8259

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8259
• Author: Kircher, J. E.
• Title: Sediment Transport and Source Areas of Sediment and Runoff, Big Sandy River Basin, Wyoming.
• USFW Year: 1982.
• USFW - Doc Type: Water-Resources Investigations 81-72,
• Copyright Material: NO

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT AND SOURCE AREAS OF SEDIMENT AND RUNOFF,
BIG SANDY RIVER BASIN, WYOMING
By James E. Kircher
ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to determine sediment transport and sediment
and runoff source areas in the Big Sandy River basin, southwestern Wyo-
ming. Suspended-sediment and bedload data were collected in order to
determine total sediment transport at several locations within the basin.
Bedload data obtained by a Helley-Smith bedload sampler were com-
pared to the Einstein bedload function and total load data were compared
to the Colby method. The bedload comparison showed a greater estimation
of transport rates with the Helley-Smith measurements than with the
Einstein bedload function. The Colby method yielded greater transport
rates at high flows and smaller transport rates at low flows than the
measured total transport rate.
The Big Sandy Reservoir acts as a control in the basin. The area
upstream from the reservoir was interpreted separately from the area
downstream for source-area determination. In the arid plains upstream
from the reservoir, the amount of sediment transported increased 98
percent with an increase in runoff of only 1 percent. Downstream from
the reservoir, Pacific Creek contributes 7 percent of the runoff and 70
percent of the sediment load that reaches the mouth of the Big Sandy
River.
INTRODUCTION
Water demands in the Green River Basin of Wyoming are increasing
rapidly due to the development of extensive coal, oil, gas, uranium, and
trona resources (Lowham and others, 1976). The potential also exists for
future development of extensive oil-shale resources. To meet these
demands, increased use of surface water in the basin is being considered.
Sediment load is an important water-quality factor in determining
water use and in assessing possible impacts of these uses with time.
Definition of sediment loads, concentrations, and particle-size distribu-
tions also are important in the design of dams, diversion structures, and
canals, as well as in the evaluation of water-quality problems.
The Big Sandy River is a major contributor of sediment to the Green
River in Wyoming. The purpose of this report is to describe the quantity
of sediment transport and the source areas of sediment and runoff in the
Big Sandy River basin.
1