glacier to the river mouth provided erodibility information that was assessed...
Curran, Janet H.; McTeague, Monica L.
Distribution, persistence, and hydrologic characteristics of salmon spawning habitats in clearwater side channels of the Matanuska River, southcentral Alaska
Turbid, glacially influenced rivers are often considered to be poor salmon spawning and rearing habitats and, consequently, little is known about salmon habitats that do occur within rivers of this type. To better understand salmon spawning habitats in the Matanuska River of southcentral Alaska, the distribution and characteristics of clearwater...
Curran, Janet H.; McTeague, Monica L.; Burril, Sean E.; Zimmerman, Christian E.
Baseline Channel Geometry and Aquatic Habitat Data for Selected Streams in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska
Small streams in the rapidly developing Matanuska-Susitna Valley in south-central Alaska are known to support anadromous and resident fish but little is known about their hydrologic and riparian conditions, or their sensitivity to the rapid development of the area or climate variability. To help address this need, channel geometry and aquatic...
Curran, Janet H.; Rice, William J.
Hydrology and Flood Profiles of Duck Creek and Jordan Creek Downstream from Egan Drive, Juneau, Alaska
Hydrologic and hydraulic updates for Duck Creek and the lower part of Jordan Creek in Juneau, Alaska, included computation of new estimates of peak streamflow magnitudes and new water-surface profiles for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year floods. Computations for the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 200-, and 500-year recurrence interval flood...
Curran, Janet H. Estimating annual high-flow statistics and monthly and seasonal low-flow statistics for ungaged sites on streams in Alaska and conterminous basins in Canada
Methods for estimating daily mean flow-duration statistics for seven regions in Alaska and low-flow frequencies for one region, southeastern Alaska, were developed from daily mean discharges for streamflow-gaging stations in Alaska and conterminous basins in Canada. The 15-, 10-, 9-, 8-, 7-, 6-, 5-, 4-, 3-, 2-, and 1-percent duration flows were...
Wiley, Jeffrey B.; Curran, Janet H. Formation and evolution of valley-bottom and channel features, Lower Deschutes River, Oregon
Primary geologic and geomorphic processes that formed valley-bottom and channel features downstream from the Pelton-Round Butte dam complex are inferred from a canyon-long analysis of feature morphology, composition, location, and spatial distribution. Major controls on valley-bottom morphology are regional tectonics, large landslides, and...
O'Conner, Jim E.; Grant, Gordon E.; Curran, Janet H.; O'Conner, Jim E. Large woody debris and flow resistance in step-pool channels, Cascade Range, Washington
Total flow resistance, measured as Darcy-Weisbach f, in 20 step-pool channels with large woody debris (LWD) in Washington, ranged from 5 to 380 during summer low flows. Step risers in the study streams consist of either (1) large and relatively immobile woody debris, bedrock, or roots that form fixed, or “forced,” steps, or (2) smaller and...
Curran, Janet H.; Wohl, Ellen E. Channel Stability and Water Quality of the Alagnak River, Southwestern Alaska
The Alagnak River, a National Wild River located in southwestern Alaska, drains an area of 3,600 square kilometers and is used for recreational and subsistence activities, primarily angling, camping, rafting, and hunting by visitors and seasonal residents, and for commercial guiding by several lodges. Increases in visitor use in the 1990s included...
Curran, Janet H. Estimating the Magnitude and Frequency of Peak Streamflows for Ungaged Sites on Streams in Alaska and Conterminous Basins in Canada
Estimates of the magnitude and frequency of peak streamflow are needed across Alaska for floodplain management, cost-effective design of floodway structures such as bridges and culverts, and other water-resource management issues. Peak-streamflow magnitudes for the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-, 200-, and 500-year recurrence-interval flows were...
Curran, Janet H.; Meyer, David F.; Tasker, Gary D.