March 9 , 2011 Richard Kemnitz, BLM, Heather Best, USGS, Emily Youcha and Ken Irving, UAF-WERC , Techniques and adventures in gauging remote Arctic Alaskan rivers.

Techniques and adventures in gauging remote Arctic Alaskan rivers

Richard Kemnitz, Bureau of Land Management
Heather Best, Bureau of Land Management
Emily Youcha, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Ken Irving, University of Alaska Fairbanks

UAF,BLM and the USGS have all developed various techniques for gaging rivers in remote arctic locations. A discussion of data transmission methods, use of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP), webcams and game cameras at gaging stations will be discussed by the three agencies. UAF-WERC is "testing the limits" with existing and new technologies to aid in hydrology observations in remote areas. At today's presentation we will summarize our radio telemetry network on the North Slope in support of hydrology projects. Also, UAF is using station cameras at three North Slope rivers to aid in water level and streamflow observations during spring breakup and summer events. The cameras are used to verify water levels, provide qualitative information about river stage when pressure transducers are not working, observe ice conditions during breakup, and aid field logistic with real time weather conditions. UAF is also testing an unmanned survey vehicle with ADCP (acoustic doppler current profiling) for the purpose of measuring discharge during unsafe river conditions. In the pursuit of creating annual hydrographs for rivers that sustain winter flows, the USGS is pursuing the use of ADCPs in winter. Under-ice vertical velocity profiles developed in laboratory conditions do not reflect the variety of condition found in natural systems and contribute to inaccuracies in winter flow measurements. The use of ADCPs can better illuminate the true ice-affected vertical velocity profile and improve the quality of under ice measurements. BLM will describe the use of GOES satellite transmissions for relaying real-time data. ADCPs are utilized for most summer discharge measurements and a variety of configurations are available for mounting the ADCP in boats, rafts and kayaks. BLM has optimized collection of stage records during break-up by use of a double transducer installation, backed up by game cameras. BLM has utilized inexpensive game cameras to capture break-up and freeze-up events which are then compared with stage records to estimate streamflow during ice-affected periods.