Discharge, suspended sediment, bedload, and water quality in Clear Creek, western Nevada, water years 2010-12

Discharge, sediment, and water chemistry in Clear Creek, western Nevada, water years 2013–16

“…No significant changes in these suspended-sediment concentrations were found during 2010-12 (Huntington and Savard, 2015). Suspended-sediment loads were also similar from 2004 to 2007 (baseline) and 2010-12 at all three sites (Huntington and Savard, 2015). Seiler and Wood (2009) determined that, when discharge was high enough to transport bedload, it represented between 72 and 90 percent of the total sediment load in 2004-07, which was similar to the 78 percent that Fisher (1978) reported.…”

“…Discharge was measured at the same three sites in the Clear Creek drainage basin (figs. 1, 2, and 3; table 1) as previously measured by Seiler and Wood (2009) and Huntington and Savard (2015) Creek that extends 1.4 river mi downstream of site 2 and an additional 2.7 mi² drainage area (18.1 mi² cumulative) consisting of similar land cover as site 2, with the addition of some urbanized and residential areas ( fig. 2).…”

“…Seiler and Wood (2009) reported suspended-sediment concentrations ranging from 2 to 1,150 mg/L at site 3 (U.S. Geological Survey site 10310518; Clear Creek at Fuji Park, at Carson City, Nevada) in 2004-07, with the highest concentrations occurring during isolated storm runoff events and snowmelt runoff in the spring (site 3 indicative of suspended sediment entering the Carson River). No significant changes in these suspended-sediment concentrations were found during 2010-12 (Huntington and Savard, 2015). Suspended-sediment loads were also similar from 2004 to 2007 (baseline) and 2010-12 at all three sites (Huntington and Savard, 2015).…”

“…Water-chemistry and suspended-sediment data were collected during water years 1 (WYs) 2004-07, and results were reported by Seiler and Wood (2009). Additional information on suspended sediment and water-chemistry characteristics in Clear Creek was reported for WYs 2010-12 (Huntington and Savard, 2015). This report continues the assessment of stream discharge, sediment, and water chemistry characteristics of Clear Creek, evaluating data collected during WYs 2013-16.…”

“…Seiler and Wood (2009) determined that, when discharge was high enough to transport bedload, it represented between 72 and 90 percent of the total sediment load in 2004-07, which was similar to the 78 percent that Fisher (1978) reported. Huntington and Savard (2015), however, reported that bedload represented between 29 and 38 percent of total sediment load in 2010-12, which suggests a decrease in bedload between datasets. Mean daily discharge was significantly lower in 2010-12 (p=0.026) than in 2004-07 and may be the reason for the decrease in bedload that resulted in decreased total sediment load.…”