Flood Plain Maps and Alluvial Soils

 Flood Plain Maps and Alluvial Soils:

https://plumascounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/11641/Upper-Feather-River-Watershed-Map?bidId=#:~:text=Watershed%20Area:%202%2C290%2C376%20ac.%20or,two%2Dthirds%20of%20Californias%20population.


The Upper Feather Watershed floods along the riverbanks. These areas flood mainly during the spring when the Sierra Nevada Mountains snow melts causing high water flow in the rivers. The affected areas are the towns of Quincy and Greenville due to the towns being by the wetlands main channels and tributaries. To help mitigate the floods, California's department of water resources use reservoir management and levee maintenance. 

Geology of Upper Feather Watershed

Soil texture of Upper Feather Watershed


On the Eastern portion of the watershed, the stream flows though the valleys, which is wide and flat. Over time, the river brings down sediment deposits creating fertile land. These are known as alluvial soils. These soils are used for agriculture, but in the mountainous terrain, it is mainly managed by US forest Service. Contributing to the alluvial soils, the underlaying rock formation is mostly granitic. 



In 2020 and 2021, there were two major wildfires that burned most of the Upper Feather River Watershed. The two fires are known as the Dixie fire and the North Complex fire. Up stream of Oroville, they burnt down nearly half of the watershed . These fires have an impact on the hydrology due to loss of trees, which will lower the overall evapotranspiration.





Resources:

Feather River Watershed Management Strategy. (2004). Ecosystem      Sciences. https://www.plumascounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/11657/Feather-River-Watershed-Management-Strategy?bidId=#:~:text=The%20Diamond%20Mountains%20comprise%20the%20east%20side,east%20to%20near%20Honey%20Lake%20(See%20p.&text=Dividing%20the%20watershed%2C%20the%20crest%20of%20the,Mohawk%20Valley%2C%20American%20Valley%20and%20Meadow%20Valley.

Monitoring and modeling soil moisture to improve runoff forecasting and drought characterization in the Feather River Basin. (2022). California Water Science Center USGS. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/california-water-science-center/science/monitoring-and-modeling-soil-moisture-improve

Geology, Geomorphology, and Soils. (2014). State Water Resources Control Board. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/water_quality_cert/docs/upper_feather_ferc2105/eir2014nov/unffr_6_3.pdf

National Innovation Center. Upper Feather River Watershed Map. (2022). USGS Science of a changing world. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/upper-feather-river-watershed-map#:~:text=Detailed%20Description,has%20been%20burned%20since%202020.

Upper Feather Watershed. (2024). Sacramento River Watershed Program. https://sacriver.org/explore-watersheds/feather-river-subregion/upper-feather-river-watershed/

Koczot, Kathryn M., Jeton. Anne E., McGurk, Bruce J., Dettinger, Michael D. Precipitation-Runoff Processes in the Feather River Basin, Northeastern California, and Streamflow Predictability, Water Years 1971–97. (2004). California Department of Water Resources. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236626857_Precipitation-runoff_Processes_in_the_Feather_River_Basin_Northeastern_California_with_Prospects_for_Streamflow_Predictability_Water_Years_1971-97




Comments

  1. Paul RadomskiNovember 24, 2024 at 8:28 PM

    Great job Katie! The final note about the consequences of recent fires is the most interesting. I am not from a part of the country with frequent wildfires and would not have thought to consider their large impact. I hope the area is able to recover.

    ReplyDelete

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