Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2740
Date of Award
9-2022
Degree Name
MS in Environmental Sciences and Management
College
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Advisor
Christopher Surfleet
Advisor Department
Natural Resources Management
Advisor College
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Abstract
In this study, stage, streamflow, and precipitation data was collected from small watersheds in the Swanton Pacific Ranch for the first two hydrologic years following the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex. The Little Creek watershed was setup for high-resolution data collection with four separate stage gauge sites (Main Stem, North Fork, South Fork, and Upper North Fork) and four rain gauge sites (Al Smith House, Ridgeline, Upper North Fork, and Landing 23). Stage gauge sites were also established at Queseria, Archibald, and Mill creeks. Preliminary post-fire rating curves were developed for the four sites of Little Creek. The Main Stem (MS) and North Fork (NF) post-fire curves showed some flattening of the slope indicating channel filling, while the South Fork (SF) curve displayed a steepening indicating channel scouring. The Upper North Fork (UNF) rating curve did not indicate any shifts. However, at the time of this study the rating curves were incomplete due to limitations in streamflow measurements. Linear regression models were fit to pre-fire data (hydrologic years 2000-2008) to predict peak flows and storm flow volumes. Antecedent precipitation index (API) and total storm precipitation depth were found to be significant predictors while peak 1-hour rainfall intensity was not. Comparison of post-fire observations to pre-fire model predictions indicated that there were increases in both peak flow and storm flow volumes in Little Creek. However, these findings are not statistically significant due to the limited post-fire observations (n