Preliminary stage-discharge relations for Tombigbee River at Aliceville lock and dam, near Pickensville, Alabama

Open-File Report 83-752
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Abstract

The construction of Aliceville lock and dam and other related channel alterations, completed in 1979, has resulted in changes to the stage-discharge relations in the vicinity. The scarcity of current-meter measurements, coupled with backwater conditions, makes definition of a single stage-discharge relation impossible. However, limit curves can be defined that would encompass such a relation. Backwater is defined as water backed up or retarded in its course as compared with water flowing under normal or natural conditions. This results in a rise in stage above normal water level while the discharge remains unaffected. Backwater is usually caused by temporary obstruction(s) to flow downstream. Backwater at Aliceville Dam results from a variety of river conditions. Some of these conditions are large tributary inflow, return of flood plain flows to the main channel during recessions, and operations at Gainesville Dam during low flows. The discharges obtained from 26 current-meter measurements, along with computed discharges through the dam, are plotted versus stage. The plot illustrates, by the scatter of data points, the variations in backwater. Curves are drawn to envelope the extreme plot patterns showing possible ranges of several feet in stage for any given discharge. The upper end of the curves were extrapolated based on the results of a step-backwater analysis.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Preliminary stage-discharge relations for Tombigbee River at Aliceville lock and dam, near Pickensville, Alabama
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 83-752
DOI 10.3133/ofr83752
Year Published 1983
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description Report: iv, 11 p.; 3 Plates: 17.51 × 10.68 inches or smaller
Country United States
State Alabama
City Pickensville
Other Geospatial Tombigbee River at Aliceville lock and dam
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