Gully Erosion, Northwestern Colorado: A Threshold Phenomenon

Research Article| February 01, 1975 Gully Erosion, Northwestern Colorado: A Threshold Phenomenon Peter C. Patton; Peter C. Patton 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stanley A. Schumm Stanley A. Schumm 2Department of Earth Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Peter C. Patton 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712 Stanley A. Schumm 2Department of Earth Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1975) 3 (2): 88–90. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1975)32.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Peter C. Patton, Stanley A. Schumm; Gully Erosion, Northwestern Colorado: A Threshold Phenomenon. Geology 1975;; 3 (2): 88–90. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1975)32.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The widespread occurrence of discontinuous gullies in the oil-shale region of northwestern Colorado is of particular concern because of the resulting progressive destruction of the valley floors. Furthermore, the integration of a semi-arid drainage network can cause a rapid increase in the sediment yield of the basin, with subsequent harmful effects downstream. Field work in the Piceance Creek and Yellow Creek drainage basins indicates that these discontinuous gullies developed on oversteepened segments of the valley floors. Although the critical slope of entrenchment is probably related to magnitude of run-off, discharge measurements are not available; therefore, drainage-basin area was selected as the most representative measure of discharge. An inverse relation between drainage-basin area and critical slope of entrenchment applies, and the lower limit of scatter of the data establishes a critical slope-area relation, which can be used to identify potentially unstable valley floors. This relation can help the land manager determine areas of instability where preventive measures can most economically and successfully be undertaken. It is stressed that this particular quantitative relation is applicable only to the Piceance Creek and Yellow Creek drainage basins. In more heterogeneous basins, other variables will need to be included in the analysis; however, the general theory of valley stability will remain applicable. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.