Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USA
In forested watersheds, suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is an important parameter that impacts water quality and beneficial use. Water quality also has impacts beyond the stream channel, as elevated SSC can violate Indigenous sovereignty, treaty rights, and environmental law. To address eleva...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Hydrology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/3/50 |
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| author | Kevin M. Humphreys David C. Mays |
| author_facet | Kevin M. Humphreys David C. Mays |
| author_sort | Kevin M. Humphreys |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In forested watersheds, suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is an important parameter that impacts water quality and beneficial use. Water quality also has impacts beyond the stream channel, as elevated SSC can violate Indigenous sovereignty, treaty rights, and environmental law. To address elevated SSC, watershed partners must understand the dynamics of the sediment regime in the basins they steward. Collection of additional data is expensive, so this study presents modeling and analysis techniques to leverage existing data on SSC. Using data from the South Fork Clearwater River in Idaho County, Idaho, USA, we modeled SSC over water years 1986–2011 and we applied regression techniques to evaluate correlations between SSC and natural disturbances (channel-building flow events) and anthropogenic disturbances (timber harvesting, hazardous fuel management, controlled burns, and wildfire). Analysis shows that SSC did not change over the period of record. This study provides a monitoring program design to support future decision making leading to reductions in SSC. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-295822b957d24fa6a8d86a6851c59bbc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2306-5338 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hydrology |
| spelling | doaj-art-295822b957d24fa6a8d86a6851c59bbc2025-08-20T02:42:34ZengMDPI AGHydrology2306-53382025-03-011235010.3390/hydrology12030050Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USAKevin M. Humphreys0David C. Mays1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Campus Box 113, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364, USADepartment of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Campus Box 113, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364, USAIn forested watersheds, suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is an important parameter that impacts water quality and beneficial use. Water quality also has impacts beyond the stream channel, as elevated SSC can violate Indigenous sovereignty, treaty rights, and environmental law. To address elevated SSC, watershed partners must understand the dynamics of the sediment regime in the basins they steward. Collection of additional data is expensive, so this study presents modeling and analysis techniques to leverage existing data on SSC. Using data from the South Fork Clearwater River in Idaho County, Idaho, USA, we modeled SSC over water years 1986–2011 and we applied regression techniques to evaluate correlations between SSC and natural disturbances (channel-building flow events) and anthropogenic disturbances (timber harvesting, hazardous fuel management, controlled burns, and wildfire). Analysis shows that SSC did not change over the period of record. This study provides a monitoring program design to support future decision making leading to reductions in SSC.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/3/50interior pacific northwestwater quality modelingWeighted Regressions on Time Discharge and Season (WRTDS)random forest regressionsuspended sediment concentration (SSC)total maximum daily load (TMDL) |
| spellingShingle | Kevin M. Humphreys David C. Mays Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USA Hydrology interior pacific northwest water quality modeling Weighted Regressions on Time Discharge and Season (WRTDS) random forest regression suspended sediment concentration (SSC) total maximum daily load (TMDL) |
| title | Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USA |
| title_full | Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USA |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USA |
| title_short | Evaluating Trends and Insights from Historical Suspended Sediment and Land Management Data in the South Fork Clearwater River Basin, Idaho County, Idaho, USA |
| title_sort | evaluating trends and insights from historical suspended sediment and land management data in the south fork clearwater river basin idaho county idaho usa |
| topic | interior pacific northwest water quality modeling Weighted Regressions on Time Discharge and Season (WRTDS) random forest regression suspended sediment concentration (SSC) total maximum daily load (TMDL) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/12/3/50 |
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