Geomorphic response of a headwater channel to augmented flow

Abstract

Since 1974, flow releases from Long Draw Reservoir have increased annual peak flows on La Poudre Pass Creek, Colorado, from ~ 5.6 m 3/s to > 8.4 m 3/s. The creek drains 61 km 2 and channel morphology varies from step–pool to pool–riffle. Comparison of five channel reaches along the creek to channel reaches along neighboring rivers without flow regulation indicates that channel width has increased by as much as a factor of three along La Poudre Pass Creek. Width-to-depth ratio has also increased, the bed material in step–pool channel reaches has coarsened, and residual pool volumes have increased in pool–riffle channel reaches. Pool–riffle channel reaches have undergone the greatest change in response to flow augmentation. Although discharge has increased consistently for all five channel reaches, morphologic response varies in relation to gradient and channel morphology, making it impractical to precisely predict a priori the magnitude of channel response to flow augmentation.