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Sediment Response of Stream Restoration Practices, Turtle Creek, Union County, Pennsylvania

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By Pennsylvania Water Science Center March 3, 2023

Geomorphic Assessment in Turtle Creek Watershed

A sneak peek into a (snowy) field day doing these assessments

Video @ upgs_pa #usgs

USGS is providing data and analyses to assess stream restoration effectiveness in Turtle Creek, Union County, Pennsylvania, by measuring differences in sediment erosion and deposition in restored and eroded stream reaches.

Photograph of person installing equipment to sample sediment laden water from a stream
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Site preparation for sediment sampling in Turtle Creek (John Clune, USGS, Public domain.)

We will use geospatial analysis and geomorphic assessments along a gradient of stream stability. Study sites will include restored, eroded and control stream reaches. Both traditional and innovative geomorphic techniques as shown below are being used over 2-3 years to assess sediment redistribution. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed publication.

 

 

 

Schematic of a stream showing sections and investigation methods
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sediment study schematic, Turtle Creek, Union County, Pennsylvania

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Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of...
By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center
link

Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania

Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of...
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Chesapeake Bay Watershed Index Map for Susquehanna River

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USGS provides monitoring, analysis, modeling and research on streams and water quality to better understand the fate and transport of nutrients and sediment to the Susquehanna and other rivers, and their tributaries, and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay. Additional research focuses on emerging contaminants and other stressors that effect human and aquatic life in the watershed and estuary.
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Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

USGS provides monitoring, analysis, modeling and research on streams and water quality to better understand the fate and transport of nutrients and sediment to the Susquehanna and other rivers, and their tributaries, and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay. Additional research focuses on emerging contaminants and other stressors that effect human and aquatic life in the watershed and estuary.
Learn More

Partners

Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Union County Conservation District, Pennsylvania

USGS is providing data and analyses to assess stream restoration effectiveness in Turtle Creek, Union County, Pennsylvania, by measuring differences in sediment erosion and deposition in restored and eroded stream reaches.

Photograph of person installing equipment to sample sediment laden water from a stream
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Site preparation for sediment sampling in Turtle Creek (John Clune, USGS, Public domain.)

We will use geospatial analysis and geomorphic assessments along a gradient of stream stability. Study sites will include restored, eroded and control stream reaches. Both traditional and innovative geomorphic techniques as shown below are being used over 2-3 years to assess sediment redistribution. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed publication.

 

 

 

Schematic of a stream showing sections and investigation methods
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Sediment study schematic, Turtle Creek, Union County, Pennsylvania

Related Science

link
Sediment-laden water from a tributary flowing into a clearer river

Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania

Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of...
By
Pennsylvania Water Science Center
link

Sediment and Stream Health - Pennsylvania

Sediment in streams, from land surface erosion in watersheds, is an important factor in determining the quality of Pennsylvania's surface waters and of downstream water bodies such as the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay. The USGS has a long-standing tradition of measuring suspended-sediment concentrations and estimating loads. Recent technological advances allow real-time estimates of...
Learn More
link
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Index Map for Susquehanna River

Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

USGS provides monitoring, analysis, modeling and research on streams and water quality to better understand the fate and transport of nutrients and sediment to the Susquehanna and other rivers, and their tributaries, and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay. Additional research focuses on emerging contaminants and other stressors that effect human and aquatic life in the watershed and estuary.
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
link

Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

USGS provides monitoring, analysis, modeling and research on streams and water quality to better understand the fate and transport of nutrients and sediment to the Susquehanna and other rivers, and their tributaries, and eventually to the Chesapeake Bay. Additional research focuses on emerging contaminants and other stressors that effect human and aquatic life in the watershed and estuary.
Learn More

Partners

Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP)

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Union County Conservation District, Pennsylvania

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