A Hydrologic Study of the Charlotte Lobe Delta of the Martin River Glacier Alaska

• Main Author: Erickson, Kirth A.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: UND Scholarly Commons 1967
• Subjects: Gage; glacier; Alaska
• Online Access: https://commons.und.edu/senior-projects/51; https://commons.und.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1050&context=senior-projects

The Charlotte Lobe Delta is located between Lake Charlotte and the terminus of the Charlotte Lobe of the Martin River Glacier in south-central Alaska. "Constant Creek" and "Roaring River" are meltwater streams which traverse the delta and discharge into Lake Charlotte. Fluctuations in these streams and the lake were measured during the summer of 1966 to determine their effects on the water table in the delta. Field study techniques include discharge measurements, leveling and mapping. The temperature was recorded on a thermograph. Water table and surface water fluctuations were observed by means of ground wells and stage gages, respectively. The discharge of "Constant Creek" at the principal gaging station was rated on the basis of four measurements. A fifth measurement taken 300 feet downstream revealed an abnormally high loss of 7 cubic feet per second between the two stations. This amounts to an exceptionally high infiltration rate of 510 gallons per day per square foot of delta surface. Water level changes in "Constant Creek" correlate directly with temperature fluctuations, but show a lag of 8 to 10 hours. This lag is assumed to be a function of the distance between the stage gage and the drainage source. During the observation period the levels of the delta water table rose rapidly as a result of a flash flood from "Roaring River". The rise in the water table was first observed in well #8, nearest the source, and finally in well #1, on the opposite side of the delta. The flood raged for nearly two days and then virtually ceased. Variations in one stream had no effect upon the other during the flood, indicating that no connection existed between them within the glacier. Furthermore, the delta water table varied in direct relationship to stream flow, indicating that the volume of flow in streams crossing the Charlotte Lobe Delta is the dominant control of the water table level.