The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers based their proposed sedimentation management plan for Lower Granite Reservoir and the Snake and Clearwater Rivers on the best available science, including USGS studies.
USGS Sediment Studies Help U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Using a boat-mounted multibeam echosounder (upper left) and underwater video system, we surveyed the bottom of Lower Granite Reservoir and river areas nearby (right) to provide detailed facies mapsMaps that show the characteristics and location of bottom sediments. that the Corps can use to manage sediment and protect aquatic habitat. Read more >
A specially trained and equipped crew from the USGS Texas Water Science Center extracted bed-sediment core samples from Lower Granite Reservoir and nearby river sites. Samples were analyzed for grain size and for major and trace element concentrations. Learn what they found.
In the 1970s, the Corps asked us to study sediment transport from the lower Snake and Clearwater Rivers to Lower Granite Reservoir. In 2008, they asked us to study the issue again. See how the study results compare.
To improve our ability to estimate suspended sediment concentrations in real-time, we evaluated a number of surrogate technologiesUsing equipment designed to measure other parameters to indirectly measure suspended sediment. at sites on the Snake and Clearwater Rivers. See which is most accurate >
Contact us or read our reports to learn more about our sediment studies on the Snake and Clearwater Rivers and Lower Granite Reservoir.
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What's Up Upstream?
At home or on the go, you can access real-time information about Idaho's water resources provided by the USGS.
USGS WaterWatch (shown at right) provides a statewide snapshot of streamflow conditions compared to historical data for this date.
USGS WaterAlert lets you set conditions you want to know about (flow, level, temperature) to receive text or e-mail alerts when those conditions are met.
USGS WaterNow lets you query a USGS monitoring station and receive a return text with current conditions at that station.
Our Latest Publication
In this data series report, USGS hydrologist Ryan Fosness documents bathymetric data collected in cooperation with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. The Tribe is using the data in its ongoing effort to restore the spawning habitat of the endangered Kootenai River population of white sturgeon.
