Introduction to Sediment Sampling

Siletz, Coquille,

Umatilla and Cowlitz

Tribes

Siletz, OR

May 20 – 23, 2013

U.S. Geological SurveyTEchnical training in Support of Native American Relations

(TESNAR) - 2013

Mark Uhrich, USGS, Portland, OR (mauhrich@usgs.gov)Glen Hess, USGS, Portland, OR (gwhess@usgs.gov)

MacKenzie Keith, USGS, Portland, OR (mkeith@usgs.gov)

TESNAR Class: Suspended Sediment Data Collection, Analysis and Basic Geomorphic Mapping Techniques in Relation to Ecosystems and Water for Siletz Tribes and other NW Tribal Groups, Siletz Oregon Introduction: Since the late 2000’s the Siletz Tribes have had a robust water-quality monitoring program in Siletz River basin and contributing tributaries. In 2011 Siletz Tribes added capability to collect and process sediment samples. They have an experienced staff that is able to meet many of the water quality monitoring needs of the Tribes and of the users in the basin. The Oregon Water Science Center has been in communication for several years with Siletz Tribes and other Tribal organizations to develop a training program to help improve the sediment and geomorphic skills of their local scientists in order to meet the requirements for monitoring in the dynamic ecosystem of the upper Siletz Basin. The purpose of the 2013 training would be to continue to build upon the ecosystem skills of the scientists working with Siletz Tribes and other interested neighboring Tribal organizations, in particular suspended sampling methods. Developing a more complete understanding of sediment transport will enable the Tribal scientist to better understand patterns of channel change, nutrient loading, and the effects physical habitat alterations on the lamprey and salmonid populations in the basin. Students travel costs and labor will be provided by each tribal entity. Tentative Location: Siletz Nation, Government Hill, 402 Park Way, Siletz, OR 97380 Lodging: Newport Oregon is about 15 minutes away by vehicle. A Shilo Inn and Comfort Inn are close to the coast. PLEASE BRING: For the field day on Tuesday, I would wear field clothing, and bring waders and/or hip boots and rain gear. If your nation has any sediment sampling gear, bring that also. [Appropriate footwear for walking on gravel bars for Thursday morning.] Please bring your laptops, and memory sticks. We are not planning on internet access for the class, but the power point presentations will be given to each student. You might also consider having Microsoft excel loaded. Also if you could bring your Arc GIS software (though not necessary), that might be helpful during the geomorphic portion of the class.

Suspended Sediment Data Collection, Analysis and Basic Geomorphic Mapping Techniques--- May 20-23, 2013: Class Agenda ______________________________________________________________________ Monday Morning: 8AM – Noon: Travel, class set up for instructors. Monday Afternoon: 1PM – 5PM: Introduction to suspended sediment sampling methods (Discuss methods and techniques, including types of sampler’s for small and larger streams) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday Morning: 8AM – Noon: (Field exercise- bridge site) Site visit and suspended sediment data collection. Tuesday Afternoon: 1PM – 5PM: (Field exercise- wading site), review of suspended sediment data --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday Morning: 8AM – Noon: Overview of geomorphic mapping methods, example projects Wednesday Afternoon: 1PM - 4PM: Building a mapping hierarchy and geographic data bases 4PM – 5PM – Informal discussion of students geomorphic / ecosystem applications --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday Morning: 8AM – Noon: Surficial bed-material sampling (with field exercise) Thursday Afternoon: 1PM – 5PM: Class summary, dismissal and travel --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Primary Instructors Mark Uhrich, Glen Hess, Mackenzie Keith Key presentations will be made available by memory stick and later on an Oregon Water Science Center USGS web page that can be reviewed later.

Fluvial-Sediment Data Needs in the U.S.Fluvial-Sediment Data Needs in the U.S. Historical: Maintenance of reservoirs, channels, and

hydraulic structures/bridge piers Today’s needs include but are not limited to:

- Legal requirements – TMDL’s- Salmon recovery on Tribal Lands (Siletz and Klamath Basins,

White Salmon & Elwha River, WA) (Dam decommission and removal)

- Contaminated sediment management- Best Management Practice (BMP) Evaluations; Env-Imp-Stat- Fire-burn hydrology/sedimentology- Stream restoration/geomorphic assessments- Physical-biotic interactions- Global carbon budget- Sand budget and bar maintenance- Productivity of agricultural lands-

•Built in 1909 for hydropower•Head = 7 Meters•Abandoned for power generation in 1960’s•Blocked American shad and striped bass from reaching historic spawning grounds•Environmental benefits of dam removal justified demolition by Federal Government

*

Embry Dam

DemolitionFredericksburg, VA,

USAFebruary 23, 2004

Embry Dam

DemolitionFredericksburg, VA,

USAFebruary 23, 2004

And in our backyard-

the Marmot Dam Breach

Sandy River, OR, October 19, 2007

And in our backyard-

the Marmot Dam Breach

Sandy River, OR, October 19, 2007

955,000 yd3 stored behind reservoir

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458,000 yd3 released by March 2008 (45%)

955,000 yd3 stored behind reservoir

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458,000 yd3 released by March 2008 (45%)

And just started- the Elwha River Dam RemovalOlympic National Park,

WA September 17, 2011

And just started- the Elwha River Dam RemovalOlympic National Park,

WA September 17, 2011

Largest removal in U.S. history-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

70 miles of river and tributaries will be restored -brings cultural, spiritual and economic healing to the Lower Elwha Klallum Tribe

Largest removal in U.S. history-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

70 miles of river and tributaries will be restored -brings cultural, spiritual and economic healing to the Lower Elwha Klallum Tribe

NF Toutle Station

Many Sediment SourcesMany Sediment Sources

Toutle River Basin monitoring stations

12

MSH background and NF Toutle Sed VolumesMSH background and NF Toutle Sed VolumesEruption of May 18, 1980 deposited overEruption of May 18, 1980 deposited over 3 billion yd3 billion yd33 of sediment in NF Toutle valleyof sediment in NF Toutle valleySRS designed to trap 250 million ydSRS designed to trap 250 million yd3 3 until 2035, until 2035,

so far trapped over 105 million ydso far trapped over 105 million yd33- yet sediment - yet sediment has filled to level of spillwayhas filled to level of spillway

Issues: Cowlitz/Columbia R sedimentation, Issues: Cowlitz/Columbia R sedimentation, flooding hazards, navigation for shipping flooding hazards, navigation for shipping commerce, salmon recovery/hatcherycommerce, salmon recovery/hatchery

NF Toutle SSLs in million tons and total Q in NF Toutle SSLs in million tons and total Q in 1000 cfs (avg Q 786 cfs):1000 cfs (avg Q 786 cfs):

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20122007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012SSL 7.0 4.0 1.5 1.2 2.2 2.2SSL 7.0 4.0 1.5 1.2 2.2 2.2 Q 275 283 234 320 386 355 Q 275 283 234 320 386 355

Sediment Retention Structure - SRSSediment Retention Structure - SRS

Spillway

Raising spillway 7 feet, Sept 2012

Structures built upstream of SRSStructures built upstream of SRSUSACE - Summer 2010USACE - Summer 2010

Sediment Damages are CostlySediment Damages are Costly

Physical, Chemical, and Biological Sediment Damages in North America Total >$20-$50 Billion* Annually (Most in the USA; AGU-EOS, 10/5/2004; Science, V.267, pp. 1117-11123; Osterkamp et al. 1998)

Given a 1% Reduction in Damages Through Better Resource Management, a Continental Sediment Monitoring Program Would Pay for Itself at least 40 Times Over

Scope of courseScope of course

Instruction and field practice of USGS methods for the safe collection of quality-assured fluvial-sediment data:

streamflow measurement suspended-sediment

sampling bedload sampling

Scope of course (cont)Scope of course (cont)As underpinnings for this we provide instruction on:

Streamflow is everything- must start here Basic fluvial sediment concepts Sediment-sampling equipment & deployment Overview of computational methods Overview of sediment-surrogate technologies Bedload Sampling

Primary AssumptionPrimary Assumption For instructional purposes, our assumed goal is to

collect sufficient data to compute sediment loads and store the data in the USGS National Water Information System.

In reality, reasons for collecting sediment data may be quite different – regardless, the following factors remain of primary importance: Consistency Reliability Comparability Database integrity

Upon Departure, Students Should:Upon Departure, Students Should:

Understand basic streamflow and fluvial-sediment concepts

Understand and appreciate the value of a representative sample and consistent methods

Be familiar with more common tools for collecting sediment data, and their limitations

Be able to safely collect representative- streamflow- suspended-sediment samples isokinetically- bedload samples

Understand basic sediment load calculations

What we will not cover:What we will not cover:

Database considerations (such as the USGS National Water Information System; NWIS)

Sediment lab instrumentation and techniques Network design and developing a sediment

monitoring program Bed-material and pebble-count sampling Producing a suspended-sediment and bedload

record- Best to attend the USGS Sediment Data-Collection Techniques class, in Castle Rock, WA- March 2014 for more detail on the above

Points to remember…Points to remember… Historical sediment needs- channel & reservoir Todays needs- more complex; dam removals,

restoration, TMDLs, contaminated sediment, etc Sediment damages are more expensive than

establishing a monitoring network Be consistent with your methods and database Collect a representative sample for your site Data should be reliable and comparable site-to-site

Field training tomorrowField training tomorrow

One of our class samplingsites is the Siletz River on Hwy 229

Stage and Flow at Siletz RiverStage and Flow at Siletz River

4-wheel crane setup on bridge with B-reel and two counter weights

D-74 sampler