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Resurvey of Cross Sections on the Yampa and Little Snake Rivers in Lily and Deerlodge Parks, Colorado

Open-File Report 2023-1070
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231070

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Abstract

Resurveys of seven geomorphologic cross sections located in the Lily Park and Deerlodge Park, Colorado, reaches of the Yampa and Little Snake Rivers were conducted in October 2017. These cross sections extend from Lily Park, at the confluence of the two rivers, to Deerlodge Park within Dinosaur National Monument. Four cross sections were first surveyed in 1983 and then resurveyed in 1997. The remaining three cross sections were first surveyed in 1997. Analysis of historical aerial photographs (taken from 1961 to 2015) was conducted to contextualize the measured changes in the cross sections, confirm cross-section longitudinal positions along the rivers, and verify the timing of artificial realignment and straightening of the Little Snake River. Erosion occurred between 1983 and 1997 in all four cross sections first surveyed in 1983, largely through channel widening. Continued erosion occurred between 1997 and 2017 in six of the seven cross sections, also largely by channel widening with only minor changes in channel depth. Though erosion occurred over a longer time period, the net erosion observed at these cross sections over three decades is consistent with the net erosion documented by a sediment-transport-based monitoring program on the Yampa River and Little Snake Rivers from 2013 to 2020.

Suggested Citation

Griffiths, R.E., Topping, D.J., Leonard, C., and Unema, J.A., 2023, Resurvey of cross sections on the Yampa and Little Snake Rivers in Lily and Deerlodge Parks, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2023–1070, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231070.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Previous Surveys of Cross Sections in the Deerlodge Park Area
  • Methods
  • Historical Aerial-Photograph Analysis
  • Changes in the Deerlodge Park Area Cross Sections
  • Conclusions
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Resurvey of cross sections on the Yampa and Little Snake Rivers in Lily and Deerlodge Parks, Colorado
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2023-1070
DOI 10.3133/ofr20231070
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Arizona Water Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center
Description v, 12 p.
Country United States
State Colorado
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details