Method for Identification of Reservoir Regulation within U.S. Geological Survey Streamgage Basins in the Central United States Using a Decadal Dam Impact Metric

Open-File Report 2023-1034
Prepared in cooperation with Illinois Department of Transportation, Iowa Department of Transportation, Michigan Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Transportation, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, North Dakota Department of Water Resources, South Dakota Department of Transportation, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation
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Abstract

Researchers routinely study streamflow data to understand the effects of natural climate variability and anthropogenic climate change, and to develop methods for estimating streamflow at ungaged locations. These studies require streamflow data that are not modified or largely altered by other anthropogenic activities, such as reservoirs or diversions. This report discusses a method for identifying basins with reservoir regulation using a decadal impact metric that characterizes the degree of regulation of a given river reach. The method is applied to U.S. Geological Survey streamgage basins from eight States in the Central United States. Using this metric, 140 streamgages with known regulation effects (annual peak streamflow values qualified with a code 6) were evaluated for their impact metric values in decades with annual peak streamflow values qualified with code 6. Based on the distribution of median impact metric values at these regulated basins, a threshold value of 0.1 was identified as the value that when exceeded was the most characteristic of the regulated streamgage basins in the study area. Streamgage basins from nine States with peak streamflow values that were not qualified with code 6 were evaluated for impact metric values equal to or greater than the established threshold. About 13 percent of streamgages (136 of 1,017) had an impact metric equal to or greater than the identified regulated threshold at some point in their periods of record. The method discussed in this report, which has limitations owing to characteristics of the data underlying the dam impact metric, provides a regionally consistent approach to identifying regulated U.S. Geological Survey streamgage basins.

Suggested Citation

Marti, M.K., and Ryberg, K.R., 2023, Method for identification of reservoir regulation within U.S. Geological Survey streamgage basins in the Central United States using a decadal dam impact metric: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2023–1034, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231034.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Limitations
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Method for identification of reservoir regulation within U.S. Geological Survey streamgage basins in the Central United States using a decadal dam impact metric
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2023-1034
DOI 10.3133/ofr20231034
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Dakota Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 15 p.; 2 Data Releases; 2 Datasets
Country United States
State Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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