Montana StreamStats—A method for retrieving basin and streamflow characteristics in Montana: Chapter A in <i>Montana StreamStats</i>

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides streamflow characteristics and other related information needed by waterresource managers to protect people and property from floods, plan and manage water-resource activities, and protect water quality. Streamflow characteristics provided by the USGS, such as peak-flow and low-flow frequencies for streamflowgaging stations, are frequently used by engineers, flood forecasters, land managers, biologists, and others to guide their everyday decisions. In addition to providing streamflow characteristics at streamflow-gaging stations, the USGS also develops regional regression equations and drainage areaadjustment methods for estimating streamflow characteristics at locations on ungaged streams. Regional regression equations can be complex and often require users to determine several basin characteristics, which are physical and climatic characteristics of the stream and its drainage basin. Obtaining these basin characteristics for streamflow-gaging stations and ungaged sites traditionally has been time consuming and subjective, and led to inconsistent results. StreamStats is a Web-based geographic information system application that was created by the USGS to provide users with access to an assortment of analytical tools that are useful for water-resource planning and management. StreamStats allows users to easily obtain streamflow and basin characteristics for USGS streamflow-gaging stations and user-selected locations on ungaged streams. The USGS, in cooperation with

Bull Trout passage at beaver dams in two Montana streams

“…Meadow Creek is a third-order tributary of the East Fork Bitterroot River in the Sapphire Mountains of western Montana (Figure 1) with an estimated average baseflow at the project area near 0.1 m 3 /s with average peak flows estimated at about 0.71 m 3 /s (McCarthy et al 2016). A large beaver dam complex approximately 1 km long is located at stream km 6.4.…”

“…A large beaver dam complex approximately 1 km long is located at stream km 6.4. Morrison Creek is a third-order tributary to the Middle Fork Flathead River (Figure 1) with an estimated average baseflow of 0.71 m 3 /s and average peak flow greater than 8.5 m 3 /s (McCarthy et al 2016). Both contain healthy Bull Trout populations.…”