Channel Widening and 

Flood-Plain Construction 

4Jong Cimarron River 

in Southwestern Kansas 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROF.E.SSIONAL P·AP:t:R 352~D 

Channel Widening and 

Flood-Plain Construction 

Along Cimarron River 

in Southwestern Kansas 

By S. A. SCHUMM and R. W. LICHTY 

EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 352-D 

Ma;"or channel changes along the Cimarron River 

are related to the frequency and magnitude of 

floods and the departure of annual precipitation 

from normal 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1963 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretar.Y 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

H. William Menard, Director 

First printing 1963 

Second printing 1979 

For sale by the Branch of Distribution, U.S. Geological Survey 

604 South Pickett Street, Alexandria, VA 22304 
CONTENTS 

Page Page. 

Abstract___________________________________________ 71 Mechanics of channel widening and flood-plain construcIntroduction_______________________________________ 71 tion_____________________________________________ 79 

Cimarron River, southwestern Kansas, 1874-1960_____ _ _ 71 Channel widening____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 80 

Cimarron River, 1874-1913_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 71 Effect of channel widening on gradient____________ 81 

Cimarron River, 1914-42________________________ 74 Flood-plain construction_________________________ 81 

Cimarron River, 1943-54________________________ 76 Island formation____________________________ 81 

Cimarron River, 1955-60________________________ 76 Direct flood-plain construction_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 84 

Summary_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7 6 Flood-plain stratigraphy_________________________ 84 

Factors influencing Cimarron River channel changes_ _ _ _ 7 6 Summary______________________________________ 85 

Land use______________________________________ 76 Comparison of Cimarron River channel changes with 

Floods_________________________________________ 77 those of other rivers_______________________________ 86 

Precipitation___________________________________ 78 Summary______________________________________ 87 

Vegetation_____________________________________ 79 Conclusions________________________________________ 87 

SummarY---------~---------------------------- 79 References_________________________________________ 88 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

FIGURE 42. Index map of Cimarron River area________________________________________________________________ 72 

43-44. Photographs showing: 

43. Channels of Cimarron River in southwestern Kansas__________________________________________ 75 

44. Channel changes of Cimarron River in southwestern Kansas and pre-1914 alluvium______________ 77 

45-46. Graphs showing: 

45. Acres of plowed land and number of head of livestock__________________________________________ 78 

46. Average annual precipitation in southwestern Kansas__________________________________________ 80 

4 7. Transverse profiles of Cimarron River valley_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 82 

48. Photographs of Cimarron River flood plain in southwestern Kansas___________________________________ 83 

49-50. Sketches showing: 

49. Parts of Cimarron valley covered by low, moderate, and high flows______________________________ 84 

50. Channel areas favorable for flood-plain formation_____________________________________________ 84 

51. Section showing flood-plain stratification____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 85 

52. Index map of Red River area near Burkburnett, Tex________________________________________________ 87 

TABLES 

Page 

TABLE 1. Channel width of the Cimarron River, Kans _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 73 

2. Peak discharge of the Cimarron River, southwestern Kansas_---------------------------------------- 79 

3. Changes in channel depth between date of bridge construction and 1960_______________________________ 81 

III 

EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION ALONG CIMARRON RIVER IN 

SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS 

By S. A. ScHUMM and R. W. LICHTY 

ABSTRACT 

The channel of the Cimarron River in southwestern Kansas 

has changed significantly during historic times. The average 

width of the river was 50 feet in 1874. During and after the 

major floor of 1914, the river widened until an average width of 

1,200 feet was reached in 1942. During the period 1943-54 

flood-plain construction occurred, and the river narrowed to an 

average width of 550 feet in 1954. During the period 1954-60 

both channel widening and narrowing occurred. 

The period of channel widening was initiated by the maximum flood of record, which was followed by a long period of 

deficient precipitation, and was terminated by the major flood 

of 1942. The period of flood-plain construction \Yas characterized by above-average annual precipitation and floods of low 

to moderate peak discharge. The influence of the changed climatic conditions on vegetational growth is the key to Cimarron 

River behavior. During the years of aboYe-average annual 

precipitation, which are associated with floods of low to moderate peak discharge, yegetation became established in the wide 

sandy channel. The presence of vegetation in the channel in 

turn aided deposition and flood plain formation. 

The new flood plain was constructed in a period of 12 years, 

predominantly by vertical accretion. It is composed of a mosaic 

of islands, abandoned channels, and areas of flood plain constructed adjacent to the low-water channel. Although initially 

a flood plain may be formed by overbank flooding and vertical 

accretion, lateral migration of the stream may rework the alluvium and destroy all eYidence of yertical accretion. 

The channel changes which have occurred along Cimarron 

River seem typical of sandy riYers in semiarid regions. Channel widening instead of degradation and ehannel narrowing instead of aggradation are characteristic. 

INTRODUCTION 

Flood plains are of historic interest to man. They 

offered fertile land, abundant water, and game to the 

primitive hunter and agriculturalist and became sites 

of early civilizations. The flood-plain dweller of today fa.ces many of the same problems as did his ancestors. For this reason a better understanding of 

river and flood-plain changes may be helpful in preventing a repetition of past disasters. 

Geomorphic processes proceed at rates that generally 

are difficult to assess, and the opportunity seldom arises 

to obtain data on the rates. Nevertheless, a record of 

1nodern flood-plain destruction and rebuilding is available for the Cimarron River in southwestern l{ansas. 

This record of stream-channel and flood-plain changes, 

the reasons for the changes, and a description of the 

mechanics of the changes are presented in this report as 

a contribution toward a better understanding of fluvial 

erosion and deposition in a semiarid region. 

The Cima.rron River enters \Yestern Kansas about 5 

miles north of the Oklahoma boundary (fig. 42) and 

flows northeastward through Morton, Stevens, and 

Grant Counties and then southeastward through Haskell, Seward, and Meade Counties before reentering 

Oklahoma. The Cimarron Valley in southwestern Kansas is underlain almost con1pletely by rocks of Tertiary 

and Quaternary age, although small outcrops of Triassic and Cretaceous rocks occur in Morton County. The 

geology and ground-water resources of this area have 

been discussed by McLaughlin ( 1942, 1946), Bryne and 

McLaughlin (1948), and Frye (1942). 

The initial widening of the Cimarron River, after 

the major flood of 1914, was discussed by McLaughlin 

(1947); his paper directed the writers' attention to the 

interesting series of events that have occurred along this 

river during the last half century. 

The writers wish to acknowledge particularly the 

suggestions and encouragement of T. G. McLaughlin, 

as well as the use of his photographs (figs. 4.3B, 44A) . 

Messrs. Robert Evans and Rice Davies of Liberal, 

Kans., very kindly gave us the benefit of their knowledge of river changes since the 1914 flood. Richard 

Aro instructed the writers in the techniques of treering counts and made valuable suggestions with respect 

to the interpretation of these data. 

CIMARRON RIVER, SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS, 1874-1960 

CIMARRON RIVER, 1874-1913 

The Cimarron River in l{ansas appeared to be typical of streams in a more humid environment at the turn 

71 
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L____ I \~· f·· --~" I j' ·, I '1-" 

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12 MILES TO 

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' 11 I TEXAS / ! II I ~ I 

" _J fMARRON ! //. I 

4 Keyes 

: 

Base from U~S. Army Map Serv1ce sheet~ 

Dodge C1ty, Kans .. Dalhart, Perryton, Tex., 

La Junta, Colo. 

~ KA~ 

l OKLAHOMA ~ --~-~.....~ 

5 0 5 10 15 20MILES 

FIGURE 42.-Index map of Cimarron River area. 

EXPLANATION 

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lSJ 

Cimarron River, showing 

cross section number 

• Precipitation station 

Gaging station 

BEAVER 

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CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION, CIMARRON RIVER 

of the century. Haworth (1897, p. 22) stated that "The 

Cimarron seems to have reached base-level and to have 

begun 1neanclering across its flood plain. Beautiful oxbow curves are frequent, and a sluggish nature is everywhere manifest during times of low water." (See 

fig. 43A.) 

According to tT ohnson ( 1902, p. 664) ~ 

Wherever within the High Plains belt the Cimarron Valley 

shows a living stream, it is always a meandering looping stream 

of uniform width, narrow, clear and deep * * *. The bottom 

land upon which it wanders supports a coarser and longerstemmed grass than the uplands. the grass roots reaching to the 

ground water, which lles at a depth here, as a rule, of only 2 or 

3 feet * * *. 

The Cimarron River elsevd1ere, upstream to the southwest in the Oklahoma Panhandl? and downstream to 

the southeast in Oklahoma, during historic times has 

always been typically a wide, shallo·w, sandy river. As 

suggested by ,Johnson, the great difference between the 

Cimarron River in I\:nnsns and the river elsewhere may 

be that, in I\:ansas, a perennial flow was maintained by 

ground water. Additional testimony, confirn1ing that 

the Cimarron River was a narrow, meandering perennial stream at the turn of the century, was prese.nted by 

McLaughlin (1947). 

Information on the width of the Cimarron River is 

available as a result of the survey of 1874. The data 

were compiled by McLaughlin (1947), and data for 120 

cross sections are presented in table 1. Thirty-five of 

the 155 sections originally listed by McLaughlin were 

not remeasured; therefore, the mean values for channel 

widths by counties as presented in table 1 will differ 

slightly from those presented by McLaughlin (1947). 

TABLE 1.-Channel width, in feet, of the Cimarron River, Kans. 

[Channel width: 1874 and 1939, data from McLaughlin (1947); 1954, data from aerial 

photographs, scale 1 :27,250; 1960, data from photomosaic sheets, scale 1:63 360· n equals number of sections measured] ' ' 

Channel width 

Section Location 

I I 

I 

1874 1939 1954 I 1960 

Morton County 

T. 94 S., R. 49 lV. 

1 West line sec. 19 ________________________ 53 2,900 1,050 1, 250 2 West line sec. 20 ________________________ 53 3,000 1, 050 1,350 3 West line sec. 2L _______________________ 46 3,200 1, 500 1, 500 4 West line sec. 22 ________________________ 40 2,800 700 900 5 North line sec. 22 _______________________ 33 2,100 1, 500 1, 650 6 West line sec. 14 ________________________ 79 1, 800 1,000 1, 400 7 East line sec. 14 ________________________ 66 2,300 1, 200 1, 400 

T. 94 S., R. 42 lV. 

8 West line sec. 7 _________________________ 139 1,300 800 900 9 East line sec. 7 _________________________ 66 2,150 1,000 1,100 10 East line sec. 5 __________ ----------- ____ 59 1,400 650 650 11 East line sec. 4------------------------- 46 2,600 400 400 12 North line sec. 3------------------------ 73 1,800 1,100 1, 200 

TABLE 1.-Cllannel width, in teet, of the Cimarron 

Kans.-Continued 

Section Location 

Channel width 

1874 1939 I 1954 

Morton County-Con tinned 

I 

T. 9.1 S., R. 42 W. 

13 West line sec. 35 ________________________ 46 3, 200 950 14 North line sec. 35 _______________________ 46 800 850 15 East line sec. 26 ____________ ------------ 46 800 650 

T. 3.~ S., R. 41 TV. 

16 West line sec. 29 ________________________ 66 2,200 350 17 West line sec. 28 ________________________ 66 2,600 500 18 East line sec. 28_ ------------ ___________ 46 1, 100 1,000 19 South line sec. 22 _______________________ 66 1, 500 500 20 West line sec. 23 ________________________ 66 2,000 850 21 West line sec. 24 ________________________ 66 2,400 1,000 22 NE corner sec. 24 _______________________ 46 2,500 1, 650 

T. 33 S., R. 40 TV. 

23 East line sec. 18 __ ---------------------- 33 300 250 24 South line sec. 8 ________________________ 33 2,100 1. 000 25 West line sec. 9------------------------- 66 2,900 800 26 SW corner sec. 3 ________________________ 56 2,400 450 27 NE corner sec. 3 ________________________ 43 2,600 1,000 

T. 32 S., R. 40 W. 

28 NE corner sec. 35 _______________________ 33 1,100 150 

T. 32 S., R. 39 W. 

29 West line sec. 30 ___ ·--------------------- 46 2,600 550 30 East line sec. 30 ______ -------------- ____ 53 1, 300 400 31 East line sec. 29 ________________________ 53 1,400 250 --------- Average for Morton County (n=31) ________ 56 2,050 800 

Stevens County 

T. 32 S., R. 39 W. 

32 West line sec. 27 ________________________ 53 2,200 700 33 West line sec. 26 ________________________ 46 2, 500 400 34 North line sec. 26 _______________________ 46 2,100 1,500 35 NE corner sec. 23 _______________________ 36 2, 200 650 36 North line sec. 13 _______________________ 33 1,800 700 37 North line sec. 12 _______________________ 40 700 500 

T. 31 S., R. 38 W. 

38 SW corner sec. 29----------------------- 46 1,300 850 39 SW corner sec. 2L ______________________ 40 1, 700 300 40 North line sec. 21_ ______________________ 46 1,000 500 41 West line sec. 15 ________________________ 40 1,100 550 42 NE corner sec. 15 _______________________ 46 800 300 --------- Average for Stevens County (n=ll) ________ 43 1, 500 630 

Grant County 

T. 30 S., R. 37 lV. 

43 West line sec. 32 ________________________ 26 600 250 44 West line sec. 33 ________________________ 40 500 150 45 West line sec. 34 ________________________ 40 600 250 46 South line sec. 28 _______________________ 40 500 150 47 West line sec. 27 ________________________ 50 800 150 48 North line sec. 34 _______________________ 66 800 150 49 West line sec. 35 ________________________ 132 300 100 50 South line sec. 26 ________________________ 99 400 100 51 South line sec. 23 _______________________ 66 500 100 52 West line sec. 24 ________________________ 66 300 200 53 North line sec. 25 _______________________ 66 700 150 

T. 30 S., R. 36 W. 

54 West line sec. 2L _______________________ 66 200 200 55 West line sec. 22 ________________________ 66 300 400 56 West line sec. 23 ________________________ 66 500 150 

T. 30 S., R. 35 W. 

57 West line sec. 34 ________________________ 26 1,300 150 58 South line sec. 27 _______________________ 26 1,300 650 59 SW corner sec. 23 _______________________ 17 1, 100 100 60 North line sec. 26 _______________________ 33 700 100 61 West line sec. 25 ________________________ 43 500 100 

--------- Average for Grant County (n=l9) ________ - 54 630 190 

73 

River. 

I 1960 

800 

850 

650 

350 

1,100 

1, 200 

500 1,050 

1,100 

1,650 

250 1,000 

900 

450 

800 

150 

800 

650 

300 ---900 

1,300 

600 

800 

900 1,000 

500 

600 

400 

800 

800 

800 ---

770 

250 

150 

250 

150 

150 

150 

100 

100 

100 

200 

150 

200 

400 

150 

150 

650 

100 

100 

100 ---190 
74 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

TABLE 1.-Channel width, in teet, of the Cimarron River, 

Kans.-Continued 

Section Location 

Haskell County 

T. 30 S., R. 34 W. 

62 North line sec. 30 ______________________ _ 63 East line sec. 30 _______________________ _ 64 South line sec. 29 ______________________ _ 65 East line sec. 32 _______________________ _ 66 South line sec. 33 ______________________ _ 

Average for Haskell County (n=5) ________ _ 

Seward County 

T. 31 S., R. 34 W. 

67 North line sec. 8------------------------ 68 North line sec. 2L _____________________ _ 69 North line sec. 28 ______________________ _ 70 West line sec. 27 _______________________ _ 71 North line sec. 34 ______________________ _ 72 West line sec. 35 _______________________ _ 73 West line sec. 36 _______________________ _ 74 South line sec. 36 ______________________ _ 

T. 32 S., R. 33 W. 

75 West line sec. 6 ________________________ _ 76 North line sec. 7 _______________________ _ 77 North line sec. 18 ______________________ _ 78 West line sec.17 _______________________ _ 

79 North line sec. 20 ______________________ _ 80 West line sec. 21_ ______________________ _ 81 North line sec. 28 ______________________ _ 82 West line sec. 27 _______________________ _ 83 North line sec. 34 ______________________ _ 84 West line sec. 35 _______________________ _ 85 West line sec. 36 _______________________ _ 86 South line sec. 36 ______________________ _ 

T. 33 S., R. ~2 W. 

87 West line sec. 6 ________________________ _ 88 North line sec. 7 _______________________ _ 89 North line sec. 18 ______________________ _ 90 South line sec. 18 ______________________ _ 91 East line sec. 20 _______________________ _ 92 South line sec. 2L _____________________ _ 93 West line sec. 27 _______________________ _ 94 West line sec. 26 _______________________ _ 95 West line sec. 25 _______________________ _ 96 North line sec. 36 ______________________ _ 97 East line sec. 36 _______________________ _ 

T. 99 S., R. 31 W. 

98 South line sec. 3L _____________________ _ 

T. 94 S., R. 31 W. 

99 West line sec. 5 ________________________ _ 

100 West line sec. 9------------------------- 101 North line sec. 16 ______________________ _ 102 West line sec. 15 _______________________ _ 103 North line sec. 22 ______________________ _ 104 SE corner sec. 15 ______________________ _ 

~gg ~~s~1fu!rs~~~-2~~ === == === === ========= == 

Average for Seward County (n=40) _______ _ 

Meade County 

T. 34 S., R. 30 W. 

107 South line sec. 30 ______________________ _ 

108 South line sec. 3L _____________________ _ 

T. 35 S., R. 30 W. 

109 East line sec. 6 __ ----------------------- 110 South line sec. 5 _______________________ _ 

111 South line sec. 9------------------------ 112 East line sec. 16_ ----------------------- 113 East line sec. 15------------------------ 114 East line sec. 14_ ----------------------- 115 East line sec. 13 _______________________ _ 

Channel width 

1874 1 1939 1 1954 1 1960 

33 

33 

33 

26 

33 

32 

800 

500 

500 

300 

300 

480 

66 300 33 600 20 1,400 66 1, 000 132 1,000 43 1,500 33 1,600 13 1, 000 

16 1,100 15 1, 200 16 300 16 1, 000 18 1, 000 18 600 16 1, 100 16 900 13 500 10 1, 000 13 1, 300 20 500 

49 500 13 700 33 1, 800 13 440 20 1, 410 26 370 26 790 20 1,100 33 350 33 1, 320 33 1,180 

33 880 

20 1, 320 20 270 20 1, 140 26 260 26 l, 230 33 970 30 620 33 570 

28 900 

33 1, 050 79 570 

40 1, 320 43 1, 410 53 530 33 1, 250 

331 800 66 1, 000 132 1, 000 

100 

200 

200 

450 

300 

250 

200 1,000 

800 

400 

700 

500 1,000 

400 

250 

800 

150 

700 

400 

300 

150 

400 

400 

500 

500 

100 

200 

550 1, 200 

300 

300 

300 

500 

700 

100 

150 

800 

300 

400 

200 

250 

250 

300 

300 

200 

500 

440 

300 

400 

300 

300 

350 

300 

700 1, 400 2, 000 

100 

200 

200 

600 

200 

260 

1, 200 1,400 

800 

400 

700 

500 1,000 

400 

550 

900 

150 

700 

400 

300 

150 

400 

500 

500 

500 

100 

200 

300 1, 200 

300 

400 

300 

400 

800 

100 

150 

800 

900 

600 

800 

400 

250 

650 

400 

300 

500 

530 

500 

200 

300 

300 

350 

300 

700 

1, 400 2,000 

TABLE 1.-Channel width, in teet, of the Ci-marron River, 

Kans.-Continued 

Section Location Channel width 

1874 1939 1 1954 11960 

Meade County-Continued 

T. 35 S., R. 29 W. 

116 East line sec. 18_ ----------------------- 117 East line sec. 9 ________________________ _ 

118 East line sec. 10_ ----------------------- 119 East line sec. 1L ----------------------- 120 East line sec. 13_ -----------------------

Avera~e for Meade County (n=14) _______ _ Average width for 120 sections ____________ _ 

100 1, 100 93 1, 600 145 I, 000 304 1, 300 132 800 

92 

50 I. 050 1. 200 

1, 300 

1, 200 

950 

750 1, 650 

850 

550 

1,300 

900 

600 

750 1, 650 

800 

600 

In 1874 the river averaged 50 feet in width through 

the 6 counties of southwestern Kansas; ho-wever the 

channel ranged in ·width from 10 to 30± feet (table 1). 

Some of the variation in width is due to the fact that 

measurement of channel width was made along section 

lines \vhich \Yere not normal to the channel. N evert heless, the channel of the river 111 l{ansas between 187 ± 

and 1914 was narrow and probably relatively stable. 

The flood plain was grassed and afforded excellent grazIng. 'Vild hay and alfalfa were cut and stacked on the 

flood plain during these early (lays (fig. 43.:!). The 

eontrast between the river at that time and during the 

following 46 years is remarkable. 

CIMARRON RIVER, 1914-42 

Beginning in HH4 and continuing intermittently until 1942, the channel of the Cimarron River \Yidened, 

until almost all the flood plain \Vas destroyed. The 

ehannel widening began, aecording to the testimony of 

residents of the Cimarron valley, during the major 

flood of May 191±. This flood is the greatest of record, 

having an estimated gage height of 13 feet near Mocane, Okla. (fig. ±2) ; peak discharge IS estimated to 

have been 120,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). (See 

table 2.) 

During the 187± survey, the channel north of Elkhart 

was 66 feet wide (fig. 42). Only minor changes in width 

occurred between 1874 and 1914; however, In 1916 a 

bridge 644 feet long "·as required to span the channel, 

and in 1939 the channel at the bridge was about 1,400 

feet wide (MeLaughlin, 19±7, p. 82). The data presented on table 1 show that the average ehannel \videning during the period 1914-39 was 1,150 feet. 

Although no aerial photographs are available to document channel changes between 1939 and 1954, other 

data indicate that the channel continued to widen 

through 1942. For example, a major flood near Liberal, l{ans., occurred 111 1942 with a peak discharge 

of 69,000 cfs. This flood originated in the headwaters 
CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION, CIMARRON RIVER 

FIGURE 43.-Cimurron Ri,·er in southwPstem Kansas. A, Valley of Cimarron RIYer in "outheastern l\Ieude County, Kans., prior t o the 

flood of 1914. Photograph taken by W. D. ,Tohnson in the 18!l0'•· B, Cimarron RiHr at old Highway 270 bridge north of Hugoton , 

Kans. (cross section 2, fig. 42), in 1!l43. Channel was about 700 feet wide. Arrow indicates position of windmill. Photograph 

taken b~· T. G. McLaughlin. C, Vall ey of Cimarron River at old Highway 270 bridge In 1960. Arrow ind·icate" po>ition of windmill 

slJ•JWll iil U. Trt> PK in foreg-round. arP g-rowing in ahanlloned chaun"l shown at right end of profilt' fl-B' (fi.l!. -t7). Present l'hannPI 

Is beyond. trees In background. D, Channel of Cimarron River at old Highway 270 bridge In 1960. Channel Is 110 feet wide. 

Compare channel shown In this Yiew with channel In 1943 shown in B. 

690-450 0-63--2 

75 
76 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

area (peak discharge 80,000 cfs near Boise City, Okla.) 

and destroyed many bridges as it moved through the 

Cimarron River valley in Kansas. At the close of 1942 

the river was at its maximum width, for the flood plain 

was completely destroyed at some locations. Good evidence for complete destruction of the flood plain north 

of Hugoton, Kans. (fig. 42), is provided by a photograph taken of the channel in 1943 (fig. 43B). At that 

time the entire valley floor was river channel. The 

present channel is only 110 feet wide and is located 

at the north edge of what was the 1942 channel (fig. 

430). The trees in the foreground of figure 43{" began 

their growth at the south edge of the channel in 1943, as 

indicated by tree-ring counts. The survival of these 

trees is proof that the channel was never again as wide 

as it was after the 1942 flood. 

CIMARRON RIVER, 1943-54 

After the flood of 1942, a reversal of river activity 

occurred. Cross sections, when remeasured on aerial 

photographs taken in 1954, showed that the channel had 

become narrower (table 1). The narrowing was accomplished by flood-plain construction and, to a minor 

extent, by island formation. The channel width, as 

measured on the 1954 photographs, had decreased to an 

average of 550 feet (fig. 430, 43D, 44A, B). 

In 12 years the river had repaired about half the 

damage caused by widening during the period 1914-42. 

Great variability occurs among the data. At some cross 

sections the river narrowed to one-fifth or less of its 

former maximum width (table 1, sections 11, 16, 17, 

31, 33, 47, 48, 51, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, and 81), whereas at 

other cross sections the river width did not change 

(table 1, sections 54 and 66) or continued to widen ( table 1, sections 14, 55, 65, 681 114, 115, 116, and 120). 

CIMARRON RIVER, 1955-60 

New aerial photographs, which became available during preparation of this report, allowed measurements 

to be made of 1960 channel widths. The measurements 

were made on photoindex sheets and are less accurate 

than those made from contact prints of the 1954 photographs. The measurements show, however, that the 

period 1954--60 was not a continuation of the period 

1943- 54. Of 120 sections remeasured, only 10 showed 

continued narrowing of more than 50 feet (Table 1, sections 13, 27, 34, 38, 66, 88, 93, 108, 117, and 118); 70 

sections were at about the same width; and of the remaining 40 sections, 38 showed renewed widening of 

more than 50 feet, whereas sections 65 and 68 have continued to widen since the first survey in 1874. The period may be characterized as one of relative stability 

with some tendency toward widening of the channel. 

SUMMARY 

The major changes in width of the Cimarron River 

during the 46-year period 1914--60 can be grouped into 

3 distinct periods: the period 1914-42 of channel widening and flood-plain destruction (figs. 43 and 44); the 

period 1943-54 of channel narrowing and flood-plain 

construction; and the period 1955-60 of relatively minor 

changes (figs. 43 and 44) . 

The channel widening along the Cimarron River may 

be related to arroyo cutting, which has been prevalent 

throughout the Southwest since the latter part of the 

19th century. However, there are two major differences between arroyo cutting and the channel changes 

along the Cimarron River. One is the nature of the 

change, widening instead of predominant deepening. 

The other is a trend toward rapid natural restoration 

of the valley to its former condition. 

FACTORS INFLUENCING CIMARRON RIVER CHANNEL 

CHANGES 

The causes of natural phenomena of the type discussed in this paper are generally complex and varied. 

Nevertheless, all available information will be considered in an attempt to explain the cause of destruction 

and rebuilding of the Cimarron River flood plain. 

LAND USE 

McLaughlin (1947), after an analysis of information 

on number of head of livestock and acres of cultivated 

land in southwestern Kansas, suggested that "accelerated erosion in the Cimarron valley is believed to be the 

result of overcultivation of land and the subsequent 

abandonment of thousands of farms, leaving large areas 

with lessened resistance to run-off." Unfortunately, 

there is little information on runoff for the period of 

channel widening. McLaughlin's data, when brought 

up to date (fig. 45), indicated that the period of floodplain construction occurred during a period of major 

agricultural activity, 1941-50. This peak of agricultural activity probably began with the demand for more 

agricultural products during the war. The period 

1941- 50 was also a time of above average annual precipitation (fig. 46), a further stimulus to agricultural 

activity during these years. This C'oincidence of floodplain construction and agricultural activity would seem 

to support McLaughlin's hypothesis; however, a shorter 

period of major agricultural activity also occurred between the years 1929-33 (fig. 45) during the period of 

channel widening. On the basis of these conflicting 

data, it is difficult to evaluate the effects of agricultural activity on the Cimarron River. 

McLaughlin (1947) also concluded that, because there 

was no major change in number of head of livestock, 
CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION, CIMARRON RIVER 77 

grazing was not an important factor determining chan- FLOODS 

nel changes. Data on number of livestock in southwestern Kansas are presented on figure 45. Livestock 

density was greatest during the period of channel narrowing 1942-48. The activities of man and animals in 

the Cimarron River basin undoubtedly had their effects 

on the regime of the river, but any relation between 

cultivation, grazing, twd channel change is obscure. 

The period of greatest channel widening began in 

1914 and ceased in 1942. Unfortunately, adequate 

streamflow data are not available during the period of 

channel widening to establish a definite trend, but the 

record presented in table 2 shows that large floods 

occurred in 1936, 1938, 1941, and 1942. Furthermore, 

according to C. 0. Bryant (written communication), 

FIGURE 44.-Cimarron River in southwestern Kansas. A, Rock Island Railroad bridge near Arkalon In 1942. Channel wa.s 

about 450 fe et wide at point from which photograph was t aken. Photograph taken by T. G. McLaughlin. B, Rock 

Island Railroad bridge near Arkalon In 1960. Channel is about 150 feet wide. Concrete bridge support on left of this 

photograph corresponds to center support shown In A. C, Pre-1914 alluvium exposed In cutbank near Highway 56 

cr0$lng. At base of cut is coarse crossbedded sai1d. Above sand Is 2.5 feet of dark-colored homogeneous cohesive pre1914 alluvium. Overlyipg the pre-1914 alluvium Is 3 feet of alternate layers of sand. and mud deposited from overbank 

floods. 
78 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

Cfl 

w 

c:: 2000 u 

<( 

"-0 

Cfl 

0 

z 

<( 

Cfl 

::::> 1000 0 

I 

Iz 

ci 

z 

<( 

_J 

0 

w 0 :;;: 

0 

_J 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 a.. 

600 

0 

<( 

w 

I 

"-0 400 

Cfl 

0 

z 

<( 

Cfl 

::::> 

0 

I 

I-

~ 200 

,.,: 

u 

0 

ICfl 

w 

> 

::J 

0 

1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 

FIGURE 45.-Acres of plowed land and number of head of livestock In southwe..re<rn Kansas (:Stanton, Morton, Grant, Stevens, Haskell, Meade, 

and Clark Counties) from 1890 to 1959. Data from annual reports of Kansas State Board of Agriculture. Information on plowed land 

for 1958 not available. 

the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad bridge 

near section 5 (fig. 42) had undergone extensive flood 

damage in June 1923, October 1930, and June 1937. 

This period, therefore, was one of destructive floods. 

The period of flood-plain construction, 1943-54, was 

characterized by floods of low to moderate discharge. 

Only two large floods occurred after 1942- in May 1951 

and July 1958 (table 2). The May 1951 flood 

approached the 1942 flood i:u peak discharge, but according to McLaughlin (oral communication), most of 

t:he flood waters entered the Cimarron River from North 

Fork Cimarron River in southeastern Grant County 

(fig. 42). This flood did not widen the channel appreciably because extensive channel narrowing occurred 

during the period 1943-54 along the Cimarron River 

below its confluence with the North Fork Cimarron 

River. The 1958 flood may have caused minor channel 

widening, but it obviously did not have the effect of 

pre-1942 floods, for the period 1955- 60 was characterized 

by stability or only minor channel widening. Therefore, although major floods caused serious flood-plain 

destruction between 1914 and 1942, the post-1942 floods 

were not important in this respect. 

PRECIPITATION 

Although discharge records are incomplete, data on 

precipitation have been collected for long periods at 

several weather stations in the Cimarron River drainage basin. Precipitation data were compiled for four 

stations (Richfield, Hugoton, Ulysses, and Liberal, 

Kans.) since 1910. The records at each station sho" · 

virtually the same trends during the period 1910-59, 

and they were combined to give an average for precipitation in the Cimarron River basin in Kansas (fig. 46). 
CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION, CIMARRON RIVER 79 

TABLE 2.-Peak discharge of the Cimarron River, southwestern 

Kansas 

[Data from U.S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Papers. Water-year is from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30] 

Wateryear Date 

Momentary 

maximum 

Gage Discharge height (cfs) 

(feet) 

Station 

-------------1------------

1896________ Apr. 12 -------- 1914________ May 2 13.0 

1936 ________ ---------- ·------- 1938________ Sept. 5 11.0 1939 ________ July 2 8. 70 1940 ________ May 8 7.08 

194L______ Sept. 24 10.5 1942________ Apr. 21 12.1 1943 ________ Oct. 20 3. 70 

1944________ May 30 3. 69 1945________ Aug. 23 5.12 1946________ May 29 3. 96 1947 ________ Oct. 7 5.03 

1948________ Sept. 11 4. 69 1949 ________ June 7 5. 50 

1950________ Aug. 3 4. 83 1951________ May 7 9. 94 1952________ Aug. 23 2.18 1953 ________ Aug. 20 3.60 

1954________ Aug. 15 3. 81 1955________ May 22 5. 45 1956 ________ Aug. 21 3.40 1957 ________ May 16 5.08 1958.. ______ July 8 6. 75 

1959________ May 4 3. 43 1960________ June 8 3. 70 

90 I (120;000) 

2 (67,000) 

23,000 

5,350 

2,500 

47,000 

69,000 625 2,400 

2, 560 6,360 

2,960 

5,330 

10,500 

6,320 

53,400 

1,080 

4,650 

4,300 

11,200 

2, 460 9,300 

21,300 

3,360 

4,290 

Cimarron River near Liberal, Kans. 

Cimarron River near Mocane, Okla. 

Cimarron River near Liberal, Kans. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Cimarron River near Satanta, Kans. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Cimarron River near Mocane, Okla. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

I Maximum stage known. Estimated on basis of extension of average-stage- discharge relation (L. W. Furness, U.S. Geol. Survey, Topeka, Kans., written com- munication). 

2 Estimated on basis of highwater-mark elevation and subsequently defined stage- discharge relation at U.S. Highway 283, 4.3 miles south of Englewood, Kans. (L. W. 

Furness, U.S. Geol. Survey, Topeka, Kans., written communication). 

The data shmv four periods of significancB: ( 1) 1915-

30, a period of great annual variability--years of precipitation in excess of the normal separated by years of 

drought; (2) 1931-40, a period of great precipitation 

deficiency; (3) 1941-51, a period of above-average precipitation; and ( 4) 1952-59, a period of below average 

precipitation. It is significant that channel widening 

occurred during periods 1 and 2 of variable or deficient 

rainfall, whereas ehannel narrowing occurred during 

period 3 of excess precipitation. 

VEGETATION 

The flood plain and banks of the river were vegetated 

prior to 1914 (fig. 43A). The grassed flood plain was 

relatively stable; however, if bank vegetation was destroyed by the 1914 flood, subsequent floods of lower 

peak discharge could have eontinued the destruction of 

the flood plain. Except for the 5-year period 1917-21, 

the great variability of preeipitation during the period 

1914-30 probably was unfavorable for the establishment 

of new vegetation in the channel or on the banks, and 

the period of prolonged drought 1930-40 eertainly 

checked the growth of any ne'v vegetation, whieh 

might have hindered the further widening of the channel. During the 9-year period of above-average precipitation after 1942, only floods of low peak discharge 

occurred. After 9 years of rubove-average precipitation, 

the major flood of 1951 had only minor effects on the 

channel, for much of the 1942 channel had been stabilized by perennial vegetation and convertBd to flood 

plain (fig. 430). The establishment of perennial vegetation was a great aid to flood-plain formation. The 

growth of new vegetation and the resulting flood-plain 

construction were clearly dependent on the climatic and 

runoff characteristics for the period after 1942. 

The period 1954-60 affords an oppodunity to check 

the above theory of flood-plain formation, for it was a 

period of overall rainfall deficiency during which a 

large flood occurred. These conditions, according to the 

previous conclusions, should promote channel widening 

or at least prevent continued narrowing. The records 

(table 1) reveal that some widening did occur. The 

widening was not great, apparently because of the 

change in flood-plain vegetation since 1914--from grass 

to trees, grass, and weeds. The trees that border the 

channel offer considerable proooction to the banks, and 

ehannel widening may be less easily accomplished under 

these conditions. 

SUMMARY 

The period of channel widening was characterized by 

below-average precipitation and by floods of high peak 

discharge, whereas the period of flood-plain construction was characterized by above-average precipitation 

and floods of low p~ak discharge. The influence oi 

these conditions on vegetational growth is the key to the 

behavior of Cimarron River. Wet years and low water 

allow a vigorous growth of perennial vegetation, which 

stablized the existing deposits and promoted additional 

deposition. The stabilization of the new flood plain by 

vegetation was so effective that the floods of 1951 and 

1958 did not cause great changes in the valley. 

MECHANICS OF CHANNEL WIDENING AND 

FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION 

The Cimarron River affords an exceptional example 

of recent channel and flood-plain modification. The almost complete destruction of the flood plain makes a 

dismission of the manner of widening hypothetical; 

however, information from other sources and comparison of Cimarron River characteristics with those o:f 

other streams permit some conclusions to be drawn with 

regard to the manner of channel widening. A comparison of the aerial photographs taken in 1939, 1954 and 

1960, information obtained by surveying five cross sections (fig. 42), and examination of flood-plain stratigraphy put a discussion of the flood-plain construction 

on a firmer basis. 
80 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

30 cen 

IJ.J 

I 

(.) 

z 

~ 20 -

z 

0 

i= 

c( 

t: 

0.. 

u 

IJ.J 

0:: 

0.. 10 -

....J 

c( 

::> 

z 

z 

c( 

0 I I I I I I I I I 

1915 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 

10 B 

....J 

c( 

::> 

zen 

zw 

c(I (.) 5 

zz 

c(-

wz 

~-

~z oQ 

0::1-

LL.c( 

1- (f)-

z~ 

ou 0 -IJ.J 

1-o:: 

~a.. 

> IJ.J 

0 

-5 

2 3 4 ~I 

FIGURE 46.-Average annual precipitation in southwestern Kan:-.af'. 1910-59. A, Average annual prrcipitation for Liberal, Ulysses, Hugoton, 

and Richfield, Kans. ,B, Cycles of excess and deficient rainfaJI. Tht> length of each c~·cle was determined b~· inspection. of A., and the average 

departure during each cycle was then computed. 

CHANNEL WIDENING 

The pre-1914 Cimarron River meandered across a 

grassed flood plain. On the basis of old photographs, 

the channel was determined in some localities to be as 

much as 7 feet deep. After the 1914 flood, the channel 

widened 450 to 600 feet (McLaughlin, 1947). The 

major flood apparently first destroyed the meander pattern; the point bars were eroded, and the valley was in 

effect gutted. When the meander belt was destroyed, 

the protective bank vegetation and finer sediments were 

removed; the flood-plain sediments beneath the grassed 

surface were then exposed. The pre-1914 flood-plain 

sediments are exposed at seYera] localities along the 

river (fig. 44C). In a sand pit on the north bank of the 

river at the Highway 56 crossing (fig. 42), 40 feet of 

alluvium is exposed. '1'hirty-fiye feet of the~ exposure 

is composed of cross-bedded gravel and coarse sand. 

Over this lies a dark-colored fine-grained (medium 
CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION, CIMARRON RIVER 81 

grain size is 0.025 mm) zone that shows the columnar 

structure of a soil. The structure and dark color of 

this material suggest that it formed the surface of the 

pre-1914 flood plain. Overlying this alluvium is from 

1 to 2 feet of .fine sand and silt on which the present 

flood-plain vegetation grows. Where exposed the pre1914 alluvium shows no stratification and appears 

homogeneous except for the presence of scattered pebbles. The alluvium is dense and cohesive, at least when 

dry, and may have offered considerable resistance to 

flood-plain destruction. 

At present a part of the pre-1914 flood plain, which 

escaped destruction, is being eroded at the county road 

crossing north of !{eyes, Okla. The bank on the north 

side of the river here averages 7 feet in height. The 

upper 1 to 1lj2 feet of the bank is composed of sand, 

which overlies 3 feet of pre-1914 alluvium. Beneath the 

pre-1914 alluvium, the cross-bedded channel sands are 

exposed at the base of the bank. The channel sands are 

being eroded from beneath the cohesive pre-1914 alluvium, causing slumping of the bank into the channel. 

Widening of the channel is occurring now, and it probably occurred in the past by bank caving that was 

caused by the removal of sand from beneath the cohesive pre-1914 flood-plain sediment. 

EFFECT OF CHANNEL WIDENING ON GRADIENT 

The gradient of the channel, as it was converted from 

a Ineande.ring to a straight channel, must have steepened appreciably. The gradient steepened from somewhat less than the gradient of the valley to a va1ue 

probably closely approaching that of the valley itself. 

McLaughlin (1947) concluded that some cfegradation 

occurred during and after the 1914 flood. This conclusion is based on the formation of tributary gullies 

along the widened channel and on the reappearance of 

streamflow near the Highway 56 crossing, about 1 mile 

farther upstream in 1943 than prior to 1914. Gully 

formation, howeve,r, ean be explained by the shortening of tributary stream courses by channel widening, 

which ·would induce erosion in the tributary valleys. 

In addition, part of the upstream migration of the head 

of the perennial reach near Satanta in 1943 may be 

explained by a rise in the water table after the floods 

of 1941 and 1942. Observation wells in the valley alluvium show a rise of water on the order of :3 feet after 

1940. Initial channel widening and 1neander pattern 

destruction probably were associated with some degradation; but with continued bank erosion, the large 

amounts of bank sediments added to the channel for 

transport must have prevented further deepening and 

probably caused some aggradation of the channel. 

Evidence is available to show that during the latter 

part of the period of channel widening and during the 

period of flood-plain construction the altitude of the 

channel floor has not changed appreciably. Data of 

maximum channel depth, measured from the crown of 

the roadbed at the time of bridge construction and 

again in 1960, are presented in ta:ble 3. The data show 

that changes in altitude of the channel are small. A 

change greater than 1 foot occurred at only one of the 

six bridges. These data support the hypothesis that 

degradation and aggradation may have occurred only 

locally after the 1914 flood; for during the period of 

flood-p] ain construction and channel narrowing the.re 

has been no consistent change in level along the Cimarron River. Similarly, Coldwell's (1957) observations on the 1Yashita River showed that the river has 

widened its channel from 100 to 150 feet in 1939 to 

200 to 350 feet in 1954 with no change in the altitude 

of the channel at the Pauls Valley gaging station. 

TABLE 3.-Cllanges 'in chann.el depth between date of bridge 

construction and 1960 

[Data for date of bridge construction and distance from crown of road to deepest part 

of channel at date of construction from State Highway Commission of Kansas] 

Date of 

Distance from crown of 

road to deepest part of 

channel (feet) 

Location of bridge crossing (highway) bridge con- -·---,----- struction 

u.s. 54.-------------------------------------- 1935 u.s. 83_ -------------------------------------- 1948 u.s. 56_-------------------------------------- 1930 u.s. 270_- ------------------------------------ 1949 Kansas 5L _______________ -------------------- 1938 

Kansas 27 ______________ . _____ ---------------- 1935 

At date of 

bridge con- 1960 

struction 

20 

18 

23 

32 

18 

12 

18 

18 

24 

32.5 

17 

12.5 

FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION 

Favorable conditions-namely, above-average precipitation and floods of low to moderate peak discharge-permitted the Cimarron flood plain to begin to 

re-form after the 1942 flood. Undoubtedly, the fact 

that the channel was wide enough to occupy almost the 

entire area of the former flood plain was important. 

The new flood plain was built almost entirely by a 

vertical accretion of sediments, which occurred in two 

ways as follows: (1) By island formation in the channel and subsequent attachment of the island to one bank 

by channel abandonment and (2) by deposition on and 

building up of areas not oceupied by the low-water 

channeL Each process will be discussed in some detail. 

ISLAND FORMATION 

In the widening channel, sand bars and dunes formed. 

Bars that formed during the drought years had little 
82 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

chance of becoming permanent feature,g; however, during years of average or excess precipitation, the growth 

of vegetation on the higher parts of the channel and 

on bars was the first phase of flood-plain construction. 

Vegetation converted the bars to permanent features of 

the channel. 

B 30' 

20' 

10' 

A 30' 

Prairie surface 

Flood-plain 

channel 

(high-water) 

100 200 300 

Flood plain 

400 

FEET 

When the channel was wide and dry, the 1novement of 

sand by wind was common. The migrating sand collected in vegetation along the perimeter of islands and 

built natural levees of wind-blown sand. One of these 

levee dunes occurs at section 1 and is shown on cross 

section ~1-A' (fig. ±7) at 950 feet. Onee an island heBar or 1sland ----~"fE---Abandone~ channel 

500 600 700 

B' 

800 

High-water channel 

20' 

10' 

0' 

.0 

Sand dune 

1000 1100 

Mud flat 

100 200 300 400 

Flood plain 

Low-water channel =::::;J 

500 

FEET 

/Water surface 

600 

Island ------------,;ok------------ Abandoned channel 

1200 1300 1400 1500 

FEET 

1600 1700 

/Gravel, sand, and small dunes 

700 800 900 

A' 30' 

20' 

10' 

0' 

1800 1900 2000 

FIGrRE 47.-TransYerse profiles of the Cimarron River valley. B-B', Cimarron Yalley m•ar old Highway 270 crossing, cross section 2 (fig. 42). 

A-A', Cimarron valley at cross'section 1 (fig. 42). 
CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION, CIMARRON RIVER 83 

came established in the channel, it would be perpetuated 

by deposition from subsequent floods and by the accumulation of aeolian sand deposits. 

The formation of an island narrows the channel, but 

the presence of the island itself causes further narrowing. Depending on the orientation of the island in the 

channel, one or the other of the channels surrounding the island wi11 be aggraded and abandoned (fig. 

48A). For example, an island will rarely be situated 

so as to divide the water flow equally a,round the island. 

Generally, one channel will carry a larger discharge 

than the other. When this situation occurs, the channel ca,rrying the lesser discharge is a branch channel. 

Laboratory experiments reveal tha,t a,t a stream fork 

the channel which carries !he sma,ller discharge has the 

highest concentration of bedload (Linder, 1952). In 

Fr"r·nE ~R Cinlllrron Rin•r in southwestern Kansas. .4, Ab.~ndoned branch channel nt>ar State Highway 51 crossing north 

of Holla , Kans .. in lfl60. On 1!1~~ aerial photographs this chann<>l contained no vegetation. B, One-year-old salt cedar 

saplings growing on mud-veneered pa rt of channel shown at no1·th si<lt• of profil P .4 --A ', \fig-. -!I I. Light-colored serliment is aeolian sand. C, Mud layers In flood"plain alluYium near bridge north of Moscow, Kans. Thin discontinuous 

mud layer just above thicker continuous layer in upper part of photograph is uppermost mud layer shown on figure.51. 

D, Partly buried automoblle frame near country-road bridge north of Moscow, Kar". This frame is one of a group installed 

to aid hank stahili znt ion. Tree:.; growing to rear of frame nrf" ahont 15 .n-·nrs old. 
84 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

perennial streams this relationship may not be important, but in ephemeral streams deposition is important 

as the flood waters wane. The branch channel would 

thus be aggraded until it could carry only a minor percentage of the total discharge, and it would soon be 

abandoned. The cross sections in figure 47 show abandoned branch channels and islands. 

The island formation and attachment method of 

flood-plain formation is less important than it appeared 

initially, for many isl:wds that occupy the channel of 

Cimarron River at present were not formed in the 

channel but were fashioned by the detachment of portions of flood plain by channel changes. The island 

theory was first proposed to explain flood-plain formation and channel changes along the Red River during 

the Texas-Oklahoma boundary controversy (Glenn, 

1925). 

DIRECT FLOOD•PLAIN CONSTRUCTION 

If, when the river was at its greatest width in 1943, 

a low-water channel meandered across the greatly 

widened sandy high-water channel, then a flood plain 

may have been already partially formed. Cross section 

A-A' of figure 47 shows the low-water channel occupying the center of a much wider sandy channel. During 

the survey, water filled the low-water channel. The surface to the left (north) of the low-water channel had 

been flooded recently and a veneer of mud had been 

deposited on this surface to a depth of one-half inch. 

This locality was revisited in the spring of 1961, and the 

surface was found to be supporting a new growth of 

salt cedar (fig. 48B). The presence of these plants will 

aid further deposition at this site. Apparently, during 

years of above average precipitation and low flow, the 

surface adjacent to a low-water channel becomes vegetated. It is then raised by deposition from flows that 

overtopped the low-water channel. 

A 

A ' 

Moderate flow 

Figure 4!l illustrates how the flows of different height 

affect the channel. Low flo"·s are confined to the low-

\Yater channel and play no part in flood-plnin formation, except as they afford a source of moisture for 

bank vegetation. Moderate flo,Ys escape the low-water 

channel and deposit sediment on the incipient flood 

plain, as on the north side of profile tl-A' (fig. 47). 

High flows tend either to destroy or to build up the 

incipient flood plain, depending on vegetational cover. 

Because the high flo,Ys tend to be destructive during 

the initial phase of flood-plain construction, th e first 

patches of pennanent flood-plain appear on those parts 

of the valley f-loor protected from the full force of 

floods. For example, aerial photographs show that initial flood-plain formation occurred in sheltered parts 

of the valley, at the mouth of tributaries, and in the 

lee of islands (fig. 50). The formation of the initial 

areas of flood plain natmally shielded other parts of 

the valley floor, "-hich in turn became vegetated and 

aggraded. The coalescence of these newly formed floodplain patches formed the existing flood plain. Each 

succeding flood deposited sediment on these areas, '"hi ch 

\Yere gradually bnilt- up t·o a level sewral feet aboYe the 

present channel. 

FLOOD-PLAIN STRATIGRAPHY 

If the foregoing out·line of flood-plain formatiou 

along the Cimarron River is correct, stratigraphic evidence in the banks of the channel should confirm it. 

Cross section A -A' of figure 47 shows the present lowwater channel. The banks of the low-water cha.nnel are 

composed of channel sand. If these banks were built 

higher by overbank deposition, then each flood should 

have left a deposit of sand and silt as the flood waters 

receded from the higher surface. Depending on the 

sediment load carried by the water and the ability of 

\ 

FIGURE 50.-Channel areas fa Yorable for flood-plain forma tlon. 1, Crest 

of valley meander ; 2, Lee of valley bend ; 3, Mouth of tributary ; 

FIGURE 49.- Sketch illustrating parts of the Cimarron valley covered hy 4, Island; 5, Lee of Island (nbandoned channel) ; 6 , Surface above 

low, moderate, and high flows. .Enlargement of profile, X 4. low-water channeL 
CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION, CIMARRON RIVER 85 

the higher surface to trap and hold the sediment, the 

rise of the flood-plain surface might be rapid or slow. 

Specific eYiclence of flood deposition would be a layer 

of mud left by the receding waters, a~ observed in 1960 

on the left side of the channel. ( ~ee section A -A' 

fig. --l-7, and fig. 48B.) 

~\t each r(:'ach of the. c-hannel visited in Kan~as the 

recent flood-plain deposits, where exposed by excavation, shmv alternating thin layers of mud ancl sand 

(fig 4R('). The mud layers are horizontal and in some 

places could be traced back from the channel across 

the flood plain to the edge of the valley. Individual 

mud layers were traced in existing sand pits and in holes 

angered or dug into the flood plain. 

To examine th(:'se (leposits in more detail, a vertical 

cut, "·hich exposed 5 feet of the flood-plain alluvium, 

was made near the county road crossing north of l\loscow. The base of the cut was at the level of the present ehannel. A diagrammatic sketch of this section is 

shmvn in figure 51. f-lix mud layers appear in thi~ section (fig ±8r). 

Depth 

(feet) 

'i ~ V''l t'~ 0 

1 

2 

t-- 3 

t-- 4 

I ' \ • 

5 

Median 

grain Silt-clay 

size (percent) 

(mm) 

0.17 14 

.20 9 

.16 12 

.26 6 

.45 1 

FIGURE 51.-Flood-plain stratification near county-road bridge north of 

Moscow, Kans. The six mud la.vers a.re shown by black lines. (See 

also fig. 480.) 

The flood plain is composed of sedimentary units 

deposited by overbank floods. A deposit of sand is 

overlain by a thin laye·r of fine sediment (the mud layer), which is deposited during the recession of the flood 

waters. A part of the sand above the uppermost mud 

layer (fig. 51) is composed of wind-blown sand trapped 

by vegetation on the flood-plain surface; undoubtedly, 

a part of the sand found between mud layers is aeolian, 

for the mud deposited in the channel in 1960 is now 

covered by a thin veneer of wind-blown sand (fig. 

48B). 

Other evidence of overbank deposition might be a 

graded deposit; that is, the allnYium exposed in the 

banks should show a decrease in grain size upward. In 

figure 51 the grading would be well defined if it were 

not for the occurrence of two thick mud layers between 

2 and 3 feet. Except for the sample containing the 

mud layers, the percent silt clay also increases upward 

as expected. The stratigraphic evidence supports the 

concept of flood-plain formation by vertical accretion. 

Cores were taken from several cottonwood trees 

growing on the newly constructed flood plain in 1961 

to afford more precise information on the age of the 

flood plain. Trees at the south edge of the flood plain 

near the old Highway 270 crossing were 17 years old. 

Two trees were cored at the north edge of the flood 

plain near the bridge north of Moscow. These trees had 

grown around an automobile frame (fig. 48D), one of 

a group installed to aid in stabilizing the bank. The 

frame is now located about 250 feet from the present 

bank of the Cimarron River. The cored trees were 

found to be 14 and 15 years old. These ages support 

the conclusion that flood-plain construction began after 

the 1942 flood. 

Trees on the flood plain have been partly buried by 

alluvium. Pits were dug at the base of three corsd 

trees to determine the depth of burial. One small tree, 

located on the flood plain near Satanta, was 13 years 

old in 1961 and has been buried by 2 feet of alluvium. 

Two trees on the flood plain near the county road crossing north of Moscow and closer to the channel than 

those shown in figure 48TJ were excavated to the main 

root system at depths of 1.8 and 2.0 feet. These trees 

were both 11 years old. This evidence indicates that 

about 2 feet of flood-plain deposition has occnred during 

thE" last 11 to lii years. 

SUMMARY 

Once started by a m.ajor flood, the ·widening of the 

Cimarron River channel did not cease because of the 

ease of bank erosion and the occnrrenee of large floods. 

The widening of the channel apparently occurred by 

bank caving as the coarse sand was washed from be-
86 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

neath the relatively resistant pre-1914 flood-plain sediments. 

During channel widening, degradation was probably 

not important. Channel gradient steepened, however, 

as the course of the river was shortened by destruction 

of the meander pattern. 

The channel narrowing or flood-plain construction 

along the Cimarron River was the result of three factors as follows: The river had widened excessively; precipitation was above average; and the large floods were 

infrequent and did not erode the newly formed flood 

plain. The new flood plain is composed of a complex 

of coalesced islands, abandoned branch channels, and 

areas of flood plain built adjacent to the low-water 

channel. Large parts of the wide channel were not occupied by low-water flows, and these areas were sites 

of vegetational growth. The increased plant cover reduced flow velocities over these areas and promoted 

sediment deposition. 

An examination of flood-plain stratigraphy indicates 

that the flood plain is composed predominantly of overbank sediment deposited during floods. An individual 

flood deposit consists of a layer of sand covered by a 

veneer of mud. 

COMPARISON OF CIMARRON RIVER CHANNEL 

CHANGES WITH THOSE OF OTHER RIVERS 

Too often in the consideration of unstable channels 

one is prone to think only of degradation or aggradation of the channel. Observations along Cimarron 

River clearly show, however, that both channel widening and narrowing may occur ·without a major change 

in the altitude of the: channel floor (table 3). The rate 

and method of flood-plain formation noted along the 

Cimarron River is not unique, for similar changes have 

been noted along other rivers. For example, the widening of the channel of "\Vashita River, as described by 

Cold,vell (1957), occurred without significant changes 

in the altitude of the bed of the stream. 

Hefley ( 1935) stated that the Canadian River in 

eastern Oklahoma has widened since the major flood 

of 1906 from less than half a mile to more than 2 miles 

in some places. 

Bryan (1927) reported that the Rio Salado, a tributary to the Rio Grande near San Acacia, N. Mex., 

ranged from 12 to 49 feet in width in 1882, but in 1918 

its width ranged from 330 to 550 feet. Bryan (1927, 

p. 19) stated that "Unlike many similar streams in New 

Mexico, which have not only widened their channels 

but deepended them in the same period, the Rio Salado, 

at least in the vicinity of Santa Rita, has even yet banks 

that are only 3 to 10 feet high and average 5 feet high." 

Leopold and Wolman ( 1957) reported that the channels 

of the Verde and Gila Rivers in Arizona were widened 

by large floods, but that narrowing of the channel followed establishment of vegetation. These changes may 

be similar to those which occurred along Cimarron 

River. 

Smith (1940) reported on recent channel changes of 

several rivers in western Kansas, indicating that they 

have undergone Cimarron-type changes. The Smoky 

Hill River originally "had alternating sandy stretches 

and grassy stretches with series of pools. Later the 

former were widened, and the latter were sanded up 

* * * '~ Smith further stated that the Republican 

River was greatly affected by the flood of 1935. 

Formerly a narrow stream with a practically perennial flow of 

clear water and with well-wooded banks, the Republican now 

has a broad, shallow sandy channel with intermittent flow. 

The trees were practically all washed out and destroyed, much 

valuable farmland * * * was sanded over, and the channel has 

been filled up by several feet. 

The Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers are t.ypical of 

streams having sandy channels, as they have only from 

2 to 5 percent silt and clay, in the sediment forming 

the perimeter of their channels (Schumm, 1961). 

The Red River flood plain near Burkburnett, Tex. 

(fig. 52) was the object of intensive study as a result 

of the boundary dispute bet,veen Oklahoma and Texas 

(Glenn, 1925; Sellards, 1923). The Red River was 

never a narrow, meandering stream in historic times: 

a survey in 1874 shmved the river to be about 4,000 feet 

'vide. The channel, however, has undergone some important changes. For exa1nple, comparison of a special 

n1ap prepared in 1920 (Sellards, 1923) with aerial photographs taken in 1953 showed enlargement of the flood 

plain. Over a 10 mile reach of the river 5.5 square 

miles of flood plain were added. The width of the Red 

River was measured at 20 sections between the confluence of the Pease and Red Rivers to the 'vest and the 

confluence of Whiskey Creek and Red River to the east 

on aerial photographs taken in 1937, 1953, and 1957. 

In 1937 the river averaged three-quarters of a mile in 

width, close to the. average for the 1874 survey. In 1953 

the average width had decreased to half a mile. This 

channel narrowing may have been contemporaneous 

with that along Cimarron River. In 1957 the. river averaged two-thirds of a mile wide, indicating a significant widening between 1953 and 1957. The photographs show all the types of flood-plain formation 

noted along the Cimarron River (fig. 50), and as suggested by Glenn (1925), the attachment of islands to 

the flood plain was important in the formation process. 

The Red River transports large amounts of sand, red 

silt, and clay. The flood-plain sediments, where observed near the main highway bridges (Highways 81, 
CHANNEL WIDENING AND FLOOD-PLAIN CONSTRUCTION, CIMARRON RIVER 87 

I 

I 

99' 98' 

i I 

OKLAHOMA 

0 25 MILES 

,---------------, 

r------, I 

I

I I \, OKLAHOMA I 

~--~/~J TEXAS \ I I 

I J 

~-----------------~ 

FIGURE 52.-Index map of Red River area. 

281, and 183, fig. 52) sho·w stratification characteristic 

of vertical accretion deposits. One section was sampled 

in detail near Burkburnett, Tex., where it \Vas possible 

to obtain a sample of one thick mud layer not mixed 

with sand. The median grain size ( 0.002 mm) and silt 

and clay content ( 89 percent) of this layer are very 

similar to the median grain size ( 0.001 mm) and silt 

and clay content ( 85 percent) of mud recently deposited over sand at the margin of the channel. The similarity between the mud layers of the bank and the mud 

being deposited in the channel and the occurrence of 

mud layers in the banks at this location and elsewhere 

indicate that the Red River flood plain and islands, 

where observed, are built by the vertical accretion of 

sediment. 

SUMMARY 

The channel changes along the Cimarron River appear to be similar to changes which have occurred along 

the Washita, Canadian, Smoky Hill, Republican, and 

Red Rivers and Rio Salado. The changes differ from 

the degradation and aggradation characteristic of 

other unstable streams, for these rivers widen and narrow their channels as an alternative to aggradation and 

degradation 

CONCLUSIONS 

Flood-plain destruction along the Cimarron River 

occurred as a result of channel widening, which was 

initiated by the maximum flood on record. Large floods 

and below-average precipitation hindered a return to 

stability, and, in fact, were the means by which floodplain destruction was perpetuated. 

In contrast to floods observed in humid regions (Wolman and Eiler, 1958), floods in semiarid and arid environments may be tremendously destructive to the 

channel and flood plain. This destruction by floods 

may be a characteristic of erosion in a semiarid region 

where climatic fluctuations are common, and the 

streams are ephemeral or carry very low flows during 

long periods. Often these streams cannot adjust as 

readily as perennial streams to a change in stream regimen or a climatic fluctuation. Large floods may trigger 

an adjustment by initiating periods of severe erosion 

or deposition (Schumm and Hadley, 1958), and the 

events along Cimarron River may be of this type. 

Most of the Cimarron River flood plain was constructed in only 12 years. Although rapid rates of erosion and deposition are commonly observed on other 

rivers, we are not aware of rates of flood-plain formation elsewhere as ra.pid as on the Cimarron River. 

Observations in the valleys of the Cimarron and Red 

Rivers show that the flood plains were formed predominantly by overbank flooding and the vertical 

accretion of sediment. Generally, patches of flood plain 

in the most sheltered parts of the channel formed first. 

These patches coalesced and joined the islands and 

abandoned channels to form a composite flood plain. 

The flood plain, however, can be built simultaneously 

over large areas when an area of channel between the 

low-water channel and the edge of the valley is transformed as a unit to flood plain (fig. 50). 

After the flood plain has been formed by vertical 

accretion, the stream may begin to meander. This reworking of the flood-plain alluvium by lateral migration of the stream would form a flood plain composed 

predominantly of lateral accretion deposits, as described 

by Wolman and Leopold ( 1957) and Adler -and Lattman ( 1961). A flood plain may be formed by different 

processes, but a meandering stream migrating from one 

side of the valley to the other would leave a flood plain 

showing stratigraphic evidence only of lateral·accretion. 

Therefore, the presence of lateral-accretion deposits 

forming the major part of a flood plain may not mean 

that the flood plain was initially formed by point-bar 

construction. 

The type of changes occurring along the Red and 

Cimarron Rivers can be attributed to a large extent to 

the sandy alluvium forming the flood plain and channel. 

Channel widening instead of degradation and floodplain construction instead of aggradation may occur 

commonly along sandy rivers in semiarid regions. 
88 EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION IN A SEMIARID ENVIRONMENT 

REFERENCES 

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Sta. (Pennsylvania State Univ.) Bull. 77, p. 1-11. 

Bryan, Kirk, 1927, Channel erosion of the Rio Salado, Socorro 

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Bryne, F. E., and McLaughlin, T. G., 1948, Geology and groundwater resources of Seward County, Kansas : Kansas Geol. 

Survey Bull. 69, 140 p. 

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