4/30/13, Boise State University, Dept of Geosciences, Hydrologic Sciences, Jim McNamara Research Director (1999-present), Pam Aishlin site maintenance and data management. Data provided herein is for the Confluence 2 Main (C2M) stream measurement site of Dry Creek Experimental Watershed, Boise, Idaho. SITE OVERVIEW: The purpose of this site is to monitor stream flow immediately downstream of the confluence of Dry Creek main and Shingle Creek Tributary. Channel geometry, however, is problematic in this section. A solinst level logger is placed in a stilling well in a deeper pool area, but is subject to streamflow bypass during high flow. The pressure transducer and cond-T probes are placed immediately downstream of this bypass, but suffer from a wide shallow channel morphology, experiencing low flow or apparent no-flow when the stream may still be flowing further across the channel. DATA STREAM: 1. Measurement site was installed by Boise State University in 2004 with data available since 8/19/2004. Instrumentation installed varies over time and may include sensors for stream stage, stream temperature and electrical conductivity measurement. Site maintenance and data collection is provided by Boise State University Hydrologic Sciences. 2. Data files are provided by Campbell Scientific dataloggers and/or self logging instruments, and retrieved either via site visit or telemetry. Files are archived at Boise State University, Hydrologic Sciences, Dept of Geosciences. These raw data files occur at varied data collection intervals, e.g. 10 minute, 30 minute or hourly. ***NOTE: Raw data files are level 0, raw data (CUAHSI HIS standards). (CUAHSI HIS standards, 0 = raw data, 1 = Quality controlled data that have passed quality assurance procedures such as routine estimation of timing and sensor calibration or visual inspection and removal of obvious errors, 2 = Derived products that require scientific and technical interpretation and may include multiple-sensor data. An example is basin average precipitation derived from rain gages using an interpolation procedure.) 3. Select data files are quality checked and post processed for gapfilling, noise filtering and/or corrected according to established instrument calibrations. For stage data, random noise and negative values occuring over short time intervals are replaced with proximate average stage values. During the winter months ice may affect data accuracy, for obvious ice-induced noise (> 5cfs change per time increment occurring in conjunction with freezing temperatures), values are replaced with time range before/after average values. For electrical conductivity, in some instances, negative values are reported when stream is dry, wires are disconnected or other failure occurs. These noise values are replaced with -6999, no data values. Stage-discharge rating curves are applied to continuous stream stage data for output of continuous discharge time series. Where feasible, gaps occuring in the discharge timeseries due to sensor failure/error may be filled via interpolation/regression from same site supplementary instruments or other sites within the same watershed. Raw data timestamps may vary from final output timestamps, in which case raw data will be interpolated for output on the hour. 4. Data as collected and provided is, by protocol, in mountain standard time, year-round. SITE NOTES: Within DCEW, Dry Creek fluvial physical characteristics and process vary between plane-bed, step-pool and cascade reach types (Montgomery-Buffington Classification for Pacific NW mountain fluvial environments). This C2M site is located less than 100 m downstream of the confluence of Shingle Creek, flowing southwest, with Dry Creek, flowing south-southwest, and approximately 3km upstream of the Lower Gage catchment outlet measurement site. Riparian vegetation is abundant. Record peak flow at this site (2004-2012) occurred with spring runoff 2006 at 134 cfs,3.8 m3/s. At this location, the channel is moderately confined, set within a flood plain no more than 100 m wide and bounded by an older floodplain terrace for which the total width as approximately 300 m at this location. During peak flow stage, channel bifurcation occurs at this location. In some years, flow ceases just below this point and resumes in September as daily average solar input decreases. Instrumentation at this site is installed within stilling wells at stream channel bottom within a shallow reach through which water drains freely over sand-gravel-cobble substrate. On-site measurement of established staff gage values are regressed against on-site discharge measurement to determine stage-discharge rating curves for the site, annually and subannually. Separate rating curves are established for adjacent staff gage-sensor installations at this site. On-site discharge measurement has been conducted with velocity-area, dilution and slope-area survey based methods. DATA/INSTRUMENT NOTES: Capacitance logger - Capacitance loggers used prior to 2007 were Trutrack (manufactured in New Zealand) water level sensors that also provided water temperature and air temperature. Solinst - Post 2007, secondary stream sensors installed are solinst water level sensors paired with solinst barometric measurement sensors. These sensors are self-logging instruments acquired from the Canada-based Solinst company. Both sensors provide stream or air temperature and pressure data. The Solinst Levellogger Gold Model 3001 0-15 ft and the Solinst Barologger Gold Model 3001 are utilized at our sites. Level logger +/- .01 ft accuracy-typical, .001% FS resolution; barologger +/- .003 ft accuracy-typical, .002% FS resolution. Barologgers applied to solinst total pressure data are installed at this site or at upstream and/or downstream site locations. Pressure transducer - Pressures transducers employed at our stream sites 1999-2013 include Global and Druck water level sensors. These sensors include atmospheric pressure compensation via vent tubing encased within the sensor cable to which a vented dessicant capsule is attached at cable end (within the datalogger box). The sensors are wired and programmed using Campbell Scientific dataloggers, CR10x prior to 2013. LG 2013, CR10x. Sensor data resolution is 0.01 to 0.001 ft. Models employed at our sites are selected for expected maximum water depth <10 ft. Druck models employed include PDCR 830, 940, 1230 and 1830 series. Global models used include WL300 and GL300. Model employed at C2M since 8/12/08 is PDCR 1830, prior to which various sensors were employed: 2004-2006 capacitance logger, Global PT from 3/30/06 through 11/28/07, solinst levellogger from 11/28/07 - 8/29/08, Druck PDCR from 8/29/08. 2015: 'Keller Acculevel sensor 0-5 vdc output for 0-5 psi ' supply is 8-28 vdc, therefore use SW12v SW12 (1) Delay (0,60,Sec) VoltSe (stage,1,mV5000,5,1,250,250,0.0023067,0.77) SW12 (0) Conductivity-Temperature sensor - Campbell Scientific conductivity sensors employed at our sites include CS547A probes which require the Campbell A547 datalogger interface device. Older 247 models were employed prior to 2004. Data resolution is assessed as 0.001 ms/cm. ANNUAL ERRORS/GAPS/UPDATES: NOTE ON C2M DISCHARGE - Discharge at this location is considered to be less accurate than at other locations in DCEW due to complex channel configuration and lack of a reliable measurement locations, as well as difficulty in accurately measuring discharge on site at this location. However, based on repeated onsite discharge measurement 2004-2016 and and tracer tests, compared with sameday measurements at the downstream LG site, indicate that loosing conditions may commonly occur in the stream reach below C2M to LG. Gaining conditions dominate during spring runoff. Rating curve applied to capacitance rod discharge values to Jan 6, 2006 utilizing rating curve established in 2004-2006. Thereafter, PT is utilized with rating curve established in 2006 for PT. PT staff was relocated on 10/8/2006 from which time a new rating curve was applied. Timestamp of raw data may vary from final output timestamp wherein raw data is interpolated for output on the hour. Random noise and negative values are removed via replacement with proximate average stage values. During the winter months ice may affect data accuracy, for obvious ice induced noise (> 5cfs change per 30 min in conjunction with freezing temperatures), values are replaced with time range before/after values for average values. For ec, in some instances negativevalues are reported when stream is dry, wires are disconnected or other failure occurs, these noise values are replaced with -6999. Offsets to the stage data are adjusted each year, thus may appear disconnected at Dec-Jan intersection. 2004- capacitance water level sensor, also providing stream and air\logger temperture, hourly data. Ice corrections conducted for 11/21-22, 11/27-12/6, 12/21-12/27. 2004-2005 rating curve applied. 2005- capacitance water level sensor, also providing stream and air\logger temperture, hourly data. Data corrections include 2/17/05 ice effects, 3/18,3/20, 11/4,5,28 12/8-12/19 noise and ice effects. Rise in Q at end of Dec is considered valid, Dec 23-Dec 31, 2005 based on several inches of water equivalent received at Bogus snotel. 2004-2005 rating curve applied till 12/30/2005, thereafter utilized 2004-2006 rating curve for higher stage values spring 2006. 2006- instruments include global pressure transducer, capacitance water level sensor and conductivity-temperature sensor. hourly data. PT installed 3/30/2006, valid after 4/2/2006 11am with correct program sensor offset values, offset assessed as reliable after 4/8/06 18:00. Rating curve applied to capacitance rod discharge values to Jan 6, 2006 utilizing rating curve established in 2004-2006. Thereafter PT is utilized with rating curve established in 2006 for PT. PT staff was relocated on 10/8/2006 from which time a new rating curve was applied. High discharge at first of Jan 2006 at C2M is verified by same high discharge pattern at C1E and pcp-related Q at end of 2005. AN HOUR OFFSET CORRECTION WAS MADE TO C2M DATA 2006. Missing data: jan 6-april 2. Minor gap 4/8 1500, 1600. 10/3 1200, 1300. multiple gaps 10/23 through10/27 as well as 10/27- 11/14,missing data 11/26 1500 to end of 2006. T-ec data missing 2/8 1500 - 3/30 00, as well as same gaps as PT thereafter. 2007- instruments include global pressure transducer, conductivity-temperature sensor and solinst levellogger. Solinst available from 11/28/07 which is used for discharge and temperature thereafter. Rating curve applied as adjusted for 2007 PT data. PT assessed as producing reasonable output until 2/17/2008. questionable thereafter. C2M partly dry in Aug and Sep. PT appears to be unstable after July 2007; data was assessed to reflect turbulence at this shallow site and noise during dry periods and freezing, therefore a low stage problem. Instrument installation cleaned in Aug. Solinst water level logger installed late November 2007, at which time this data is taken as preferential to the PT data due to less turbulence at solinst installation site 20 m upstream. Data notes: temporary temperature and ec failure late July. Sporadic erroneous negative values occur with ec data output, these erroneous values are replaced with -6999. Data gaps: PT: 1/23 17:00 to 2/12 16:00. 2/26 1600. 8/10-8/14. 11/16-24, 11/27-28, gap11/29-12/16, gapfilled w/ -6999. 2008- instruments include pressure transducer, conductivity-temperature sensor and solinst levellogger. Solinst data provides discharge and stream temperature for 2008, ec is provided by Campbell Sci T-ec probe. PT data available from 8/29/2008 using newly installed druck. Solinst water level logger is uggested for use in water budget analyses through 2008. Separate rating curves are derived for solinst vs. PT data. Final data presented here for 2008 is solinst data with rating curve derived for staff at solinst location. Solinst stage values have remained fairly stable at this c2m location. However, discharge calculated from solinst is low compared to measured discharged at c2m, similar to solinst problem at c2e. It is suspected that solinst outputs low values in warm weather. Ice effects removed from PT and solinst data 12/16-18, 2008. Offsets made to PT on 10/14, 23, 12/12 to compensate for tendency to drift high. Data gaps: no gaps in solinst data. gaps for ec data 5/20, 6/6, 8/12-8/29. 2009- instruments include pressure transducer, conductivity-temperature sensor and solinst levellogger. Separate rating curves are derived for solinst data and PT data. Rating curves for PT include a high Q and low/all Q rating curve. : PT data is presented as final data for 2009, w/ gapfill as needed by solinst data. PT data is preferred prior to 11/28/2009, due to high noise in Solinst data. Discharge calculated from solinst is low compared to measured discharged at c2m, similar to solinst problem at c2e. It is suspected that solinst outputs low values in warm weather. Solinst data improved from 11/28/2009 by use of barologger at C2E instead of BG (headwater catchment). Ice effects removed from PT and solinst data 1/ -1/5, 1/25-1/28. Data gaps: 5/2 1800. 2000, 7/22 1700,1800 filled with -6999. 9/20 1600- 10/16 0900 filled with solinst data. Jan 2009, C2M data incurs apparent offset, not corrected, stream discharge may be higher than shown Jan-March 2009. 2010- instruments include pressure transducer, conductivity-temperature sensor and solinst levellogger. Hourly data, data interval changed to 30 min on 6/14/2010 1330. Data range 365 days. Solinst data , 30 min interval for 2010. Separate rating curves are derived for solinst data and PT data. Rating curves for PT include a high Q and low/all Q rating curve. Discharge calculated from solinst is low compared to measured discharged at c2m, similar to solinst problem at c2e. It is suspected that solinst outputs low values in warm weather. Solinst data improved from 11/28/2009 by use of barologger at C2E instead of BG. Ice effects removed. Data gaps: PT gaps - 1/21/10 - 4/16/10, 5/7 - 6/17 mostly filled with solinst data. therefore no ec during these time periods. minor gap 8/12 1230. 2011- instruments include pressure transducer, conductivity-temperature sensor and solinst levellogger. 30 minute data interval. Separate rating curves are derived for solinst data and PT data. Rating curves for PT include a high Q and low/all Q rating curve. Data gaps: gaps: 3/17-4/2, 5/12-5/13, 6/10/11 - 7/13/11 most of which is gapfilled with solinst. Temperature for 2011 is provided by solinst sensor due to numerous gaps in T-ec sensor colocated with PT. Temp at solinst is an avg 2.42 celsius ower at solinst than at PT due to deeper water at solinst location. 8/9- 9/20 sporadic temperature and ec failure. temp and ec failure thereafter till 12/1/11. 11/4/11- 11/13/11 sporadic pt failure, minor gap 12/1 1500, filled with -6999. data available from solinst. Rain on snow event Jan 17, 2011 2012- instruments include pressure transducer, conductivity-temperature sensor and solinst levellogger. 30 minute data interval. PT rating curve is well established for high discharge, Solinst is used for low discharge stage measurement below 12 cfs. Data gaps: 3/13/12 1400 to 3/14 2300 due to rating curve transition gap at 5 cfs, similarly, 5/15 1700 - 5/20 1630; (this could be corrected) gaps - 8/9/12 - 9/17/12, stage fail only, filled from adj solinst data, conductivity intermittent 7/17/12 ,likely due to low flow, improved by mid august. Error/noise in data- During the winter months ice may affect data accuracy, for obvious ice induced noise (> 5cfs change per 30 min in conjunction with freezing temperatures), values are replaced with time range before/after values. For ec, in some instances, negative values are reported when stream is dry, wires are disconnected or other failure occurs, these noise values are replaced with -6999. ROS Jan 19 2012, complicated, snow,then rainfall. PT data presented herein is assessed as reasonable and used for discharge rise over 5 cfs. ALSO 2/22,23/12 ROS. Minor gaps occur at rating curve transition for ROS events. Ice effects removed Jan 11,12 and 16, 17 removed under freezing conditions also 12/29, 30, 31 of 2012. 2013- instruments include pressure transducer, conductivity-temperature sensor and solinst levellogger. Data interval reverted to hourly on 4/3/13 (from 10 min). Baro logger has been hourly. Aug - Oct baro removed for testing at other sites. PT cleaned summer 2013, new offsets needed thereafter. Solinst data used for final data file. Dry period summer 2013, till early September. Due to shallow water, conductivity probe values frequently include out of water state, -6999. 2014 - solinst and baro provide water level data for 2014. Rating curve mult 8.127, exp 4.958, r2 0.96. 2015 - Emplacing and testing new Keller PT during no flow Aug, Sep. Rating curve mult 6.6262, exp 4.2867, r2 0.81, conservative result for stage over 1 ft. Using new cr800 logger instead of old cr10x. Gaps occur for stream T and conductivity May 3 - 29, Jy 30 to Sep 25, Oct 9 to Nov 6. Using solinst for 2015 discharge due to inconsistency with PT. Rating curve mult 8.127, exp 4.958, r2 0.96. Note, rain on snow early 2015 resulted in early peak stream flow. 2016 - Continued use of solinst due to numerous gaps in new pressure transducer data. Rating curve mult 6.6262, exp 4.2867, r2 0.81, conservative result for stage over 1 ft. Conductivity and Temp avail at cr800 when powered. Gaps occur for stream T and conductivity April 10 - 15, sporadic gaps May, June. Cond fail July-Dec. PT,T, ec fail from 9/7, values prior may reflect dry/stagnant summertime stream bed conditions. Streamflow data not corrected for ice effects which occur late 2016. 2017 - Continued use of solinst due to numerous gaps and failures in new Keller pressure transducer data. Solinst used for temperature as well as stream flow until 11/28/2017. No solinst water level data from 11/28/2017 - 3/7/2018. Logger restarted 3/7/2018. Dual rating curve applied to account for high flow. RC break at 1.29 ft, Low flow power curve a=6.6262 b= 4.2867 r2 0.8146, high flow linear y=32.026 -21.522 r2 0.8805. for units in ft and cfs. To assess performance at break see result for 5/10/17 18:00-19:00 Conductivity and Temp avail at cr800 when powered. Gaps occur for stream T and conductivity Jan 1 - March 28, June 13 - Oct 14. Ice effects occur in stage data resulting in erroneous peak spikes during low flow freeze events, e.g. 1/14/2017. These are left to the user to assess via comparison with stream temperature and correct as needed, according to data use. Interpolation of flow through freezing events is a reasonable approach to correction. 2018 - Continued use of solinst due to numerous gaps and failures in pressure transducer data. No solinst water level data from 11/28/2017 - 3/7/2018. Same rating curve applied. Onsite gaging indicates that rc may undercalculate discharge. Solinst water level data, with barometric compensation, is provided herein, corrected to onsite stage measurement. Solinst water temperature data is also provided. Conductivity and Temp avail at cr800 when powered. No campbell logger data from 1/2/2018 - 3/7/2018 (low bat). Additional campbell data gaps occur late May, early June. Errors occur in conductivity values under summer low flow conditions. 2019 Solinst used for stream flow measurement. Note- beaver pond construction occurs at this site fall 2019. Therefore, the rating curve applied becomes invalid fall 2019. Solinst water level data, with barometric compensation, is provided herein, corrected to onsite stage measurement. Solinst water temperature data is also provided. Campbell logger incurs low battery late Jan to mid March. 062119 removed campbell logger, data ends 060919. Conductivity-T data from campbell logger available upon request (excel sheet in hist folder ftp://icewater.boisestate.edu/boisefront-products/historical/dcew_c2m/StreamHourlyData/). 2020 Solinst used for stream flow measurement and stream temperature. Rating curve is no longer valid. Solinst water level data, with barometric compensation, is provided herein, corrected to onsite stage measurement. Solinst water temperature data is also provided. Water level data is provided instead of discharge. This sensor is now located in a beaver pond. fyi - the sensor hasn't moved, just busy beavers :) Last download 3/4/2021. 2021 Notes as provisional: A. Jan 1 - March 4 Solinst water level logger utilized at historic location (2020 and prior). However, beaver dam construction at this location negates the utility of this water level (stage) data for rating curve stream discharge calculation. Concurrently, a capacitance logger is present upstream from this historic location at the confluence main channel immediately upstream of Shingle Creek inflow and may be considered for stream flow estimation from water level at that location. This inflow, combined with Shingle Creek inflow, may be used to calculate or estimate C2M flow immediately below the confluence. B. March - May A new C2M site is established upstream. Druck PT and cond/T on cr800 logger. Site is apprx 100 ft upstream of the confluence with Shingle Creek, located at right bank facing upstream. Access to new location is via hike down steep slope to bank. Discharge measurement was initiated in March, with installation complete by May 12, 2021. Discharge data provided from March to May 12 is an estimated linear trend only, as interpolated discharge between site visits for onsite discharge measurement. The above mentioned caplogger at the confluence may be utilized for discharge estimation or calculation via interpolation or other methods. C. May - Dec May 12, datalogging initiated at the new C2M location. Continued use of Druck PT and cond/T on cr800 logger for time-series data. Assessed as performing well. Diurnal signal is minor via this druck PT at C2M. Althouth the druck PT is the only water level sensor at this new location, the caplogger at the nearby downstream confluence may be utilized as a secondary sensor to estimate water flow at this new location. Comparison of the stage/ discharge results at the new location may be compared with the caplogger stage data at the confluence toward the use of the caplogger data in case of gaps or failures at the new location. NOTE OF CAUTION PER C2M SITES: Beaver ponding may at any time develop and alter the viability of these sites for stream flow measurement via stage/discharge rating curves. 2022 Site visit early Feb confirms continued ice cover at stream, with flow at approximately 3 cfs (visual estimation).