Significant Findings


An analysis of suspended-sediment transport in the Johnson Creek basin, Oregon, during water years 2007–10 indicated that:


• Streamflow characteristics for the 4 years of study were not extremely dry or wet, and represented 
near-average conditions.

• Computed average annual suspended-sediment loads were 1,890 and 4,640 tons at the Gresham and Milwaukie stations, respectively.

• More than 70 percent of suspended-sediment transport in the watershed occurred during the high-flow months of November, December, and January.

• Less than 10 percent of suspended-sediment transport in the watershed occurred during 
April–October.

• About 50 percent of all suspended-sediment load is transported during the highest 1 percent of streamflows.

• The January 2009 streamflow peak was the third highest in the 70-year record for Johnson Creek. About 50 percent of suspended-sediment transport in water year 2009 occurred in January.

• The drainage area upstream of the Gresham streamflow-gaging station constitutes about 
30 percent of the drainage area at the Milwaukie station, but accounted for about 40 percent of the suspended sediment and 45 percent of the streamflow at the Milwaukie station.

• On an annual basis, most of the higher sediment yield at the Gresham station, relative to the Milwaukie station, can be explained by the higher streamflow yield at the Gresham station rather than by higher suspended-sediment concentration.


First posted October 3, 2012