Suspended-sediment transport in the Big Eau Pleine River Basin, central Wisconsin

Open-File Report 78-313
Prepared in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
By:

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Abstract

Suspended-sediment yields in the Big Eau Pleine River basin are low to moderate in comparison with other drainage basins in Wisconsin. Average annual yield in the Big Eau Pleine River near Stratford is 32.tons per square mile, with an annual yield ranging from 1.0 to 64 tons per square mile. Fenwood Creek at Bradley and Freeman Creek at Halder, two smaller tributary basins, have average annual yields of 3.3 and 7.9 tons per square mile, respectively. Suspended-sediment concentrations in the basin ranged from 0 to 960 milligrams per liter, with a median concentration at the Stratford site of 13 milligrams per liter. Ninety percent of the material transported by the streams of the Big Eau Pleine basin is finer than sand and is made up of about equal percentages of silt and clay.

A l3-year average of about 9,400 tons per year of suspended sediment is transported to the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir by streamflow and overland flow, whereas about 2,500 tons per year leaves the reservoir in its outflow. Considering only sediment inflow and outflow by streamflow and overland flow, and assuming the 2,500 tons per year is approximately the long-term average, the reservoir trap efficiency would be greater than 70 percent. The actual trap efficiency of the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir probably is somewhat higher than 70 percent because bedload transport of the streams and sediment inflow from shoreline erosion were not measured.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Suspended-sediment transport in the Big Eau Pleine River Basin, central Wisconsin
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 78-313
DOI 10.3133/ofr78313
Year Published 1978
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Wisconsin Water Science Center
Description iv, 12 p.
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Clark County, Marathon County, Taylor County
Other Geospatial Big Eau Pleine River
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details