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Taylor Ranch
Wilderness Field Station
University of Idaho
HC 83 Box 8070
Cascade, ID 83611
Satellite Phone:
1-254-543-9291
Fax at Arnold Aviation:
208-382-3941
Email:
tayranch@hughes.net
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Undergraduate Research |
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Eric Carlson
Pursuing B.S. in Geosciences
Idaho State University
DeVlieg Taylor Undergradute Research Scholar 2008
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Benjamin Crosby
Asst. Professor - Dept. of Geosciences
Idaho State University
Establishing a suspended sediment flux model for the lower Big Creek drainage: What role do fires play?
Abstract: The purpose of this project is to quantify and analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of suspended sediment delivery to Big Creek and its tributaries. Furthermore, this study will explore the effect of fire, both recent and historic, on suspended sediment delivery. The overall goal is to create a suite of suspended sediment rating curves which describes the relation between sediment flux and water discharge as a function of time since last burn and burn severity.
This will be accomplished using two methods: First, automated pump samplers will collect stream water samples for suspended sediment concentration analysis. Second, on Big Creek, at the Taylor Ranch bridge, a tethered hand sampler will be used to collect suspended sediment samples from the larger river. I anticipate that catchments that have been recently burned will produce more sediment than those that have not burned. This study will provide a measure of how much sediment is moving out of the Big Creek drainage at any given time based on stream discharge. This will be useful in measuring stream health, water quality, and the effect of sedimentation on riparian and aquatic ecosystems.
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