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Bathymetric surveys of the Neosho River, Spring River, and Elk River, northeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri, 2016–17

Scientific Investigations Report 2017-5101
Prepared in cooperation with the Grand River Dam Authority
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175101

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Abstract

In February 2017, the Grand River Dam Authority filed to relicense the Pensacola Hydroelectric Project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The predominant feature of the Pensacola Hydroelectric Project is Pensacola Dam, which impounds Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees (locally called Grand Lake) in northeastern Oklahoma. Identification of information gaps and assessment of project effects on stakeholders are central aspects of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing process. Some upstream stakeholders have expressed concerns about the dynamics of sedimentation and flood flows in the transition zone between major rivers and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. To relicense the Pensacola Hydroelectric Project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the hydraulic models for these rivers require high-resolution bathymetric data along the river channels. In support of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing process, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Grand River Dam Authority, performed bathymetric surveys of (1) the Neosho River from the Oklahoma border to the U.S. Highway 60 bridge at Twin Bridges State Park, (2) the Spring River from the Oklahoma border to the U.S. Highway 60 bridge at Twin Bridges State Park, and (3) the Elk River from Noel, Missouri, to the Oklahoma State Highway 10 bridge near Grove, Oklahoma. The Neosho River and Spring River bathymetric surveys were performed from October 26 to December 14, 2016; the Elk River bathymetric survey was performed from February 27 to March 21, 2017. Only areas inundated during those periods were surveyed.

The bathymetric surveys covered a total distance of about 76 river miles and a total area of about 5 square miles. Greater than 1.4 million bathymetric-survey data points were used in the computation and interpolation of bathymetric-survey digital elevation models and derived contours at 1-foot (ft) intervals. The minimum bathymetric-survey elevation of the Neosho River was 709.18 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988, which corresponds to a maximum depth of 34.22 ft. The minimum bathymetric-survey elevation of the Spring River was 714.18 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988, which corresponds to a maximum depth of 29.22 ft. The minimum bathymetric-survey elevation of the Elk River was 715.62 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988, which corresponds to a maximum depth of 27.78 ft.

Suggested Citation

Hunter, S.L., Ashworth, C.E., and Smith, S.J., 2017, Bathymetric surveys of the Neosho River, Spring River, and Elk River, northeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri, 2016–17 (ver. 1.1, October 2017): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2017–5101, 59 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175101.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Bathymetric-Survey Methods
  • Bathymetric-Survey Results
  • Summary
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1 Maps showing extents for maps in appendixes 2–4 that show bathymetric surveys of the Neosho River, Spring River, and Elk River, northeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri, 2016–17
  • Appendix 2 Maps showing bathymetric survey of the Neosho River, northeastern Oklahoma, 2016
  • Appendix 3 Maps showing bathymetric survey of the Spring River, northeastern Oklahoma, 2016
  • Appendix 4 Maps showing bathymetric survey of the Elk River, northeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri, 2017
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Bathymetric surveys of the Neosho River, Spring River, and Elk River, northeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri, 2016–17
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2017-5101
DOI 10.3133/sir20175101
Edition Version 1.0: Originally posted September 26, 2017; Version 1.1: October 25, 2017
Year Published 2017
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Oklahoma Water Science Center
Description Report: 59 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State Missouri, Oklahoma
Other Geospatial Neosho River, Spring River
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details