Design and installation of a flume to monitor spring discharge at the headwaters of the Verde River

Abstract

Many rivers in the Southwestern US are under threat of declining base flows caused by groundwater withdrawal and poor forest/watershed management. This paper describes the design and installation of a Critical Depth Flume (Flume) to accurately monitor base flows on the upper Verde River, located in North Central Arizona. Although Flumes are very common and accurate flow measurement structures, there application in native channels has been limited. Some of the problems associated with using a Flume in native channels are: maintenance, cost, flood damage, sedimentation, shifting channels, unstable substrate, and limitations due to the Endangered Species Act and 404 permit. This paper illustrates how these issues were addressed at one location in North Central Arizona.