Arkansas River Channel Capacity and Riparian Habitat Planning Study

• Description: ARCA
• State: CO
• State: KS
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 8/1/2001
• Author: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Title: Arkansas River Channel Capacity and Riparian Habitat Planning Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ARKANSAS RIVER FROM OTEROIPUEBLO COUNTY LINE
TO JOHN MARTIN RESERVOIR
CHANNEL CAPACITY AND RIPARIAN HABITAT PLANNING STUDY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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T O�1C Paae
SUMMARY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............. ............................iii
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1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ ...............................
1
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1.1 STUDY AUTHORITY ......................................................... ...............................
1.2 STUDY PURPOSE ............................................................... ..I............................
1
1
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1.3 STUDY REACH AND TYPICAL PROBLEM AREAS ..... ...............................
i
2. GENERAL BACKGROUND AND SETTING .......................... ...............................
5
2.1 JOHN MARTIN RESERVOIR PROJECT ............................ ...............................
5
2.3 PHYSIOLOGY, GEOLOGY, AND SOILS .
9
2 .4 WATER RESOURCES ........................................................... ...............................
9
2.5 THE CHARACTER OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER: A HISTORIC .......................
PERSPECTIVE ............................................................................. ...............................
10
3. HYDROLOGIC AND ECOLOGIC IN` V" ESTIGATIONS ........ ...............................
23
3.1 GEOMORPHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ............. .. ...................... I...................
23
3.2 HYDRAULICS AND SEDIMENTATION ........................ ...............................
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3 .2.1 Historic Hydrology .......................................................... ...............................
24
3.2.2 Historic Sediment Information ............................... I..............................
29
3.2.3 Hydraulic Modeling
31
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3.2.4 Sediment Analysis. ......................................................... ...............................
31
3.2.5 Problem Areas — Existing and Improved Conditions ..... ...............................
35
3.2.6 Hydraulic and Sediment Summary
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3.3 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES .............................................. ...............................
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3.3.1 Aquatic System ................................................................ ...............................
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3 ,3.2 Riparian System ...............................................................
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3.3.3 Functions of Riparian Vegetation . ...............................
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3.3.4 Special Status Species ...................................................... ...............................
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3 .3.5 'Riparian Fauna .................................................................
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3.3.6 Salt Cedar Removal , ...............................
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4. DOCUMENTATION OF VEGETATION AND CHANNEL PROBLEMS ...........
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4.1 RESULTS- PHOTOGRAPH COMPARISONS OF VEGETATION
A ERIAL
.46
4.2 INTERPRETATION OF CHANNEL PROBLEMS AS SEEN IN AERIAL
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PHOTOGRAPHS......................................................................... ...............................
49
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
60
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6. REFERENCES CITED
62
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