WATERS Collaborative
Watershed Academics to Enhance Regional Sustainability
Sonoma State University / Sonoma County Water Agency
WATERS Meeting 10-31-2012
In Attendance: Claudia Luke (notes), Mike Smith, Michelle Goman, Jeff Baldwin, Susan Haydon, Kyuho
Lee
Agenda:
 SCWA Sediment Question
 Sediment Data (review)
 Sediment Budget Methods


Sediment Measurement Activities Compatible with Student Training
Courses with Opportunities for Sediment Studies
Sediment Question: How much and what kind of sediment are produced in the headwaters of
Copeland Creek? Where does it come from? How has the amount and type of sediment changed
with settlement?
Sediment Budget Methods and Techniques:
There are standard methods for undertaking a sediment load study (e.g., suspended load
estimates (usu 80% of the sediment) + bed load estimates (usu 20% of the sediment)). Not all
techniques needed for estimating sediment loads are compatible with training students. In
particular, cross-sectional surveys of creek bed are subject to high level of inaccuracies and
first-time practitioners such as students do not produce accurate measurements. Here is a list
of activities that are more compatible with student training:

Cross-channel sediment (suspended and bedload) sampling: students use suspended load
samplers (e.g., depth integrating, point integrating, bedload, bed material:
http://www.rickly.com/ss/sediment_sampling.htm) to measure bed load sediments in
transect across the creek. Measurements can be taken from a bridge. If conducted over
time under a variety of flow conditions, a curve can be generated to predict transport rates.

Grain size analysis (http://www.uic.edu/classes/cemm/cemmlab/Experiment%206Grain%20Size%20Analysis.pdf): students collect samples and use sieves (and hydrometer
analysis?) to characterize sediment in channel.

Erosional site surveys and monitoring to identify measure changes in erosion at sites along
the main channel:
o Ground surveys of watershed (hiking along Copeland Creek)
o LiDAR data
o Photomonitoring at sites of expected change

Literature review of flood and flood impacts
Sediment Measurement Activities Compatible with Student Training
 Cross-channel sediment (suspended and bedload) sampling (e.g., depth integrating,
point integrating, bedload, bed material:
http://www.rickly.com/ss/sediment_sampling.htm)

Grain size analysis

Erosional site surveys (including ground surveys, LiDAR, and photomonitoring)

Literature review of flood and flood impacts
Courses with Opportunities for Sediment Studies
Fall

GEOG 360 Geomorphology (Michelle Goman) – 30 students (2 sections); meets weekly ~3
hrs. Topic: Characterization of upper Copeland creek: surveying channel cross-sections,
channel characterization, including permanent sites for repeat study.

Geog 317 Lab Methods in Physical Geography (Michelle Goman) - 16 students (1 section);
meets twice/week for ~3 hrs. Topic: soil and sediment analysis.
Spring

GEOL 311 Sedimentary Geology (Mike Smith) – x students (1 section). One 2-hour field lab.
Topic: grain size analysis

SCI 120 Sustainability in My World (Jeremy Qualls/ Mike Smith) – 50 students (3 sections).
two to three 3-hour labs. Topic: cross-channel sediment sampling

GEOG 375 Natural Hazards (Michelle Goman) – 36 students (no lab sections). Topic:
literature review on Copeland Creek floods and/ or masswasting events

GEOG 201 Global Environmental Systems (Michelle Goman) - 120 students (5-6 sections);
one 2-hour field lab (one week, late in the semester). Topic: Need to come up with
something that the students can do in 2 hrs I was thinking this would be to help facilitate
sample collection for say Science 120. They have a week long unit on fluvial geomorphology
or earlier in the semester we talk about water.

GEOG (490) Geography Senior Seminar (Jeff Baldwin) – 1-2 students; independent study.
Topic: independent research in a topic of their choice. WATERS can try to interest them in
any/all of the sediment projects.

GEOG 380 Remote Sensing and Image Processing (Matthew Clark) – x students (x
sections); independent study. Topic: erosional site surveys (using LiDAR)
Locations and Permits
 Campus bridges as sampling locations for cross-channel sediment sampling

Hike mainstem of Copeland Creek to identify erosion sites
Equipment
 Sharing: Sotoyome RCD has 30 pairs of waders, 30-40 rainsuits, flow meters, etc.
 Top end flow meter ($1K)?
 Mudroom for students
Next Steps:
1. Craft and post a qualifier statement on the home page of WATERS; how we put data out is
critical; we cannot provide quality controlled data
2. Ask Mike Thompson about involvement in design of detention basins
3. Find records for Copeland Creek floods and give to Michelle
4. Arrange hike on main stem of Copeland Creek
5. Send Jeff information on duration of USGS Stream Gage
6. Compile sediment background information in one place; include the Osborn Preserve mast
wasting paper