Model Archive Data for Suspended-Sediment Regression at Station 07048550, West Fork White River East of Fayetteville, AR
Dates
Publication Date
2022-12-14
Start Date
2014-10-10
End Date
2021-05-11
Citation
Banks, S.M., 2022, Model Archive Data for Suspended-Sediment Regression at Station 07048550, West Fork White River East of Fayetteville, AR: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9N8CUGK.
Summary
Data from an optical turbidity sensor deployed at the stream station were recorded at 15-minute intervals by a data logger and uploaded every hour to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) database (Anderson, 2005; Wagner, 2006). Suspended-sediment samples were collected using equal width increments or grab sampling techniques (Edwards, 1999). The use of an optical sensor to continuously monitor turbidity provided an accurate estimate of sediment fluctuations without the collection and analysis costs associated with intensive sampling (Office of Surface Water Memorandum 2016.07; Rasmussen et al., 2009). Turbidity was used as a surrogate for suspended-sediment concentration (SSC), which is a measure of sedimentation and siltation. Regression [...]
Summary
Data from an optical turbidity sensor deployed at the stream station were recorded at 15-minute intervals by a data logger and uploaded every hour to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) database (Anderson, 2005; Wagner, 2006). Suspended-sediment samples were collected using equal width increments or grab sampling techniques (Edwards, 1999). The use of an optical sensor to continuously monitor turbidity provided an accurate estimate of sediment fluctuations without the collection and analysis costs associated with intensive sampling (Office of Surface Water Memorandum 2016.07; Rasmussen et al., 2009). Turbidity was used as a surrogate for suspended-sediment concentration (SSC), which is a measure of sedimentation and siltation. Regression models were developed between SSC and turbidity using turbidity data from the optical sensor and the SSC data collected from the suspended-sediment samples.
For the West Fork of White River East of Fayetteville, instantaneous turbidity measurements began on October 11, 2014 and ranged from 0.3 to 1480 Formazin Nephelometric Units (FNU). A total of 64 suspended-sediment samples were collected and ranged from 2 to 1780 milligrams per liter (mg/L) across a range of streamflow from 0.71 to 7770 cubic feet per second (cfs). There were 50 suspended-sediment samples used in the final model after removing quality assurance/quality control samples, samples corresponding with gaps in turbidity data, samples associated with sampling/fouling errors, and extraneous samples from the same storm event which would result in overfitting of the model.
Anderson, C.W., 2005, Turbidity: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 9, chap. A6.7, accessed January 2022, at https://doi.org/10.3133/twri09A6.7.
Edwards, T.K., and Glysson, G.D., 1999, Field methods for measurement of fluvial sediment: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 3, chap. C2, 89 p, accessed January 2022, at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/twri03C2.
Office of Surface Water Technical Memorandum No. 2016.07, Policy and guidance for approval of surrogate regression models for computation of time-series suspended-sediment concentrations and loads, accessed January 2022 at https://water.usgs.gov/admin/memo/SW/sw.2016.07+wq.2016.10.pdf
Rasmussen, P.P., Gray, J.R., Glysson, G.D., and Ziegler, A.C., 2009, Guidelines and procedures for computing time-series suspended-sediment concentrations and loads from in-stream turbidity-sensor and streamflow data: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods book 3, chap. C4, 53 p, accessed January 2022, at https://pubs.usgs.gov/tm/tm3c4/
Wagner, R.J., Boulger, R.W.J., Oblinger, C.J., and Smith, B.A., 2006, Guidelines and standard procedures for continuous water-quality monitors: Station operation, record computation, and data reporting: United States Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 1-D3: 51 p, accessed January 2022, at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/tm1D3
Sedimentation is one of the leading causes of stream impairment. However, consistent collection of sediment data is both time consuming and resource intensive. Turbidity is frequently collected where water-quality data is collected and is a useful surrogate for calculating suspended-sediment concentration (SSC). Turbidity can be measured continuously at a relatively low cost via in situ monitors with optical sensors. Instantaneous turbidity data and suspended-sediment samples were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at the West Fork White River East of Fayetteville, AR (gaging station 07048550) and used to quantify SSC. Time series of SSC at stream sites are produced via linear regression of instantaneous turbidity values and measured suspended-sediment data, providing SSC from unit value (15-minute) turbidity data. This study was conducted by the USGS in cooperation with Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, and Beaver Water District.
Update 1/19/23 by Sarah Banks to include a Word document previously excluded from the release, "Model Archive Summary for Suspended-Sediment Regression at 07048550.docx".