thumbnail

Streamflow Extents and Hydraulic Characteristics of Meadow Valley Wash at Stuart Ranch, near Rox, Nevada

Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5069
Water Resources Mission Area
Prepared in cooperation with Bureau of Land Management
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255069

Links

Abstract

The former Stuart Ranch, now managed by the Bureau of Land Management, is transected by Meadow Valley Wash, where 4,600 feet of perennial stream and adjacent riparian vegetation provide critical habitat for several wildlife and aquatic species protected under the Endangered Species Act. The stream has been altered by prior construction of irrigation diversions, gravel mining, and removal of riparian vegetation, resulting in the loss of instream and riparian vegetation and disconnected floodplains. The stream alteration has also resulted in the loss of native species and increased non-native invasive species and changes in ecological cycles. With the goal of improving habitat extent and quality for native threatened and endangered species, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering establishing perennial streams through braided side channels by constructing beaver dam analogs, excavating side channel connectors, and grading an irrigation reservoir berm on the floodplain. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provided hydraulic modeling to assist the BLM in evaluating how possible restoration modifications could affect the extent of aquatic, riparian, and other habitat types. Three two-dimensional (2-D) hydraulic models were developed to simulate 2021 conditions (when most of the topographic data were collected), minor restoration modifications (one excavated side channel and a beaver dam analog), and major restoration modifications (three excavated side channels, a beaver dam analog, and an excavated and graded area to remove the irrigation reservoir) to determine streamflow-inundation extents and hydraulic characteristics (depth and velocity) for base flow and various flood (50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, and 1-percent annual exceedance probability [AEP]) scenarios. An average summer base flow of 0.92 cubic feet per second was estimated based on data from a USGS streamgage in the study area. The 50-, 20-, 10-, 4-, 2-, and 1-percent AEP streamflows were estimated based on a flood-frequency analysis of data from the streamgage. The base flow and AEP floods were combined with surveyed topographic data to create a 2-D unsteady hydraulic model. The hydraulic model was used to simulate the base flow and flood-inundation extents and hydraulic characteristics under 2021 conditions and with two possible restoration modification scenarios. Under 2021 conditions, flow remains in a single channel until the most downstream end of the modeled reach, where flow then expands into slower velocity pools. During floods, streamflow begins to enter the side channels at the 50-percent flood, expands into the east floodplain at 20-percent flood, and flows in the irrigation reservoir at 4-percent flood. Compared to 2021 conditions with no terrain modification, base flow under the possible restoration modifications enters and remains in the side channels, thus increasing the likelihood of expanding riparian habitat. Additionally, during floods under the major restoration modifications, streamflow expands into the modified terrain surrounding the irrigation reservoir at 10-percent AEP, as opposed to 4-percent AEP under 2021 conditions. For all modeled streamflow scenarios, streamflow is deepest in the center of the main and side channels, as well as the downstream pooled areas. Streamflow is fastest in the narrow sections of the channels, especially in the upper 1,220 feet of the modeled reach.

Suggested Citation

Dye, L.A., Morris, C.M., and Childres, H.K., 2025, Streamflow extents and hydraulic characteristics of Meadow Valley Wash at Stuart Ranch, near Rox, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2025–5069, 24 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255069.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Description of Study Area
  • Previous Studies
  • Simulation of Streamflow Extents and Hydraulic Characteristics
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Summary and Conclusions
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Streamflow extents and hydraulic characteristics of Meadow Valley Wash at Stuart Ranch, near Rox, Nevada
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2025-5069
DOI 10.3133/sir20255069
Publication Date August 27, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Nevada Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 24 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Nevada
City Rox
Other Geospatial Meadow Valley Wash at Stuart Ranch
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details