U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005

Use of Sediment Rating Curves and Optical Backscatter Data to Characterize Sediment Transport in the Upper Yuba River Watershed, California, 2001–03

By Jennifer A. Curtis¹, Lorraine E. Flint¹, Charles N. Alpers¹, Scott A. Wright² and Noah P. Snyder³

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005–5246 , published 2006.

Table 8

Event-based suspended-sediment discharge at gaging stations on the Middle Yuba and South Yuba Rivers in the upper Yuba River watershed, California.

[Percent difference is the difference between the OBS (optical backscatter sensor) and rating curve estimates divided by the OBS estimate. ft³/s, cubic feet per second]

Middle Yuba River (MYG, USGS Station ID 11410000)
Storm events		Event-based suspended-sediment discharge
	Peak streamflow (ft³/s)	Estimated using OBS data¹(tons)	Estimated using rating curves²(tons)	Percent difference
December 20–23, 2002	346	21	18	14
December 27–30, 2002	995	64	300	–369

South Yuba River (SYG, USGS Station ID 11417500)
December 20–23, 2002	984	200	100	50
December 27–30, 2002	1980	520	590	–13

¹Estimated using calibrated OBS data. ²Estimated using winter ratng curves shown in table 4.