Bathymetric survey data of the Black River from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to Pocahontas, Arkansas

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the State of Arkansas made a bathymetric survey of the Black River from Popular Bluff, Missouri, to Pocahontas, Arkansas from July 12-25, 2018. One hundred sites were surveyed at pre-established transect locations along a 131-mile reach at distances spaced from about 0.1 to 4.8 miles apart. River-channel cross sections were surveyed to determine water depths along each transect using an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). Positional location of the water-depth locations was obtained from a global positioning system receiver onboard the ADCP. Water-surface elevation at the water-depth locations was computed using vertical control points collected at the location of the cross sections with survey-grade Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) equipment. Standard methods of practice (Rydlund and Densmore, 2012) were used while obtaining the GNSS control points. Channel cross-section point elevations were obtained by subtracting the water depths along the cross-section transect from the water-surface elevation at the location of the transect. Positional location is reported in World Geodetic System 1984 geographic decimal degree coordinates. Depth is reported in meters and bathymetric elevation is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988.

References
Rydlund, P.H., Jr., and Densmore, B.K., 2012, Methods of practice and guidelines for using survey-grade global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) to establish vertical datum in the United States Geological Survey: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, chap. D1, 102 p. with appendixes.