USGS

Simulated Peak Inflows for Glacier Dammed Russell Fiord, near Yakutat, Alaska

ONLINE ONLY

By Edward G. Neal

 

Prepared in cooperation with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

 

This report is also available as a pdf.


Abstract

In June 2002, Hubbard Glacier advanced across the entrance to 35-mile-long Russell Fiord creating a glacier-dammed lake. After closure of the ice and moraine dam, runoff from mountain streams and glacial melt caused the level in “Russell Lake” to rise until it eventually breached the dam on August 14, 2002. Daily mean inflows to the lake during the period of closure were estimated on the basis of lake stage data and the hypsometry of Russell Lake. Inflows were regressed against the daily mean streamflows of nearby Ophir Creek and Situk River to generate an equation for simulating Russell Lake inflow. The regression equation was used to produce 11 years of synthetic daily inflows to Russell Lake for the 1992-2002 water years. A flood-frequency analysis was applied to the peak daily mean inflows for these 11 years of record to generate a 100-year peak daily mean inflow of 235,000 cubic feet per second. Regional-regression equations also were applied to the Russell Lake basin, yielding a 100-year inflow of 157,000 cubic feet per second.

Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Approach

Determination of Daily Mean Inflows to Russell Lake

Regression Model of Russell Lake Inflow

Reliability and Limitation of Estimating Equations

Flood-Frequency Analysis of Annual Maximum Russell Lake Inflows

Regional Equations for Estimation of Peak Streamflow

Summary

References Cited


 

For additional information write to:

 

District Chief

U.S. Geological Survey

4230 University Drive, Suite 201

Anchorage, AK 99508-4664


 

Suggested citation: Neal, E.G., 2004, Simulated peak inflows of glacier dammed Russell Fiord, near Yakutat, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5234, 10 p.


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For more information about USGS activities in Alaska, visit the USGS Alaska District home page.

 

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