Digitized datasets used in channel stability study in the Colorado River headwater arroyo system of Muddy Creek, Wyoming
Dates
Publication Date
2023-12-14
Citation
Alexander, J.S., Miller, C.E., and Stout, J.B., 2023, Digitized datasets used in channel stability study in the Colorado River headwater arroyo system of Muddy Creek, Wyoming: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9YUTKN8.
Summary
A before-and-after study design was used to examine effects of changes in cattle grazing practices on channel stability in Muddy Creek, an arroyo in the Colorado River headwaters. The changes in grazing practices were abrupt and focused on keeping cattle out of the riparian zone and increasing herd movement. We digitized 620 meander loop cutoff geometries within the digitized alluvial valley bottom of Muddy Creek and used the meander loop cutoff rate as a broad measure of channel stability. Poisson regression modeling of meander loop cutoff rate indicated that the change in grazing practices caused an order-of-magnitude decline in meander loop cutoff rate that was independent of other hydroclimatic and human-caused factors.
Summary
A before-and-after study design was used to examine effects of changes in cattle grazing practices on channel stability in Muddy Creek, an arroyo in the Colorado River headwaters. The changes in grazing practices were abrupt and focused on keeping cattle out of the riparian zone and increasing herd movement. We digitized 620 meander loop cutoff geometries within the digitized alluvial valley bottom of Muddy Creek and used the meander loop cutoff rate as a broad measure of channel stability. Poisson regression modeling of meander loop cutoff rate indicated that the change in grazing practices caused an order-of-magnitude decline in meander loop cutoff rate that was independent of other hydroclimatic and human-caused factors.
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Purpose
Our analysis demonstrates the profound effect of improvements in grazing practices on channel stability and is evidence that grazing animals can play a large role in arroyo stability.
