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U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Scientific Investigations Report 2007–5178

Major Turbidity Events in the North Santiam River Basin, Oregon, Water Years 1999–2004

Prepared in cooperation with the City of Salem, Oregon

By Steven Sobieszczyk, Mark A. Uhrich, and Heather M. Bragg

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Table of Contents

Conversion Factors and Datums

Abstract

Introduction

Description of North Santiam River Basin

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis

Major Turbidity Events

Sedimentation Processes

Land-Management Concerns

Future Research

Summary

Acknowledgments

References Cited

Figures

Figure 1. Location of study area and streamflow and water-quality monitoring stations in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 2. Turbidity records for major turbidity events in five unregulated streams in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon, water years 1999–2004.

Figure 3. Land management in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 4. Land cover in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 5. Surficial geology of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 6. Instream turbidity thresholds for persistent turbidity and clay-water volume estimates at five unregulated streams in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon, water years 1999–2006.

Figure 7. Turbidity and discharge at three upper basin monitoring stations for the December 27–29, 1998, major turbidity event in North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 8. Location of Blowout Creek and Divide Creek earthflows in the Blowout Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 9. Blowout Creek earthflow in the Blowout Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 10. Divide Creek earthflow in the Blowout Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 11. Turbidity and discharge at three upper basin monitoring stations for the November 25–27, 1999, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 12. Location of the East Humbug Creek landslide in the Breitenbush River subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 13. East Humbug Creek landslide in the Breitenbush River subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 14. Turbidity and discharge at three upper basin monitoring stations for the October 1, 2000, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 15. Turbid water flowing from Pamelia Creek into the North Santiam River, Oregon, in October 2000.

Figure 16. Location of Milk Creek Glacier in the upper North Santiam basin, Oregon.

Figure 17. Turbidity and discharge at four upper basin monitoring stations for the December 17–19, 2001, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 18. Location of Ivy Creek landslide in the Blowout Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 19. Ivy Creek landslide and subsequent road failure of Forest Road 1012 in the Blowout Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 20. Debris flow scar resulting from Ivy Creek landslide in the Blowout Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 21. Enlarged scarp from the Ivy Creek landslide along decommissioned Forest Road 1012 in the Blowout Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 22. Turbidity and discharge at four upper basin monitoring stations for the January 30–February 1, 2003, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 23. Location of French Creek debris flow in the French Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 24. Debris flow in French Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin.

Figure 25. Turbidity and discharge at four upper basin monitoring stations for the October 21, 2003, major turbidity event in the upper North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 26. Automatic pumping samples collected during the October 21, 2003, major turbidity event in the upper North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 27. Turbid water flowing from Pamelia Creek into the North Santiam River, Oregon, in October 2003.

Figure 28. Glaciofluvial and moraine deposits in the upper North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 29. Landslide in Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area in the upper North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 30. Turbidity and discharge at five unregulated stream monitoring stations for the January 28–30, 2004, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 31. Turbid water flowing from Evans Creek into the Little North Santiam River, Oregon, in January 2004.

Figure 32. Location of the Evans Creek landslide in the Little North Santiam River subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 33. Evans Creek landslide in the Little North Santiam River subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Figure 34. Turbidity values at three locations within the Little North Santiam River subbasin, Oregon, December 2005.

Figure 35. Culvert failure on Forest Road 10 in the Blowout Creek subbasin of the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Tables

Table 1. Streamflow-gaging and water-quality monitoring stations used to collect water-quality samples in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Table 2. Regression models used to estimate suspended-sediment concentration from instream turbidity measurements on five unregulated streams in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon, waters years 1999–2006.

Table 3. Regression models used to estimate persistent turbidity from initial turbidity on five unregulated streams in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon, water years 1999-2006.

Table 4. Suspended-sediment load and yield, and clay-water volume and yield for the December 27–29, 1998, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Table 5. Suspended-sediment load and yield, and clay-water volume and yield for the November 25–27, 1999, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Table 6. Suspended-sediment load and yield, and clay-water volume and yield for the October 1, 2000, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Table 7. Suspended-sediment load and yield, and clay-water volume and yield for the December 17–19, 2001, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Table 8. Suspended-sediment load and yield, and clay-water volume and yield for the January 30–February 1, 2003, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Table 9. Suspended-sediment load and yield, and clay-water volume and yield for the October 21, 2003, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Table 10. Suspended-sediment load and yield, and clay-water volume and yield for the January 28–30, 2004, major turbidity event in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

Table 11. Percentage of annual total clay-water discharge by subbasin in the North Santiam River basin, Oregon.

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Send questions or comments about this report to the author, Steven Sobieszczyk, (503) 251-3208.

For more information about USGS activities in Oregon, visit the USGS Oregon Water Science Center home page.