The vast majority of theses in this collection are open access and freely available. There are a small number of theses that have access restricted to the WWU campus. For off-campus access to a thesis labeled "Campus Only Access," please log in here with your WWU universal ID, or talk to your librarian about requesting the restricted thesis through interlibrary loan.

Date Permissions Signed

2-21-2018

Date of Award

Winter 1993

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geology

First Advisor

Easterbrook, Don J., 1935-

Second Advisor

Kelsey, H. M.

Third Advisor

Suczek, Christopher A., 1942-2014

Abstract

This study focuses on three aspects of the hydrology of the lower Nooksack River that are of interest in understanding flooding processes and for planning: (1) a comparison of changes in channel locations and cross-sections at several points along the Nooksack, (2) the determination of distribution of surface sediment in exposed bars and banks, and (3) an estimation of flood frequencies by the Gumbel and Log Pearson methods. These aspects give a useful depiction of recent flooding and channel activity.

The Nooksack River channel has remained within a defined thalweg zone from 1906 to 1991, the period of map record. The zone is approximately 1.5 km wide, and roughly centered on the 1987-1991 channel. Channel patterns during the period 1906-1991 have been generally braided, with transition to a single channel at the downstream end of the study reach. Changes in the channel have usually involved temporary reoccupations of previously-used channels. The channels resulting from the major floods of 1945, 1951, 1975, 1989, and 1990 did not significantly depart from the above-defined zone. Cross-section geometry remained approximately constant from 1964 to 1987 throughout the study reach (no pre-1964 data exists). During the 1987 to 1991 period, channels were more active, with episodes of aggradation or degradation at most sections. Sediment appears to have been transported over a few months to a few years in alternating degradation-aggradation cycles.Surface-sediment sampling shows a small decrease in particle sizes downstream and no correlation between grain size and degree of braiding.

Comparison of recurrence intervals calculated by the Gumbel Type I and Log Pearson Type III methods for the Deming, Ferndale, and Lynden stream gauges shows that the Gumbel method consistently estimates a higher discharge for a given recurrence interval than the Log-Pearson method.

Type

Text

Keywords

Nooksack River, River channel changes, Flood frequency

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25710/s3df-mw51

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

1041192663

Subject – LCSH

Floods--Washington (State)--Nooksack River; Hydrology--Washington (State)--Nooksack River

Geographic Coverage

Nooksack River (Wash.)--Channels

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this thesis for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Bertschi supp.pdf (20236 kB)
Analysis of Climatic Factors for the Largest Flood Events on the Lower Nooksack River, Whatcom County, Washington

Included in

Geology Commons

Share

COinS