n-Values Report for Thorn Creek at Thornton, IL

N-VALUES SITE CONTENT:

Thorn Creek at Thornton, IL

Study Reach.--The channel under consideration is meandering and natural in a forest preserve, as shown in the quadrangle map on the top left. The study reach selected extends from the USGS gage on Margaret Street bridge to 600 ft downstream from the gage. Three cross sections (surveyed by the U.S. Geological Survey in April 2001, and reconstructed from a measurement done in February 1999) are used for evaluating channel characteristics at this site. The alignment of the study reach, approximate variations in channel width and bank conditions, and locations of the surveyed cross sections are shown in the aerial photo on top-right. Cross-sectional geometries are shown in the cross section plots above.

Gage Location.--Lat 41°34’06”, long 87°36’28”, in SE1/4 NW1/4 sec.34, T.36N., R.14E., Cook County, Hydrologic Unit 07120003, on right bank at downstream side of bridge on Margaret Street in Thornton, 1.0 mi downstream from North Creek, and at mile 4.2. The USGS streamgage-station number is 05536275.

Drainage Area.--104 sq mi.

Gage Datum and Elevations of Reference Points.--Datum of gage is 586.43 ft. A wire-weight gage (WWG) is located on the downstream guardrail of Margaret Street bridge. Reference points (RP-N) were established for the n-values project.

Stage, Discharge Measurements, and Computed n-Values.--Water-surface elevations were measured by reading the WWG and by tapedown from reference points along the channel during the discharge measurement. Discharge measurements were made using the conventional current-meter method.

Date of Observation	Discharge (ft³/s)	Average Cross Section Area (ft²)	Hydraulic Radius (ft)	Mean Velocity (ft/s)	Slope	Coefficient of Roughness n
10/21/1998	33.8	47.3	1.21	0.84	0.000926	0.041

Description of Channel.--This is a natural channel in a forest preserve. The streambed is composed of sand and gravel on rock riffles. The streambed is subject to considerable aquatic vegetation during the growing seasons. The banks are steep and thickly wooded. The channel is subject to accumulation and dissipation of woody debris as well as urban debris, such as small appliances, tires and assorted garbage. The study reach is straight.

Floods.--Maximum discharge during period of record, 4,700 ft³/s on July 13, 1957, gage height, 16.00 ft; maximum gage height, 17.06 ft on June 14, 1981. Flood of Apr. 5, 1947, reached a stage of 14.34 ft. (from flood mark), discharge, 4,200 ft³/s.

Estimated n-Values using Cowan’s Approach.--0.022 ~ 0.035

Water Resources of Illinois: n-Values Project

Thorn Creek at Thornton, IL