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James River Basin - Hydrology
Additional information about the James River Basin hydrology is accessible online at: In the James River Basin, the average annual precipitation is 44.97 inches, and the average annual runoff is 12 inches. Runoff occurs when precipitation does not infiltrate (enter into) the soil, and it flows overland directly into a stream. Water may not infiltrate the soil because the soil is already saturated, or because the pore space (amount of air between soil particles) is extremely small in the soil. Soils with small pore space include fine clays and silts. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) maintains several Gaging stations that measure water flow in rivers and streams. They also have several water quality monitoring stations. See the map below to locate gages and water quality monitoring stations. Real-time gage data can be found on the USGS website at http://www.usgs.gov . The table below shows all gages and water quality monitoring stations that have been operated throughout the basin. Gages currently in operation include James River near Springfield, James River near Boaz, James River near Galena, and Wilson Creek near Brookline. For additional information please visit the USGS West South- Central website at: http://mo.water.usgs.gov/surfwat/wscsection.htm Gage Sites
Water Quality Stations
The James River Basin is located in a temperate zone. An interesting feature of this zone is the changing seasons. Summers are hot and winters cold. The annual average temperature is about 50 0F. The average worldwide rainfall in the temperate zone is 30 to 60 inches per year, second to tropical rainforests! Actual average rainfall in the James River Basin is 44.97 inches and average temperature is 56.2 0F.  From: http://mo.water.usgs.gov/surfwat/wscsection.htm f you look at average gage measurements over several years, you’ll notice that peak flow typically occurs during the month of May. What is the average annual discharge for the James River gage near Springfield? 237 cfs. What about the other active gages? Galena= 981 cfs. Can you tell by the gage data when floods occurred? For additional information on streamflow and gaging station in Southwest and around Missouri please visit Water Resources of Missouri - USGS Website Permanent Intermittent Streams Permanent streams flow all year round usually by relying on input from groundwater sources. When a stream flows at normal discharge, this is called ‘base flow’. When runoff flows into streams and it rises to full capacity, this is called ‘bankfull capacity’. Bankfull levels can be seen level on the banks of streams that are running at baseflow. When the streams’ flow exceeds the bankfull capacity, this is termed a ‘flood’. Stream water spills over into the river’s ‘floodplain’. Flooding occurs regularly in non-managed streams, and provides an important connection between the river and its floodplain. Small wetlands and backwaters are also found in floodplains, and these often provide habitat for amphibians and fish to lay their eggs. When the river spills into its floodplain, hatched fish eggs are released back into the waters. There are 289 miles of permanent streams in the James River Basin. Intermittent streams flow only part of the year are called “intermittent streams”. They are usually streams of a lower order (smaller), and are found at higher elevations. Due to their elevation, they are not able to rely on groundwater sources to keep flowing. There are approximately 74 miles of intermittent streams in the James River Basin. Some of these, while not always flowing, maintain permanent pools of water along their length. There is only one large dam on the James River just south of Springfield that forms the 318- acre Lake Springfield. Lake Springfield provides water used for cooling the power plant run by Springfield City Utilities. Table Rock Lake was created by damming the White River and has impounded a portion of the lower reach of the James River. Insert map. Nutrient levels and biological factors in the James River arm of Table Rock Lake are monitored by SMSU and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. There are several smaller, privately owned, low dams in the basin that were used in the past for power production or to run grain mills. These dams include:
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Page last updated August 26, 2008 |
