Seasonal Flow Rates along the Lower Bear River, UT

The goal of this research is to identify how flow on the Bear River in Cache Valley has changed over the last three years and how flow changes seasonally. Identifying flows is important to manage water resources along the Bear River. We collected and processed water pressure data every 30 minutes using HOBO transducers at two sites in Cache Valley (Morton, just downstream of highway 142, and Confluence which is located at the confluence of the Bear and Cub Rivers) south of the Idaho‐Utah border in 2015. We also measured flow and water stage up to three times per year at each site using an Acoustic Doppler Current profiler and transom survey equipment. We pooled these observations with measurements and data collected by prior undergraduate Bear River Fellow researchers in 2012 and 2013 and used the observations to generate linear regression models to relate water stage to flow at each site. By applying the linear regression model to our pressure measurements, we calculated flow at each time a pressure reading was recorded for its respective location on the lower Bear River. We used the flow rates to determine that very little water is lost or gained between the USGS gage and the Morton site but that during summer months nearly 300cfs is lost between the Morton and Confluence sites. This information can help Bear River pumpers better manage their use

Flow on the Bear River over the Past Four Years

Managing the Bear River’s flow has allowed water users to get the most out of the available water. The goal of this research is to gain an understanding of how flow on the Bear River has changed over time and how flow changes throughout the course of the year on the Bear River. We collected and processed water pressure data at three Cache Valley sites south of the Idaho-Utah border in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Through the use of HOBO transducers (collecting data every thirty minutes), we have been able to measure water pressure data of the Bear River year round and calculate flow based on those levels and baseline measurements taken by an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler. By using data and flow calculations from four years of monitoring we have generated a model to relate water pressure to flow for each site individually. Through this process, we have created a time series of flow rates at those sites along the Bear River. We used the flow rates to determine the relative locations of where water is being added to, or taken from, the Bear River, and how those amounts vary through time. Understanding how much water is available from the Bear River is important for users to know so they can better manage their use. Information generated by this research can help to paint a clearer picture of when and where water is available on the Bear River