Cicero Creek Watershed and Morse Reservoir Results

A.  Suspended sediment characterization of Three Watersheds 

Watershed Suspended Sediments 

Results of stream water discharge and sediment concentration during low and higher stream flow conditions during the winter of 2003 from select stream segments and subwatersheds in the Eagle Creek, Fall Creek and Cicero Creek Watersheds are presented in Table VII-7. Cicero Creek Watershed was not sampled at higher stream flow conditions due to a lack of a significant higher flow event during the sampling window. While the results presented here are informative, it reflects only watershed contributions during a paired set of observations. Additional sampling is necessary to adequately characterize these complex systems and is scheduled for spring, summer, and fall.
 

Cicero Creek Watershed 

Suspended sediments sampled from Cicero Creek and its subwatersheds at low flow conditions ranged from 9.6 to 34.9 g/m³.  Samples at higher stream flow conditions have not been collected for comparison.  A plot of suspended sediments relative to watershed area drained at each sampling location for low flow conditions are shown in Figure VII-17 and Table VII-7.  The plot shows that at low flow conditions, sampling locations with larger watershed areas contributed greater amounts of suspended sediments.  The relationship between suspended sediments and watershed area is log-normal.  This relationship which is significant at 95% confidence (R² = 0.95; n=6) is given by the least squares regression: SS = 13.3 ln(A) – 41, where SS is the suspended sediment concentration, and A is the area of the watershed drained. 

There are no specific indications in the suspended sediments data from stream water at low flow condition that suggest disproportionate contribution of suspended sediments from subwatersheds of Cicero Creek.  The higher suspended sediments at low flow conditions in this watershed compared to Eagle and Fall Creek Watershed may be the result of higher discharge at the time of sampling. 

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