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Debris Flow Occurrence and Sediment Persistence, Upper Colorado River Valley, CO

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Abstract

Debris flow magnitudes and frequencies are compared across the Upper Colorado River valley to assess influences on debris flow occurrence and to evaluate valley geometry effects on sediment persistence. Dendrochronology, field mapping, and aerial photographic analysis are used to evaluate whether a 19th century earthen, water-conveyance ditch has altered the regime of debris flow occurrence in the Colorado River headwaters. Identifying any shifts in disturbance processes or changes in magnitudes and frequencies of occurrence is fundamental to establishing the historical range of variability (HRV) at the site. We found no substantial difference in frequency of debris flows cataloged at eleven sites of deposition between the east (8) and west (11) sides of the Colorado River valley over the last century, but four of the five largest debris flows originated on the west side of the valley in association with the earthen ditch, while the fifth is on a steep hillslope of hydrothermally altered rock on the east side. These results suggest that the ditch has altered the regime of debris flow activity in the Colorado River headwaters as compared to HRV by increasing the frequency of debris flows large enough to reach the Colorado River valley. Valley confinement is a dominant control on response to debris flows, influencing volumes of aggradation and persistence of debris flow deposits. Large, frequent debris flows, exceeding HRV, create persistent effects due to valley geometry and geomorphic setting conducive to sediment storage that are easily delineated by valley confinement ratios which are useful to land managers.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ellen Wohl, Brian Bledsoe Greg Auble, Julian Scott, Peter Brown, David Cooper, Paul McLaughlin, Judy Visty, Harold Pranger, Gary Smillie, and Ben Bobowski for input, and logistical and financial support. Research funding to support KG was provided by Rocky Mountain National Park, the National Park Service (Geologic Resources and Water Resources Divisions), and the Warner College of Natural Resources and Department of Geosciences at CSU. Greg Grosicki, Benton Line, Ryan Burbey, Matt Grey, Jonathan Garber, Kevin Pilgrim, and Amanda Koons helped with field work, and Jim Finley provided a thorough review and improved figures. KG thanks everyone in the Rathburn and Wohl research group for their encouragement and friendship. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government. Two anonymous reviewers provided insightful comments that improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1482, USA

    K. J. Grimsley & S. L. Rathburn

  2. US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Ave, Bldg. C, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, USA

    J. M. Friedman

  3. US Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, 2130 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR, 97201, USA

    J. F. Mangano

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  1. K. J. Grimsley
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Correspondence to S. L. Rathburn.

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Grimsley, K.J., Rathburn, S.L., Friedman, J.M. et al. Debris Flow Occurrence and Sediment Persistence, Upper Colorado River Valley, CO. Environmental Management 58, 76–92 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-016-0695-1

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