Year of Award

1984

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Name

Geosciences

Other Degree Name/Area of Focus

Geology

Department or School/College

Department of Geology

Committee Chair

William W. Woessner

Publisher

University of Montana

Abstract

The Bitterroot River Basin, located in Southwestern Montana, encompasses a drainage area of 7360 square kilometers and delivers approximately 2.1 billion cubic meters of water and 300 thousand metric tonnes of sediment to the Upper Columbia Drainage Basin per year. Along its course, the Bitterroot River follows a complex pattern of straight, sinuous and anastomosing channels. Through the central Bitterroot Valley between Hamilton and Stevensville Montana, the Bitterroot River carries abundant Loose gravel and uprooted trees and is subject to frequent channel shifts.

Hydrologic data for the Bitterroot Basin indicate that the Bitterroot River has an inherently unstable hydraulic configuration and is depositing sediment through much of the central valley. As a result of this instability, the Bitterroot River reacts abruptly to external perturbation and has undergone appreciable channel readjustments during historic time. At a reconnaissance Level, the Bitterroot River appears to be reacting to recent climatic and human disturbances to the watershed, and may be adjusting to Long-term tectonic movement in the Basin.

The tables presented in this report summarize an extensive data-base on streamflow, hydraulic geometry, sediment Load, and sediment characteristics for the Bitterroot Basin. Much of this data is applicable to the analysis of stream channels in Western Montana and the surrounding Rocky Mountain region.

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© Copyright 1984 Kenn D. W. Cartier