Reclamation Information Sharing Environment (RISE)

This memorandum documents the data sources and methodology for assembling photo mosaics of the Clearwater River corridor in Washington State, georeferenced to a common projection. This work is part of a larger geomorphic analysis and hydraulic modeling study on the Clearwater River. The Quinault Indian Nation Department of Fisheries requested assistance from the Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group in Reclamation’s Technical Service Center (TSC) to conduct a geomorphic and hydraulic assessment for 26-miles of the mainstem Clearwater River corridor in Washington State. The purpose of the study is to assess and document both historical and current geomorphic and hydraulic conditions in the mainstem Clearwater River corridor, identify habitat impairments, develop restoration alternatives and objectives, and help identify and prioritize river corridor segments for site-specific and reach scale restoration actions. Study results will also be used to information restoration plan designs for instream and floodplain habitats and to assess risks and potential impacts to property owners and the Clearwater community. Staff from the TSC’s Geographic Applications and Analysis Group were tasked with assembling three dates of digitally scanned historical aerial film into photo mosaics that are all georeferenced to a common projection. The aerial photos are from the 1980s, 1950s, and 1930s.