USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5123Hydrology of the Johnson Creek Basin, Oregon

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Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5123

Prepared in cooperation with the city of Portland, the city of Gresham, the city of Milwaukie, Clackamas County’s Water Environment Services, and Multnomah County

Hydrology of the Johnson Creek Basin, Oregon

By Karl K. Lee and Daniel T. Snyder

Figures

Figure 1. Location of the Johnson Creek basin, Oregon.

Figure 2. Streamflow measurements of Crystal Springs Creek at Reed College, measurements and estimates of streamflow at the mouth of Crystal Springs Creek, and measurements of Errol Spring Creek, Portland, Oregon.

Figure 3. Relation between average measured streamflow at the mouth of Crystal Springs Creek, Portland, Oregon, and consecutive 7-day average low streamflow of Johnson Creek at Milwaukie, Oregon, August to October 1989, 1997–2006.

Figure 4. Seepage measurements during low flow in 1988, 1997–2000, 2006, and specific conductance measurements during low flow in 1998, 1999, and 2006, Johnson Creek, Oregon.

Figure 5. Annual, 3-year average, and cumulative departure from average precipitation at Portland Airport, Oregon, 1911–2006.

Figure 6. Gain in consecutive 7-day average low streamflow between Johnson Creek at Regner Road at Gresham, Oregon, and Johnson Creek at Sycamore, Oregon, and between Johnson Creek at Sycamore and Johnson Creek at Milwaukie, Oregon.

Figure 7. Temperature at river mile (RM) 7.8, RM 5.5, and RM 3.2, Johnson Creek, Oregon.

Figure 8. Estimated water table elevation, Johnson Creek basin, Oregon.

Figure 9. Water levels in selected long-term observation wells, Johnson Creek basin, Oregon.

Figure 10. Water level elevation and depth to water in wells: near 133rd Avenue and Raymond Street, at Brentwood Park, at Woodstock Park, and at Berkeley Park, Portland, Oregon.

Figure 11. Precipitation at Portland Airport, Oregon, water level elevation in the shallow well at Westmoreland Park and water level of Johnson Creek at Milwaukie, Oregon, and water level elevation in the deep well at Westmoreland Park, and level of the Willamette River at Portland, Oregon.

Figure 12. Relation between water level elevation in wells at Berkeley Park, and at 32nd Avenue and Steele Street, Portland, Oregon.

Figure 13. Relation between streamflow of Crystal Springs Creek at Reed College and mouth of Crystal Springs Creek at Portland, and water level elevation in the well at Berkeley Park, Portland, Oregon.

Figure 14. Water level elevation (1999–2006) of Holgate Lake at Portland, Oregon, in the well near 133rd Avenue and Raymond Street, in the well in the bed of Holgate Lake, in the well adjacent to Holgate Lake, and cumulative precipitation (from October to September each year) at Portland Airport, Oregon.

Figure 15. Relation between annual rise in water level in a well near 133rd Avenue and Raymond Street, Portland, Oregon, and cumulative precipitation at the Portland Airport, Oregon, from October 1 of each year to date of maximum water level in well, water years 1999–2006.

Figure 16. Cumulative departure from annual mean streamflow of Johnson Creek at Sycamore, Oregon, water years 1941–2006, Johnson Creek at Milwaukie, Oregon, water years 1990–2006, and annual total precipitation at the Portland Airport, Oregon (site number 356751), water years 1941–2006.

Figure 17. Flow duration curves of the upper area of Johnson Creek basin at Gresham, Oregon, of the middle basin between Johnson Creek at Gresham and Johnson Creek at Sycamore, Oregon, and of the lower basin between Johnson Creek at Sycamore and Johnson Creek at Milwaukie, Oregon, water years 1999–2006.

Figure 18. Consecutive 7-day and 30-day average low streamflow of Johnson Creek at Sycamore, Oregon, and of Little Sandy River near Bull Run, Oregon.

Figure 19. Flow duration curves based on water years 1941–1962 (early), water years 1963–1984 (middle), and water years 1985–2006 (later), Johnson Creek at Sycamore, Oregon.

Figure 20. Annual peak streamflow of Johnson Creek at Sycamore, and Johnson Creek at Milwaukie, Oregon.

Figure 21. Flood frequency curves based on log-Pearson Type III probability distribution, Johnson Creek at Sycamore, Oregon, water years 1941–2006 and 1990–2006, and Johnson Creek at Milwaukie, Oregon, water years 1990–2006.

Figure 22. Rating curve in use during water year 2006, and annual peak stream level and streamflow from water years 1941 to 2006, Johnson Creek at Sycamore, Oregon.

Figure 23. Temperature of streams in the Johnson Creek basin, Oregon, May to October 2005.

Figure 24. Estimated temperature of Johnson Creek at Gresham, Oregon, and Johnson Creek at Milwaukie, Oregon, based on air temperature at the Portland Airport, Oregon (site number 356751), 1998–2006.

For additional information contact:

Director, Oregon Water Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey
2130 SW 5th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97201
http://or.water.usgs.gov

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