Sediment transport in the Snake and Clearwater rivers in the vicinity of Lewiston, Idaho

Open-File Report 80-690
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District
By:  and 

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Abstract

During the period 1972-79, the bedload in the Clearwater River ranged from about 50,000 tons (45,000 metric tons) per year in 1972 and 1974 to about 1,000 tons (910 metric tons) per year in the drought years of 1973 and 1977. Suspended-sediment load at the same location ranged from about 1,000,000 tons (910,000 metric tons) per year to about 50,000 tons (45,000 metric tons) per year for the same respective years.


In the Snake River, bedload ranged from about 200,000 tons (180,000 metric tons) per year for 1972 and 1974 to about 10,000 tons (9,100 metric tons) per year in 1973; bedload was too low for determination in 1977. Suspended-sediment load ranged from about 5,000,000 tons (4,500,000 metric tons) per year in 1974 to about 50,000 tons (45,000 metric tons) per year in 1977.


Bedload thus ranged from about 2 to 10 percent of suspended load and average about 5 percent.


For either river, bedload particle size was bimodal. Modes were in the medium- to coarse-sand range and in the very coarse-gravel range. Suspended-sediment particle size was generally finer than sand.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Sediment transport in the Snake and Clearwater rivers in the vicinity of Lewiston, Idaho
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 80-690
DOI 10.3133/ofr80690
Year Published 1980
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Idaho Water Science Center
Description v, 179 p.
Country United States
State Idaho
City Lewiston
Other Geospatial Clearwater River;Snake River
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