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<br />Friday, July 12 <br /> <br />1:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m. <br /> <br />after the war. The RMA, now a Superfund Site, is one of the most contaminated places on <br />earth, although much of the RMA is uncontaminated. Paradoxically the RAM has a variety of <br />riparian and wetland communities supporting numerous species of wildlife. Most notable are <br />cottonwood stands located along first creek that resulted from flooding. The RMA provides a <br />wintering habitat for more bald eagles than in any other urban setting. The RMA now is a <br />National WIldlife Area. Substantial urbanization of the First Creek basin upstream from the <br />RMA is a critical concern to the US Fish and Wildlife Service is the protection, preservation, <br />and enhancement of biological diversity at the RMA National WIldlife Area. Determination of <br />the hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, and their relation to the cottonwood habitat of one phase <br />of the contamination cleanup and environmental assessment of the RMA. Because of the <br />scarcity of hydro-meteorological data and the complexity of flood processes in alluvial streams <br />in the Great Plains east of the Rocky Mountains, there is a large uncertainty (SO to 100 percent) <br />in magnitude-frequency relations of flooding in the Great Plains streams. <br /> <br />Because there is minimal hydrologic data on streams on the RMA and neaIby, a two-year <br />paleoflood research study was conducted to extend existing hydrologic data and to provide <br />information on maximum flooding. Paleoflood techniques were evaluated and improved to <br />estimate discharge from paleostage evidence preserved in alluvial channels. Data for several <br />paleofloods were obtained and used to improve magnitude-frequency relations and as a basis for <br />determining increases in runoff due to anticipated urbanization upstream from the RAM. <br />Regional hydrometeorologic investigations indicate large spatial differences in magnitude of <br />rainfall and flooding occur in the Great Plains. Basins with topographically enhanced TlI;nfllll <br />have about four times more peak runoff than similar six and little topographical relief. In <br />contrast, existing flood estimation methods indicate uniform flood runoff for streams in the Great <br />Plains. Relations of vegetation and flooding also were developed. Study results then were used <br />to estimate flood characteristics and their relation to cottonwood regeneration to help better <br />manage riparian ecosystems and for clean up of the RMA. The paleoflood data and techniques <br />are for clean up of the RMA. The paleoflood data and techniques are transferable to other <br />alluvial-river systems. By actively integrating interdisciplinary research with the needs of the <br />water-resources community, basic research could be done to better understand the <br />hydrometeorology of flooding, improve paleoflood techniques for alluvial channels, as well as <br />to help solve a critical water-resources issues. <br /> <br />21 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />