| Abstract: | Native woody riparian species, primarily plains cottonwood (Populus fremontii), are regenerating at less than historical rates along Boulder Creek, a regulated stream near Boulder, Colorado. Loss of native riparian habitats might cause a decline in numbers of some native wildlife species. Previous studies have indicated that streamflow regulation can adversely affect native riparian vegetation reproduction. Surface- and ground-water data were collected from September 1989 to September 1991 along a riparian section of Boulder Creek to assist ecologists in assessing woody plant-recruitment characteristics. Annual mean streamflows in Boulder Creek at Cottonwood Grove of 34.5 cubic feet per second for water year 1990 (October 1, 1989- September 30, 1990) and 34.1 cubic feet per second for water year 1991 were 53 percent less than a site on Boulder Creek about 5 miles upstream from the study area. Diversions dating from 1882 caused most of the decrease. The alluvial aquifer in the study area averaged 5 feet in thickness and consisted of gravel- to cobble-size particles derived from crystalline rock of Precambrian age. The direction of ground-water movement was similar to the direction of streamflow. Ground-water movement in the northeastern part of the grove was affected by a pond constructed at a lower elevation than the stream channel. Water levels in the alluvial aquifer adjacent to the stream pre- dominantly were affected by stream stage, whereas farther from the channel, ground-water levels were affected by other processes such as evapotrans- piration, infiltration, and recharge from urban runoff. |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 28022 |
| Citation Author: | Kimbrough, Robert |
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| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | iv, 25 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm. |
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| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey :
Earth Science Information Center, Open-File Reports Section [distributor], |
| Citation Series: | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Citation Series Code: | WRI |
| Citation Series Number: | 94-4111 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Hydrologic assessment of a riparian section along Boulder Creek near Boulder, Colorado, September 1989-September 1991; 1995; WRI; 94-4111; Kimbrough, Robert |
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| Citation Year: | 1995 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Hydrologic assessment of a riparian section along Boulder Creek near Boulder, Colorado, September 1989-September 1991; 1995; WRI; 94-4111; Kimbrough, Robert |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1994/4111/report-thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1994/4111/report.pdf |
| Date Other: | Wed, 1 Nov 1995 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey :
Earth Science Information Center, Open-File Reports Section [distributor], |
