Hydrology, Geomorphology, and Historic Channel Changes of Lower Cottonwood Creek, Shasta and Tehama Counties, California
 The project scope described in this report is to develop an updated understanding of geomorphic changes that have occurred
along the lower 15 miles of Cottonwood Creek through a field-based investigation. Project objectives include:1. Provide geomorphic and hydrologic analyses and re-surveys of historic data to document trends, including review of existing information
and analyses, including historic aerial photographs, streamflow data and sediment records from USGS records, historic survey data, as available, and other relevant information sources.
2. Implement an extensive field data collection program in the lower reaches of Cottonwood Creek (15 miles). This field effort will provide information on channel geometry, through cross sections and profiles, and bed material composition.
USGS cross sections established in the early 1980s will be resurveyed (17 sites) and streambed sediment re-sampled throughout the study reach.
3. Analyze field data and compare to historic datasets, developing conclusions on the nature and rate of geomorphic change in the study reach.
4. Make recommendations regarding implementation of existing and proposed erosion control projects along this reach of Cottonwood Creek.
The complete report is available in one large PDF file (35 MB ), or as smaller PDF files listed below. You can also download the PowerPoint presentations as well as the data contained in multiple Excel
spreadsheets below.
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Cover and Table of Contents
Introduction
Scope and Objectives
Methods
Literature Review
Results
Conclusions and Recommendations
References |
PDF 313 KB |
Tables
Table 1: List of USGS Gages in Cottonwood Creek Watershed
Table 2: Peak Discharge for Cottonwood nr Cottonwood USGS Gage, WY1941-2003
Table 3: List of Maps and Aerial Photographs Used in this Study
Table 4: Centerline Channel Lengths, 1855-2002
Table 5: Comparison of Thalweg Elevations, 1983 and 1999-2002 Datasets
Table 6: Size Distribution of Mean Surface and Sub-surface Bulk Samples by Site
Table 7: Indices of Combined Sub-Surface Bulk Samples by Site
Table 8: Size Distribution Parameters for Pebble Counts throughout Study Area |
PDF 428 KB |
Figures 1-9:
1: Location Map
2: Oblique Aerials Photos from February 2002 of various Reaches of Cottonwood
Creek
3: Annual Precipitation and Cumulative Departure at Red Bluff
4: Annual Runoff and Cumulative Departure for Cottonwood Creek USGS Gage
5: Monthly Flows for Cottonwood nr Cottonwood USGS Gage
6: Peak Discharge for Cottonwood nr Cottonwood USGS Gage, 1940-2003
7: Flood Frequency Analysis for Cottonwood nr Cottonwood USGS Gage
8: Flow Duration Analysis for Cottonwood nr Cottonwood USGS Gage
9a: Location of Cross Sections, Bulk Samples, and Pebble Counts, Lower Reach
9b: Location of Cross Sections, Bulk Samples, and Pebble Counts, Middle Reach
9c: Location of Cross Sections, Bulk Samples, and Pebble Counts, Upper Reach |
PDF 4538 KB |
Figures 10:
10a: Cottonwood Creek Channel Alignments, 1855-1999, Downstream Section
10b: Cottonwood Creek Channel Alignments, 1855-1999, Middle Section
10c: Cottonwood Creek Channel Alignments, 1855-2002, Above SF |
PDF 5501 KB |
Figures 11-12:
11a: Aerial Photo Comparisons, Bengard Ranch, 1939-1966
11b: Aerial Photo Comparisons, Bengard Ranch, 1981-1999
12a: Aerial Photo Comparisons, Downstream Highway 5, 1939-1966
12b: Aerial Photo Comparisons, Downstream Highway 5, 1981-1999 |
PDF 6648 KB |
Figures 13-17:
13a: Aerial Photo Comparisons, Highway 5, 1939-1966
13b: Aerial Photo Comparisons, Highway 5, 1981-1999
14a: Aerial Photo Comparisons, Baker Ranch, 1938-1966
14b: Aerial Photo Comparisons, Bengard Ranch, 1981-2002
15: Channel Lengths by Reach, 1855-2002
16: Mean Bed Elevation Analysis for Cottonwood nr Cottonwood USGS Gage, 1940-
2001, all data
17a: Cross Section 1-4 Comparison 1983 USGS vs. 1999 GMA Surveys
17b: Cross Section 5-8 Comparison 1983 USGS vs. 1999 GMA Surveys
17c: Cross Section 9-12 Comparison 1983 USGS vs. 1999 GMA Surveys
17d: Cross Section 13-17 Comparison 1983 USGS vs. 2002 GMA Surveys |
PDF 7452 KB |
Figures 18-25:
18a: Profile Comparison: COE, USGS, GMA Surveys, 1977-1999, Mouth to SF
18b: 1999 Longitudinal Profile with Hardpan Exposures, Mouth to SF
18c: 2002 Longitudinal Profile with Hardpan Exposures, Upstream from SF
19: Size Distribution Data, GMA Sub-surface Bulk Samples by Site
20: Size Distribution Data, Comparison of GMA Surface Bulk Samples, and Pebble
Counts
21: Comparison of Particle Size Indices from Bulk Samples and Pebble Counts
22: Pebble Count Particle Size Parameters vs. Long Profile Distance
23: Sediment Transport Data for Cottonwood nr Cottonwood USGS Gage:
Suspended Sediment Rating Curve
24: Sediment Transport Data for Cottonwood nr Cottonwood USGS Gage: Bedload
Rating Curve and WY2003 Clear Creek Bedload Data
25: Comparison of Cottonwood and Clear Creeks Unit Discharge Bedload Transport
Rates |
PDF 806 KB |
Figures 26-27:
26: Aerial Photo of Bengard Ranch Vicinity
27: Bengard Ranch Aerial Photo and 1999 Topographic Mapping |
PDF 6995 KB |
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PowerPoint Presentations
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| Presentation (2/28/2002) |
PPT 77689 KB |
| CALFED Presentation (3/26/2002) |
PPT 60443 KB |
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Data
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Cross Sections, contains the following files:
CottonwoodXSFinalData_July2003.xls
CottonwoodXSFinalDataU-SSouthFork_July2003.xls
CrossSectionElevMinComparison.xls
CTWD GMA XS100.pdf
CTWD GMA XS101.pdf
CTWD GMA XS102-9.pdf
CTWD GMA XS102.pdf
CTWD GMA XS103.pdf
CTWD GMA XS104.pdf
CTWD GMA XS105.pdf
CTWD GMA XS106.pdf
CTWD USGS XS 13.pdf
CTWD USGS XS 14.pdf
CTWD USGS XS 16.pdf
CTWD USGS XS 17.pdf
CTWD XS LOCATIONS.xls |
ZIP 209 KB |
GPS Control, contains the following files:
CottonwoodControlPoints_July2003.xls |
ZIP 6 KB |
Hydrology, contains the following files:
Cottonwood_MeanBedElevationAnalysis_22-Jul-2003.xls
Cottonwood_MeanDailyQ_1941-2000.xls
Cottonwood_PeakQ.xls
Cottowood_FloodFrequencyAnalysis_2003.xls
RedBluffMonthlyPrecip1905-2001.xls
SedimentLoadCalcs_WY41-00.xls |
ZIP 1033 KB |
Aerial Images (2/21/2002), contains the following files:
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ZIP 23030 KB |
Profiles, contains the following files:
CottonwoodLongProfileDownstreamSouthFork_Dec1999.xls
CottonwoodLongProfileUpstreamSouthFork_July2003.xls |
ZIP 167 KB |
Sediment Transport, contains the following files:
CottonwoodCknrCBedloadSediment 9-23-01.xls
CottonwoodnrCSuspendedSediment1-Nov-03.xls |
ZIP 1320 KB |
Substrate, contains the following files:
CottonwoodPCAboveSF.xls
CottonwoodPCBelowSF.xls
CTWD BULK ALL SAMPLES.xls
CTWD BULK_SITE2 KB.xls
CTWD BULK_SITE3 KB.xls
CTWD BULK_SITE4 KB.xls
CTWD BULK_SITE5 KB.xls
CTWD BULK_SITE6 KB.xls
CTWD BULK_SITE7 KB.xls
CTWD BULK_SITE8 KB.xls |
ZIP 137 KB |
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