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QUADRANGLE: Wedron, 7.5' series

LOCATION: Lat 41 23'02", long 88 47'23" in SW1/4 SE1 1/4 sec. 29, T.34 N., R.4 E., La Salle County, Hydrologic Unit 07120007, on left bank under County Highway 18 bridge in Dayton, and at mile 5.2.

To reach gage.--Drive north 0.3 mi. on State Highway 71 from Interstate 80 then west 0.5 mi. on Dayton Rd. Take County Road 3103N right for 0.4 mi. to road just before river. Turn left and go 0.2 mi. to gage under Dayton Rd. bridge. May also be reached by driving north 0.3 mi. on State Highway 23 from Interstate 80 then 2.8 mi. east on Dayton Road and over the Fox River to County Road 3103N. Turn left and go 0.4 mi. to road just before river, then turn left and go 0.2 mi. to gage under Dayton Road bridge.

ESTABLISHMENT AND HISTORY: A Canfield chain gage was installed and a non-recording station established at a site 4.1 mi. upstream from present site at datum 496.80 ft above Memphis datum in Nov. 1914. Prior to April 1925, records were published as "at Wedron". A non-recording float-tape gage was installed on April 1, 1925, on the headwater of the Dayton Hydro-Electric Power Plant, at datum 7.70 ft below NGVD of 1929., and read by plant personnel hourly to hundredths. On Oct. 1, 1941, the float-tape gage was moved to the tailwater of the power plant. A graphic water-stage recorder was installed on the tailwater of the power plant and a continuousrecording station established on Apr. 10, 1951, at present datum. The graphic recorder was replaced by a digital water- stage recorder (ADR) on Dec. 4, 1962.

The station was moved to the right upstream side of the bridge about 500 ft downstream from the power plant and an ADR operated by a manometer (W-302234), with a DARDC telemeter was installed at present datum on Aug. 8,1978. The DARDC telemeter has since been removed. A data-collection platform (DCP) with raingage was installed August 1985 and is maintained by the Rock Island, Corps. of Engineers. A graphic water-stage recorder was placed at the old site in the power plant as a backup system and has since been removed. A crest-stage gage was installed during 1982.

On July 12, 1996; the ADR and manometer were replaced with an electronic datalogger (CR I OX) with modem and a Sutron Accubar pressure sensor (model 5600-0125-6).

On June 11, 1997 the gage was relocated to just under the new bridge on the left bank approximately 500 ft. downstream of the old County Road 3103N bridge. An electronic data logger (CR I OX) with modem, a Vitel (VX1004) DCP without raingage, a Sutron Accubar pressure sensor (model-6), a wire- weight gage (WWG), and a crest-stage gage (CSG) were installed.

Personnel from the IEPA routinely obtain water samples for water-quality analyses at this site. Records of water quality have been published for water years 1978 to current year.

DRAINAGE AREA: 2,642 sq. mi.

GAGE: Electronic Datalogger (CR I OX) with modem, a Vitel (VX1 004) data collection platform (DCP) without raingage, and Sutron Accubar pressure sensor (model 5600-0125-6) housed in a 3ft. X 3ft. steel shelter. The outside base gage is a Type A wire-weight gage (WWG) located on the downstream side of the bridge. A crest-stage gage (CSG) is mounted to a tree about 100 ft. upstream of the gage. The orifice extends into the river about 40 feet and is anchored to several 2 inch steel rods driven into the bedrock bottom. Power to the gage is supplemented by a solar panel.

CHANNEL: The stream has a solid rock bottom which is rather uneven - The banks are fairly steep with some vegetation and are not subject to overflow. The flow is confined to one channel at all stages and is very swift at higher stages.

CONTROL: (Thru FY95) The low-water control is a rock and gravel bar near the downstream side of the bridge. There is a bedrock outcrop at this location. The channel becomes the control at medium and high stages. A power plant just upstream f rom the gage regulates the flow past the gage. This is especially evident at low flows, when the water surface is at or below the dam crest 0.25 mi. upstream from the gage. The regulation during this condition is severe, causing considerable changes in the mean-daily discharge.

(Oct. 1995 to June 11) The medium-water control was affected by new bridge construction at a site 0.25 mi. downstream. A construction ford was built and piers installed. During the flood of July 19, 1996, the impoundment washed out at the power plant dam causing the power plant to be inoperative, and depositing layers of sand between the new bridge construction zone and the gage. The right side of the channel has filled from sand deposition, while the center of the channel was kept clear due to high velocities. It appears that the left side of the channel was washed out due to the impoundment break. The sand deposition has caused large negative shifts at medium to high stages. Low stages are presumably unaffected since the center of the channel remained clear after the flood.

(June 11 - Present) The low-water control is a rock and gravel bar riffle about 500 ft. downstream of the gage. The channel becomes the control at medium and high stages.

DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS.--Stages of about 5.5 ff. and below can be waded just upstream of the gage. Measurements at a stage of greater than about 5.5 can be made from the bridge. the bridge is marked in 10 ft. increments on the downstream sid e starting from the left edge of the water. It is yet to be determined whether measurements can be made from the fenced- in sidewalk on the upstream side of the bridge.

Traffic safety: A traffic safety plan for making discharge measurements from the bridge is currently not required at this site. However, if traffic conditions begin to threaten safety, appropriate traffic- safety procedures must be followed. Vehicle hazar d lights shall be used at the bridge-measurement site if other vehicles may become present.

FLOODS.--Maximum stage during period of record, 36.47 ft on Jan. 25, 1960 (result of ice jam); maximum discharge, 55,400 ft3/s on July 19,1996, gage height, 24.47 ft.

POINT OF ZERO FLOW.-Currently unknown.

WINTER FLOW.--There may be backwater from ice during winter periods. Ice jams form during spring break-up causing severe backwater.

REGULATION AND DIVERSION.--The flow was severely regulated by the output of the power plant upstream of the gage, especially during low-flow periods. The power plant has been inoperative since the flood of July 19, 1996.