Erosional and depositional changes wrought by the flood of May 1978 in the channels of Powder River, southeastern Montana
Scientific Investigations Report
2013-5035
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Abstract
Powder River’s second largest flood of record (1919–2012) moved through northeastern Wyoming and southeastern Montana during May 1978. Within a ninety-kilometer reach of the channel in southeastern Montana, the most prominent planform effects of the flood were the growth of meander bends by bank erosion (this was most intense just downriver of bend apexes, causing 1–2 channel widths of lateral displacement) and the erosion of new cutoff channels through the necks of two large and two small meanders. Surveys of cross sections, made before and after the flood, show the responses of the channel to the flood waters, which ranged from minimal (bedrock control) to large (maximum channel curvature in unconsolidated bank and terrace deposits). Geomorphic work done during two weeks of extreme flooding in May 1978, as measured by cross-channel erosion and new sediment deposition, was approximately equal in magnitude to the work done during the two decades (1978–1998) that followed the flood.
Suggested Citation
Meade, R.H., Moody, J.A., 2013, Erosional and depositional changes wrought by the flood of May 1978 in the channels of Powder River, southeastern Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2013-5035, Report: iv, 29 p.; Map: 46.0 x 42.0 inches, https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20135035.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Erosional and depositional changes wrought by the flood of May 1978 in the channels of Powder River, southeastern Montana |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2013-5035 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20135035 |
| Year Published | 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | National Research Program - Central Region |
| Description | Report: iv, 29 p.; Map: 46.0 x 42.0 inches |
| Country | United States |
| State | Montana |
| County | Powder River County |
| Other Geospatial | Powder River |
| Datum | North American Datum of 1927 |
| Projection | Universal Transverse Mercator projection |
| Scale | 20570 |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | Y |