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Regional Hydraulic Geometry Characteristics of Stream Channels in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas

Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5083
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District
By: , , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255083

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Abstract

Many stream-channel infrastructure, habitat enhancement, and restoration projects are undertaken on streams throughout Arkansas by Federal, State, and local agencies as well as by private organizations and businesses with limited data on local geomorphology and streamflow conditions. Equations that relate drainage area above stable stream reaches to the basin characteristics, bankfull streamflow, and the associated channel dimensions can be used to estimate stream conditions. These equations, along with streambed material particle information, provide information that can be used to improve stream-channel projects. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, completed a study to develop these equations for streams in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas.

Fourteen U.S. Geological Survey streamgages and stream reaches located in the Boston Mountains were selected for analysis. Geomorphic parameters of streams, including the mean bankfull channel dimensions (cross-sectional area, top width, mean depth, and streamflow), and the contributing drainage areas were investigated. Streambed materials were collected at eight of these sites to develop descriptive statistics of the streambed particle-size distributions and percentages of substrate type. Stream reaches at each study site were classified to Rosgen level II stream type based on the averages of stream-channel metrics collected from site cross sections and profiles. Of the 14 selected Boston Mountain stream reaches, 7 were classified as B-type streams, and 7 were classified as C-type streams. For these streams, the significant differences in measured parameters between stream types were that the B-type streams had greater depth, hydraulic radii, and bar D50 and D85 particle sizes, while C-type streams had greater watershed slopes. Streambed material particle size decreased with mean drainage basin elevation and decreased with increasing entrenchment ratios. Bar sediment size exhibited decreasing size with increasing sinuosity. Regional hydraulic geometry curves were constructed for the streams in the Boston Mountains by plotting measured bankfull geometry dimensions from stable reaches and the associated bankfull streamflow against the contributing drainage area.

Suggested Citation

Kroes, D.E., Ruhl-Whittle, L., Pieri, A.C., and Pugh, A.L., 2025, Regional hydraulic geometry characteristics of stream channels in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2025–5083, 28 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255083.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Data Release
  • Description of the Boston Mountains
  • Methods
  • Regional Hydraulic Geometry Characteristics of Selected Boston Mountain Stream Channels
  • Limitations of This Study
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Regional hydraulic geometry characteristics of stream channels in the Boston Mountains in Arkansas
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2025-5083
DOI 10.3133/sir20255083
Publication Date September 29, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center
Description Report: vii, 28 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Arkansas, Oklahoma
Other Geospatial Boston Mountains
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details