Shalda Creek flow modeling, including how beaver dams and the West Traverse Lake Road culvert affect Little Traverse Lake water levels, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Schook D and Martin M. 2022. Shalda Creek flow modeling, including how beaver dams and the West Traverse Lake Road culvert affect Little Traverse Lake water levels, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. National Park Service. Fort Collins, CO
We investigated how existing and hypothetical beaver dams could impact water levels in Shalda Creek and Little Traverse Lake (LTL) using a standard one-dimensional hydraulic model (HEC-RAS). In November 2021, we conducted a topographic survey of Shalda Creek beginning at LTL and continuing 1.34 mi downstream. The reach had a sinuous channel with one small arch culvert crossing, one large box-culvert crossing, and two intact beaver dams. The creek was very flat, with a 0.02% slope and 2.40 ft of water level drop throughout the reach. Through the modeling effort we draw two primary conclusions: 1) A sizable beaver dam located anywhere in the study reach could raise the base water level in LTL, with the effect being most influential at low flows, and 2) the culvert at West Traverse Lake Road always restricts flow, with this impact increasing during wet periods when inflows to LTL and Shalda Creek streamflow are high.
- Type
- Technical Assistance Report
- Authors
- Schook, Derek; Martin, Michael
- Date of Issue
- 2022-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- SLBE