Wednesday, November 15, 2006
228-2
Measured Estimates of Fort Hood Sediment Loadings in Cowhouse Creek.
Wesley Rosenthal1, Dennis Hoffman1, and William Fox2. (1) Blackland Res. Cntr./TAES, 720 E. Blackland Rd., Temple, TX 76502, (2) Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M Univ, College Station, TX 77843
Blackland Research and Extension Center (BREC) scientists, and Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) personnel, have utilized water quality measurements to document BMP efficiency in the Fort Hood Cowhouse Creek watershed. The watershed covers 264 square kilometers and a significant portion of the training area at Fort Hood. The volume of sediment loadings from Cowhouse Creek into Lake Belton is a growing concern. The water quality evaluation program began in 1995 and continues today. Gauging stations equipped with flow loggers, storm water samplers and rain gauges are located at each watershed inflow and outflow. Storm runoff water samples are analyzed gravimetrically for sediment concentration. Sediment concentrations are combined with flow measurements to determine sediment load associated with individual storm events. BREC is using the monitored sediment and flow data from Cowhouse Creek to estimate sediment loadings from this Fort Hood watershed.