Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three 

Backwaters on the Missouri River in Nebraska, 

Iowa, and Missouri, 2011–13

Data Series 909

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Front cover: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrographer surveying the top of bank at Deroin chute 

in 2013. Photograph by Justin Krahulik, USGS.

Back cover: (Top) Tobacco chute, 2014. Photograph by Justin Krahulik, USGS. 

(Bottom) USGS hydrographers collecting bathymetry data at Deroin chute in 2013 with 

construction on the left bank of the chute. Photograph by Brenda Densmore, USGS. 
Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and 

Three Backwaters on the Missouri River in 

Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri, 2011–13

By Justin R. Krahulik, Brenda K. Densmore, Kayla J. Anderson, and Cory L. Kavan

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District

Data Series 909

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2015

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living 

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Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials 

as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.

Suggested citation:

Krahulik, J.R., Densmore, B.K., Anderson, K.J., and Kavan, C.L., 2015, Hydrographic surveys at seven chutes and three 

backwaters on the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri, 2011–13: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 909, 

28 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ds909.

ISSN 2327-638X (online)
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2

Description of Survey Sites.................................................................................................................2

Surveying Methods........................................................................................................................................6

Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System Surveying ..........................................6

Bathymetric Surveying.........................................................................................................................9

Discharge Measurements.................................................................................................................10

Hydrographic Survey of the Chutes and Backwaters ...........................................................................10

Ponca Backwater...............................................................................................................................11

Council Chute.......................................................................................................................................11

Plattsmouth Chute ..............................................................................................................................12

Plattsmouth Backwater.....................................................................................................................12

Tobacco Chute.....................................................................................................................................12

Upper Hamburg Chute .......................................................................................................................13

Lower Hamburg Chute .......................................................................................................................13

Kansas Chute.......................................................................................................................................14

Langdon Backwater...........................................................................................................................14

Deroin Chute........................................................................................................................................15

Summary........................................................................................................................................................16

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................17

Appendix........................................................................................................................................................19

Data Files.......................................................................................................................................................19

Metadata.......................................................................................................................................................19

Figures

1. Map showing the location of the seven chutes and three backwaters on the

Missouri River that were surveyed yearly, 2011–13................................................................3

2. Photographs showing control structures at Missouri River chutes, 2011–13....................5

3. Photographs showing Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System

base station and bench mark at Deroin chute, Missouri, 2013.............................................7

4. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Ponca backwater near Ponca,

Nebraska, 2011–13......................................................................................................................11

5. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Council chute near Council Bluffs,

Iowa, 2011–13 ..............................................................................................................................11

6. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Plattsmouth chute near Plattsmouth,

Nebraska, 2011–13......................................................................................................................12

7. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Plattsmouth backwater near

Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 2011–13 ..............................................................................................12

8. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Tobacco chute near Plattsmouth,

Nebraska, 2011–13......................................................................................................................13
iv

9. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Upper Hamburg chute near Nebraska

City, Nebraska, 2011–13 .............................................................................................................13

10. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Lower Hamburg chute near Hamburg,

Iowa, 2011–13 ..............................................................................................................................14

11. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Kansas chute near Peru, Nebraska,

2011–13 .........................................................................................................................................14

12. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Langdon backwater near Nemaha,

Nebraska, 2011–13......................................................................................................................15

13. Map showing hydrographic survey data for Deroin chute near Corning, Missouri,

2011–13 .........................................................................................................................................16

Tables

1. Location, construction information, and survey information for the seven chutes

and three backwaters on the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri that

were surveyed yearly, 2011–13...................................................................................................4

2. Bench marks used for the hydrographic surveys on the Missouri River in Nebraska,

Iowa, and Missouri, 2011–13.......................................................................................................8

3. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Council chute and

in Council chute, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 2011–12 ....................................................................11

4. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Plattsmouth chute

and in Plattsmouth chute near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 2011 .............................................12

5. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Tobacco chute

and in Tobacco chute near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 2011–13 .............................................13

6. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Upper Hamburg

chute and in Upper Hamburg chute near Nebraska City, Nebraska, 2011–13 .................14

7. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Lower Hamburg

chute and in Lower Hamburg chute near Hamburg, Iowa, 2011–13 ..................................15

8. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Kansas chute and

in Kansas chute near Peru, Nebraska, 2011–13 ....................................................................15

9. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Deroin chute and

in Deroin chute near Corning, Missouri, 2011–13..................................................................16
v

Conversion Factors

[International System of Units to inch/pound]

Multiply By To obtain

Length

centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.)

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft) 

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

Area

square meter (m2) 0.0002471 acre 

hectare (ha) 2.471 acre

square kilometer (km2) 247.1 acre

Flow rate

meter per second (m/s) 3.281 foot per second (ft/s) 

cubic meter per second (m3/s) 35.31 cubic foot per second (ft3/s)

Frequency

kilohertz (kHz) 1,000 cycle per second

Supplemental Information

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Datums

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Elevation, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.
vi

Abbreviations

csv comma-separated values

DGPS differentially corrected Global Positioning System

GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System

GPS global positioning system

HAMP Pallid Sturgeon Habitat Assessment and Monitoring Program 

NGS National Geodetic Survey

OPUS Online Positioning Users Service

ppm part per million

QA/QC quality assurance and quality control

RM river mile

RMS root mean square

RTK Real-Time Kinematic

SWH shallow water habitat

USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

USGS U.S. Geological Survey
Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three 

Backwaters on the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, 

and Missouri, 2011–13

By Justin R. Krahulik, Brenda K. Densmore, Kayla J. Anderson, and Cory L. Kavan

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey cooperated with the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Omaha District, 

to complete hydrographic surveys of seven chutes and three 

backwaters on the Missouri River yearly during 2011–13. 

These chutes and backwaters were constructed by the USACE 

to increase the amount of available shallow water habitat 

(SWH) to support threatened and endangered species, as 

required by the amended “2000 Biological Opinion” on the 

operation of the Missouri River main-stem reservoir system. 

Chutes surveyed included Council chute, Plattsmouth chute, 

Tobacco chute, Upper Hamburg chute, Lower Hamburg 

chute, Kansas chute, and Deroin chute. Backwaters surveyed 

included Ponca backwater, Plattsmouth backwater, and 

Langdon backwater. Hydrographic data from these chute and 

backwater surveys will aid the USACE to assess the current 

(2011–13) amount of available SWH, the effects river flow 

have had on evolving morphology of the chutes and backwaters, and the functionality of the chute and backwater designs. 

Chutes and backwaters were surveyed from August through 

November 2011, June through November 2012, and May 

through October 2013. During the 2011 surveys, high water 

was present at all sites because of the major flooding on the 

Missouri River. The hydrographic survey data are published 

along with this report in comma-separated-values (csv) format 

with associated metadata. 

Hydrographic surveys included bathymetric and RealTime Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System surveys. 

Hydrographic data were collected along transects extending 

across the channel from top of bank to top of bank. Transect 

segments with water depths greater than 1 meter were surveyed using a single-beam echosounder to measure depth and 

a differentially corrected global positioning system to measure 

location. These depth soundings were converted to elevation 

using water-surface-elevation information collected with a 

Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System. 

Transect segments with water depths less than 1 meter were 

surveyed using Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation 

Satellite Systems. Surveyed features included top of bank, toe 

of bank, edge of water, sand bars, and near-shore areas. 

Discharge was measured at chute survey sites, in both the 

main channel of the Missouri River upstream from the chute 

and the chute. Many chute entrances and control structures 

were damaged by floodwater during the 2011 Missouri River 

flood, allowing a larger percentage of the total Missouri River 

discharge to flow through the chute than originally intended 

in the chute design. Measured discharge split between the 

main channel and the chute at most chutes was consistent with 

effects of the 2011 Missouri River flood damages and a larger 

percent of the total Missouri River discharge was flowing 

through the chute than originally intended. The U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers repaired many of these chutes in 2012 and 

2013, and the resulting hydraulic changes are reflected in the 

discharge splits. 

Introduction

The operations of the Missouri River main-stem reservoir system and the operation and maintenance of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project were 

determined to jeopardize the recovery of least terns (Sternula 

antillarum), piping plovers (Charadrius melodus), and pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 2003). Modification of the Missouri River from its 

original form, caused by the main-stem reservoirs and bank 

stabilization, has led to loss of shallow water habitat (SWH) 

(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2000). The U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers (USACE) has completed many construction 

projects along the Missouri River in an effort to increase the 

amount of available SWH as required by the amended “2000 

Biological Opinion” (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2003). 

The “2000 Biological Opinion” defined SWH to be less than 

1.5 meters (m) (approximately 5 feet [ft]) deep and with a current velocity less than 0.6 meters per second (m/s) (approximately 2 feet per second [ft/s]), and set forth guidelines for the 

amount of SWH that should be present on the river to meet the 

needs of endangered fish and bird species, that is, an average 
2 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

of 8–12 hectares (20–30 acres) per river mile. One of the 

primary means of creating SWH on the Missouri River is construction and restoration of chutes and backwaters (U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers, 2011). Chutes are constructed by excavating a pilot channel through the overbank that allows water 

to flow from the river into the chute at the inlet and reenter 

the river downstream at the chute outlet. The chutes are then 

allowed to widen and meander in a controlled manner (U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, 2011). Backwaters are constructed 

by dredging out new or reconstructed SWH that has an inlet 

connected to the main channel of the river or to a chute. Backwaters differ from chutes in that they do not have an outlet.

To evaluate the amount of SWH within the river and 

the physical performance of SWH construction projects, the 

Pallid Sturgeon Habitat Assessment and Monitoring Program 

(HAMP) was implemented in 2005 (U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, 2010). The HAMP focuses on monitoring physical and biological responses to SWH creation and uses the 

information collected to improve future habitat creation efforts 

(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2010). The initial efforts of 

the HAMP were focused on main channel habitat at designated river bends (Jalili and Pridal, 2010; U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, 2010), but were expanded in 2011 to include other 

types of SWH. The expanded monitoring included constructed 

or restored chutes and backwaters along the Missouri River. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has cooperated with the 

USACE since 2005 to complete monitoring activities as part 

of the HAMP. These monitoring activities have focused on 

chutes and backwaters since 2011. Hydrographic data from 

these chute and backwater surveys will aid the USACE to 

assess the current (2011–13) amount of available SWH, the 

effects river flow have had on evolving morphology of the 

chutes and backwaters, and the functionality of the chute and 

backwater designs. 

Purpose and Scope

This report presents the survey data for seven chutes and 

three backwaters on the Missouri River, which provides yearly 

(2011–13) measurements for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to calculate geomorphic change to understand chute and 

backwater evolution. The report describes the survey methods 

used to collect hydrographic survey data, including Real-Time 

Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) 

data, bathymetric survey data, and discharge measurements 

at each of the survey sites. Hydrographic survey data are 

published along with this report in a comma-separated-values 

(csv) format with the associated metadata. Discharge measurements also are presented for each chute survey site. In this 

report, “hydrographic survey” will refer to the entire survey 

including RTK GNSS and bathymetric surveys. In this report, 

the term RTK GNSS surveys or data refer to all data points 

collected using RTK GNSS equipment, which includes data 

collected on the banks, in shallow water that was wadeable, 

and water-surface elevations. The term RTK GNSS topographic surveys or data only refer to data collected on the 

banks or in shallow water that was wadeable. Bathymetric 

surveys or data refer to depth data collected using an echosounder coupled with a single-beam transducer, positioned 

using differentially corrected GNSS, and converted to elevation using water-surface elevations measured with RTK GNSS 

equipment. 

Description of Survey Sites

Seven chutes and three backwaters were surveyed on the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri from 2011–2013 

(fig. 1). Chutes surveyed included Council chute, Plattsmouth 

chute, Tobacco chute, Upper Hamburg chute, Lower Hamburg 

chute, Kansas chute, and Deroin chute. Backwaters surveyed 

included Ponca backwater, Plattsmouth backwater, and Langdon backwater. All survey sites were located between river 

mile (RM) 516.4 and 755.1 (system of river miles established 

by the USACE that originates at the mouth of the Missouri 

River at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers 

and is based on the 1960 channel) (table 1). Table 1 provides 

an approximate latitude and longitude at the mouth of each 

survey site as well as the nearest town located on the same 

side of the river as the site. The oldest site surveyed was Upper 

Hamburg chute, which was constructed in 1996; all other sites 

were constructed in 2000 or later (table 1). The length of the 

chutes surveyed ranged from 1,716–5,529 m, and the area of 

the backwaters surveyed ranged from 37,232–283,290 square 

meters (m2) (table 1). Sand is the dominant bed substrate at 

most survey sites; however, some backwaters and slow flowing chutes had substantial amounts of fine sediment (silts and 

clays) as well. 

Many of the banks of the survey sites are forested and 

those sites that are not forested typically have small trees and 

shrubs. The 2011 Missouri River flood left many of the trees 

dead and forested banks were challenging to survey because 

fallen trees made walking difficult; additionally, trees that 

fell in the water had to be avoided during bathymetric data 

collection. 

The effects of the 2011 Missouri River flood on these 

chute and backwater habitat restoration sites were substantial 

(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 2013). As a result of the flood, several survey sites 

were damaged by deposition and erosion, and structures 

that were created to control flow were no longer functioning 

properly. Sites where sediment was deposited were Ponca 

backwater, Plattsmouth backwater and chute, and Langdon 

backwater. Sediment deposition at Plattsmouth chute was so 

great that the sustainability of the chute is uncertain. Sites that 

were eroded because of the flood in 2011 were Council chute, 

Upper and Lower Hamburg chute, Kansas chute, and Deroin 

chute. Deposition, erosion, and damage to site control structures (fig. 2) changed the structure and function of these sites, 

and many control structures required repair and maintenance 

(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 2013). 
Introduction 3

Figure 1. Location of the seven chutes and three backwaters on the Missouri River that were surveyed yearly, 2011–13.

Boyer River

James River

Vermillion River

Big Sioux River

Floyd River

Little Sioux River

Soldier River

Platte River

Big Papillion Creek

West Nishnabotna River

East Nishnabotna River

Little Nemaha River

North Fork Big Nemaha River

Missouri River

Deroin chute

Kansas chute

Tobacco chute

Council chute

Ponca backwater

Langdon backwater

Plattsmouth chute

Lower Hamburg chute

Upper Hamburg chute

Plattsmouth backwater

IOWA

KANSAS MISSOURI

NEBRASKA

GAVINS POINT DAM

SOUTH DAKOTA

Map area

Survey site

EXPLANATION

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, 2009, 1:70,000

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, zone 15

Horizontal coordinate information referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83)

0 20 40 60 KILOMETERS

0 20 40 60 MILES

97° 96° 95°

43°

42°

41°

40°

Peru

Rulo

Omaha

Blair

Onawa

Sloan

Ponca

Nemaha

Corning

Yankton

Sioux City

Vermillion

Nebraska City

Council Bluffs

North Sioux City

Plattsmouth

Hamburg

IOWA

KANSAS

MISSOURI

NEBRASKA

SOUTH DAKOTA
4 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13 Table 1. Location, construction information, and survey information for the seven chutes and three backwaters on the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri that were surveyed yearly, 2011–13. [DMS, degrees, minutes, seconds; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; RM, river mile; m, miles; m2, square miles; Nebr., Nebraska; %, percent; Mo., Missouri] Survey site (fig. 1) Nearest town (located on the same side of the Missouri River) Latitude (DMS) (NAD 83)1 Longitude (DMS) (NAD 83)1 Down- stream RM (1960) Upstream RM (1960) Year constructed Area (m2) or length (m) Dates surveyed Number of survey points Coverage2 Ponca backwater Ponca, Nebr. 42°37ʹ14.68ʺ 96°42ʹ42.11ʺ 753.0 755.1 2004 283,290 m2 8/18/2011 42,431 100% 10/23 and 11/14/2012 9,008 75% 10/25/2013 368 50% Council chute Council Bluffs, Iowa 41°16ʹ26.69ʺ 95°54ʹ00.23ʺ 616.8 617.8 2007 1,716 m 8/8/2011 49,865 100% 6/14/2012 31,554 100% 7/7/2013 28,723 100% Plattsmouth chute Plattsmouth, Nebr. 41°02ʹ55.54ʺ 95°52ʹ36.67ʺ 592.1 594.5 2008 3,679 m 8/22–23/2011 89,224 100% 7/12–13 and 8/23/2012 730 50% 5/22–23/2013 1,038 50% Plattsmouth backwater Plattsmouth, Nebr. 41°01ʹ35.51ʺ 95°52ʹ14.13ʺ 591.5 592.5 2008 202,350 m2 11/11/2011 27,958 100% 10/15/2012 15,653 50% 10/31/2013 418 50% Tobacco chute Plattsmouth, Nebr. 40°59ʹ23.91ʺ 95°51ʹ05.57ʺ 586.3 589.6 2002 4,709 m 10/13–14/2011 49,478 100% 7/11–12/2012 20,190 75% 8/20–22/2013 72,344 100% Upper Hamburg chute Nebaska City, Nebr. 40°37ʹ04.03ʺ 95°46ʹ01.77ʺ 552.2 555.9 1996 4,862 m 8/24–25/2011 158,637 100% 6/19–20 and 10/2–3/2012 97,924 75% 6/26–27 and 7/3/2013 136,591 100% Lower Hamburg chute Hamburg, Iowa 40°35ʹ19.42ʺ 95°45ʹ26.54ʺ 550.6 553.4 2005 4,023 m 10/5–6 and 10/2011 108,133 100% 7/9–10/2012 81,915 100% 7/23–24/2013 54,221 75% Kansas chute Peru, Nebr. 40°31ʹ29.6ʺ 95°43ʹ46.33ʺ 544.6 546.4 2005 2,789 m 10/10/2011 40,913 100% 6/21/2012 46,209 100% 7/25/2013 16,370 50%

Langdon 

backwater

Nemaha, Nebr. 40°19ʹ43.57ʺ 95°38ʹ25.58ʺ 529.0 531.4 2000 37,232 m2 10/26/2011 20,885 100%

8/8/2012 164 50%10/28/2013 182 50%

Deroin chute Corning, Mo. 40°16ʹ43.16ʺ 95°33ʹ02.46ʺ 516.4 520.5 2002 5,529 m 9/7–9/2011 213,840 100%

6/11–13/2012 168,090 100%6/18–20/2013 128,227 100%

1Latitude and longitude were measured near the mouth of each chute or backwater.2One-hundred percent (100%), full coverage of site with bathymetry alone or bathymetry and terrestrial Real-Ttime Kinetic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) surveys; 75%, limited bathymetry and full terrestrial RTK GNSS surveys; 50%, no bathymetry and full terrestrial RTK GNSS surveys or limited bathymetry and limited terrestrial RTK GNSS survey; 25%, limited terrestrial RTK GNSS 

surveys only. 
Introduction 

5

Figure 2. Control structures at Missouri River chutes, 2011–13. A, Construction of a new inlet control structure at Deroin chute, 2013. B, Turbulent water around 

the inlet control structure and snags at Lower Hamburg chute, 2014. C, New control structure within Lower Hamburg chute, 2014. D, Limited bank protection on an eroded bank at Tobacco chute, 2014.

AC

BD

Flow

Flow

Flow

Flow

Inlet control stucture

Inlet control stucture

Bank protection
6 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Surveying Methods

The RTK GNSS and bathymetric surveys were completed on predetermined transects that were and spaced every 

30.48 m (100 ft) at chute survey sites or in a 76.20-m grid 

(250-ft grid) at backwater survey sites. Survey data were 

collected along transects to delineate the channel cross section from top of bank to top of bank. Locations on transects 

where water depth was more than 1 m were surveyed using a 

single-beam echosounder to measure depth and a differentially 

corrected global positioning system (DGPS) with OmniSTARTM (OmniSTARTM, 2014) to measure location. These 

depth soundings were converted to elevation by subtracting 

the depth from the corresponding water-surface elevation, 

which was surveyed using RTK GNSS. All locations on the 

transects that were covered with less than 1 m of water were 

surveyed using RTK GNSS; these locations included top of 

bank, toe of bank, edge of water, sand bars, and near-shore 

areas. Discharge was measured at chute sites, both in the main 

channel of the Missouri River upstream from the chute and in 

the chute. 

Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation 

Satellite System Surveying

The RTK GNSS surveys were completed using Ashtech 

Z–Xtreme receivers with Geodetic IV revision A antennas 

[global positioning system (GPS) only] in 2011. A description 

of this equipment, including accuracy information, is presented in Thompson and others (2007). For the 2012 and 2013 

RTK GNSS surveys, Trimble® R8 GNSS receivers (Trimble®

Navigation, 2009) were used. The stated accuracies of a Trimble® R8 GNSS receiver for kinematic surveying are 10 millimeters (mm) plus 1 part per million (ppm) root mean square 

(RMS) error for horizontal position and 20 mm plus 1 ppm 

RMS error for vertical position (Trimble® Navigation, 2009).

The RTK GNSS surveys consisted of one receiver 

remaining static as a “base station” (fig. 3), which provided 

position-correction information to rover receivers. The 

information sent from the base station to the rover receivers 

by radio link allowed the rover to more accurately measure 

its position. Before beginning a RTK GNSS survey, a bench 

mark (fig. 3) was physically established at each survey site, 

where the base station was set. Establishing permanent bench 

marks in an effective (radio link covering the entire survey 

site) and accessible location was a challenge because of 2011 

floodwater, sandy soils, riparian vegetation, and construction 

activities. At most survey sites, a new USGS bench mark was 

set; however, at a few survey sites an existing USACE bench 

mark was used (table 2). Newly set bench marks were typically located on a high bank with limited tree cover along the 

middle part of the chute or backwater. If the radio link from 

the base station occupying the bench mark near the middle 

of the chute or backwater did not reach the upstream and 

downstream extent of the survey site, then an additional bench 

mark was established and the base station was moved to complete the survey. Some newly established USGS bench marks 

were monumented (with agency name, bench mark name, 

and establishment date imprinted) and some were nonmonumented (just a reference mark with no printed information). 

Monumented bench marks were typically 1-m long stakes 

with extendable anchors and a cap secured to the top, known 

as Feno Markers (Rydlund and Densmore, 2012). Nonmonumented bench marks were temporary, typically constructed 

using rebar or wooden stakes. The GNSS base stations occupied bench marks on top of a 2-m fixed-height tripod during 

RTK GNSS surveys to provide correction information to rover 

units. The coordinates, for bench marks with known surveygrade coordinates, were manually entered into the handheld 

datalogger when setting up the base station. If survey-grade 

coordinates (centimeter-level horizontal and vertical accuracy) were not known for the bench mark before using it for 

the RTK GNSS survey, then the base station was set using 

estimated coordinates. These coordinates were estimated from 

an average of 250 autonomous satellite readings. All satellite 

data logged by the base-station receiver were postprocessed 

through the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Online Positioning Users Service (OPUS) (National Geodetic Survey, 2014) 

to determine survey-grade coordinates for the bench mark 

before or after the surveying was complete. Once the bench 

mark data were post-processed, offsets from the estimated 

coordinates to the survey-grade coordinates were calculated 

and the RTK GNSS data were corrected, that is, whenever 

estimated bench mark coordinates were used during surveying. 

Most of the surveys that established survey-grade coordinates 

on bench marks met the Level II, single-base static quality 

(Rydlund and Densmore, 2012). 

The RTK GNSS surveying required USGS surveyors 

to walk along the banks with an RTK GNSS rover with an 

antenna mounted on a 2-m adjustable-height pole. The surveyors located each transect and collected elevation measurements 

by setting the foot of the pole flat on the riverbed or riverbank, 

leveling the pole, and taking a measurement. The RTK GNSS 

surveys included main-objective points to be surveyed at three 

positions on each transect, whenever possible: top of bank 

(left and right), toe of bank (left and right), and edge of water 

(left and right, denoted in the data file as “we”). Additional 

data points were collected between these main-objective 

points and into the channel to ensure a point spacing less than 

15 m. The RTK GNSS surveys extended into the channel as 

far as water depths and substrates allowed for safe wading 

conditions. Water-surface elevations (denoted in the data file 

as “ws”) were surveyed at the same point at the beginning of 

the day and at the end of the day, and these locations extended 

upstream and downstream from the bathymetric survey data 

collected during that day. Similarly, water-surface elevations 

were collected at the upstream and downstream cross section 

of backwaters. This water-surface elevation collection method 

allowed the hydrographic surveying software to account for 

water-surface slope as well as changing river stage when converting the bathymetric survey depth to elevation. 
Surveying Methods 

7

Figure 3. Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) base station and bench mark at Deroin chute, Missouri, 2013. 

Bench mark (Feno Marker)

GNSS base station receiver

2-meter fixed height tripod

GNSS base station radio and transmitting antenna

Witness post marking a second bench mark used for daily checks
8 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13 Table 2. Bench marks used for the hydrographic surveys on the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri, 2011–13. [UTM, Universal Transverse Mercator; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; USACE, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers] Site (fig. 1) Year established Northing, UTM Zone 15, meters Easting, UTM Zone 15, meters Orthometric height, NAVD 88 meters derived from Geoid12A Ellipsoid height (meters) Status (2013) Mark Ponca backwater 2013 4725576.282 195460.983 336.731 311.139 Most currently used Monumented. Ponca backwater 2012 4722089.617 196299.491 407.442 381.862 Destroyed Not monumented. Ponca backwater 2011 4725902.234 195226.439 313.358 338.919 Destroyed Monumented. Council chute 2012 4573085.908 256613.727 297.584 269.955 Most currently used Monumented. Council chute 2011 4572909.935 256555.252 274.945 302.545 Destroyed Not monumented. Plattsmouth chute and backwater 2012 4545882.493 258556.596 292.012 264.628 Most currently used Monumented. Plattsmouth chute 2011 4546469.125 258539.769 268.833 296.179 Destroyed Monumented. Plattsmouth backwater 2011 4544483.755 258564.545 265.473 292.851 Destroyed Monumented. Tobacco chute 2013 4539215.396 260363.388 289.340 261.727 Most currently used Monumented. Tobacco chute 2013 4540781.372 260144.825 290.162 262.605 Most currently used Monumented. Tobacco chute 2012 4539571.572 260086.958 290.472 262.883 Destroyed Monumented. Tobacco chute 2011 4539452.710 260171.527 262.585 290.150 Destroyed Monumented. Upper Hamburg chute 2012 4497206.854 265796.854 279.217 249.519 Most currently used Monumented. Upper Hamburg chute 2011 4497875.482 265922.157 250.497 280.170 Destroyed Monumented. Lower Hamburg chute Unknown USACE bench mark 4495114.054 266681.501 280.969 251.212 Most currently used Monumented.

Kansas chute 2013 4489284.911 269256.913 277.417 247.524 Most currently used Not monumented.Kansas chute 2012 4489280.641 269257.467 277.515 247.622 Destroyed Not monumented.Kansas chute 2011 4489420.402 269202.841 247.511 277.388 Destroyed Monumented.Langdon backwater Unknown 

USACE 

bench mark

4467794.603 275795.974 271.617 241.455 Most currently used Monumented.

Deroin chute 2013 4459728.455 284302.578 268.431 237.964 Most currently used Monumented.Deroin chute 2012 4459727.306 284304.971 268.513 238.046 Destroyed Monumented.Deroin chute 2011 4459726.771 284305.552 238.393 268.852 Destroyed Monumented.
Surveying Methods 9

Terrestrial RTK GNSS surveys were not necessary in 

2011 at Council chute, Plattsmouth chute, Upper Hamburg 

chute, and Deroin chute because floodwater stages exceeded 

the top of bank allowing the inundated overbank areas to be 

surveyed completely by boat. The RTK GNSS surveys at these 

sites in 2011 were only used to collect water-surface elevations. In 2012 and 2013, some chutes and backwaters were 

either dry or the water was very shallow (less than 1 m) and 

were surveyed using only RTK GNSS. 

Data collected in 2011 were referenced to the North 

American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83), Continuously Operating Reference Stations 1996 (CORS96), and elevation was 

referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88) as calculated using GEOID09 (National Geodetic Survey, 2011) and the Geodetic Reference System 1980 

(GRS 80) ellipsoid. Survey data collected in 2012 at Upper 

Hamburg chute, Lower Hamburg chute, and Langdon backwater were all referenced to NAD 83 (CORS96) and used 

GEOID09. In July 2012, NGS began using a new realization 

of the NAD 83 datum in conjunction with an updated geoid 

model. Therefore, data collected at all other chutes and backwaters in 2012 and all data collected in 2013 were referenced 

to the updated datum of NAD 83 (2011) and GEOID12A 

(National Geodetic Survey, 2012). 

The RTK GNSS data collected during this survey met 

a real-time positioning quality of Level IV (Rydlund and 

Densmore, 2012). No checks on published bench marks were 

included in the surveys because of the remote location and the 

intended application of the data. Likewise, no main-objective 

points were re-observed, and were not completed when surveying each main-objective point. Instead, transect data were 

collected for topography only (Rydlund and Densmore, 2012). 

Daily quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures included checking each rover in at the beginning of the 

day and out at the end of the day over a common check point. 

At some sites, this common check point was a second bench 

mark with known horizontal and vertical survey-grade coordinates. Static base-station receivers logged satellite data every 

survey day, and these data were post-processed using the NGS 

OPUS to verify the base-station setup. When a water-surface 

elevation was surveyed for converting bathymetric data, three 

data point replicates were collected in succession. Re-initialization (reacquisition of satellite communication) (Rydlund 

and Densmore, 2012) was completed before each replicated 

point was collected, and all elevations were compared. Additional replicate points were collected if the range of elevations 

of the first three data points exceeded 0.03 m. 

Bathymetric Surveying

Bathymetric survey data were collected along survey 

transects using a DGPS unit with OmniSTAR VBSTM 

(OmniSTAR, 2014). HYPACK® data acquisition software 

(HYPACK, Inc., 2011) was used to create survey transects 

for data collection and for boat navigation. Centerline files 

were created from channel locations determined from aerial 

imagery by creating points at locations in the chutes and backwaters that represented midpoints between high banks. Survey 

transects were created using the “centerline offset” function in 

HYPACK®; transects were spaced at 30.48-m intervals (100-ft 

intervals) along the centerline and oriented perpendicular to 

the flow of water. At backwater sites, a centerline was used 

to create both perpendicular and parallel transects that were 

spaced 76.20 m (250 ft) apart to construct the survey grid. 

The bathymetric survey data were collected using an 

Innerspace 456 dual-frequency echosounder powering a 

200-kilohertz (kHz) transducer with an 8-degree beam angle. 

More specifications and information about this echosounder 

were reported in Kress and others (2005) and Thompson and 

others (2007). 

QA/QC procedures were followed during bathymetric 

data collection. Each day the speed of sound was directly measured using a speed-of-sound depth-profiling probe (averaged 

through the water column) or was calculated based on surface 

water temperature. The speed-of-sound data were entered into 

the echosounder so that depth could accurately be calculated 

from time of travel. In addition, bar checks, or manual water 

depth, was measured twice daily to check the accuracy of 

the echosounder. These bar checks were performed typically 

at depths 1.5 and 2.1 m (5 and 7 ft) or, in survey areas with 

deeper water, at 1.5 and 3 m (5 and 10 ft) of water. During 

data collection, the echosounder operator reviewed the depth 

data in real time and would adjust the gain, depth range, and 

power on the echosounder to increase the accuracy of the 

depth soundings. Under certain conditions, it was occasionally 

impossible to extend the RTK GNSS survey down the bank 

to the edge of water, resulting in incomplete survey coverage 

between the RTK GNSS survey and the bathymetry survey. 

An edge-of-water offset was collected in HYPACK® when the 

RTK GNSS surveys could not be collected to the edge of the 

water. The boat operator maintained the boat position as close 

to the edge of the water as possible and measured the edge-ofwater distance offset using a handheld laser rangefinder. The 

offset was used by HYPACK® to collect an additional datapoint offset along the survey transect at the distance entered 

with a depth reading of zero. The boat operator navigated 

along each transect with usually no more than 6.1 m (20 ft) of 

deviation in either direction so that surveyed elevations were 

collected at nearly the same transect for each year of the study 

to allow reliable analysis of change. If the boat deviated more 

than 6.1 m from a transect, that transect usually was resurveyed within the tolerance limits. However, fallen trees, debris 

piles, and control structures limited accessibility at some 

transects requiring occasional deviations from the transect 

exceeding 6.1 m. When obstacles were located on a transect, 

data were collected upstream or downstream from the obstacle 

as close to the transect as possible. All final data are published, 

including data points that were more than 6.1 m from the 

transects. The echosounder operator recorded metadata for 

each survey line, including data-file name, direction of survey, 

description of debris, and other notes. 
10 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Following data collection, USGS surveyors used 

HYPACK® to manually edit the depth data. Data filters were 

rarely used. Instead, erroneous depth data or data outliers 

were manually deleted to produce a clean depth dataset. In 

addition to entering the speed of sound into the echosounder 

during data collection, speed-of-sound profiles were collected 

in backwaters where stratification was possible. During data 

processing, these profiles were reviewed to see if stratification of the water column was evident in the backwaters 

during the time of the survey. Stratification was not observed 

during the surveys of any backwaters; therefore, the speedof-sound profiles were not entered into HYPACK® to correct 

the depth soundings. Once manual editing of the depth data 

was complete, water-surface elevations collected using RTK 

GNSS surveys were used to convert the depth data to riverbed 

elevation. Water-surface elevations were applied to the data 

as HYPACK® tide files. Each tide file contained water-surface 

elevation at the start and end of one day from one location. 

All the tide files from one survey day were used, along with 

their location in relation to the centerline, by HYPACK® to 

convert the depth data to riverbed elevation. This method 

allows HYPACK® to calculate water-surface slope throughout 

the survey reach as well as water level change throughout the 

survey day. This same process was repeated for depth data 

from each survey day, along with the corresponding tide files 

for that day. 

Discharge Measurements

Discharge was measured using an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) at each chute. Discharge was measured 

in the chutes and main channel of the Missouri River daily in 

conjunction with bathymetric surveys. If a chute did not have 

adequate flow for bathymetric surveys, discharge was not 

measured. In a few instances, discharge was not measured at 

a chute site because of time constraints, weather conditions, 

or equipment malfunction. Discharge was measured in the 

main channel of the Missouri River upstream from the chute 

inlet. Discharge was measured in the chute at varying locations depending on where bathymetric surveying was taking 

place that day and where suitable channel cross-sections were 

located. The ADCP used to measure discharge was a Teledyne 

Rowe Deines Instruments (San Diego, Calif.) 1200-kHz Rio 

Grande. The ADCP measurement procedures and QA/QC followed those described in Mueller and Wagner (2009). 

Hydrographic Survey of the Chutes and 

Backwaters

Hydrographic surveys of the chutes and backwaters were 

completed from August through November 2011, from June 

through November 2012, and from May through October 

2013. During the 2011 surveys, water was high at all sites 

because of major flooding on the Missouri River. Therefore, 

several sites did not require RTK GNSS topographic surveys 

because even high bank areas were inundated with floodwater 

more than 1 m deep, allowing the sites to be surveyed by boat. 

Even though many sites did not need RTK GNSS topographic 

surveys in 2011, RTK GNSS was still used at all sites in 2011 

to collect water-surface elevation data to convert the bathymetric data to riverbed elevation. Although the 2012 surveys 

were completed during a drought, it had little to no effect on 

streamflow at survey sites because a constant discharge from 

Gavins Point Dam was maintained during the navigation season. In 2013, the drought had subsided, but discharge fluctuated during the survey periods making access by boat to some 

areas in some chutes impossible because of shallow water. 

Bathymetric survey data and RTK GNSS survey data are 

published as part of this report as tabular data files in commaseparated-values (csv) format with associated metadata (see 

appendix for file names and an example of metadata for both 

a backwater and a chute). There is one csv file for each survey 

site that contains both RTK GNSS survey data and bathymetric survey data for the site from all 3 years. The tabular 

information contained in each csv file consists of seven fields 

(columns): northing (Universal Transverse Mercator [UTM] 

zone 15 North), in meters; easting (UTM zone 15 North), in 

meters; orthometric height (NAVD 88), in meters; date surveyed, survey method, horizontal datum, and Geoid model. 

The split of total discharge between the Missouri River 

main channel and the chutes was consistent with observed 

effects of the 2011 Missouri River flood (deposition, erosion, 

degradation of entrance control structures, flanking of internal 

control structures, chute widening) at most chutes as noted by 

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2013). Many chute entrances and control structures were damaged by floodwater in 2011, allowing a larger 

percent of the Missouri River total discharge to flow through 

the chute than originally intended in the chute design. The 

designed flow split varies by chute, but is typically 10–12 percent of the total discharge (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013). The USACE repaired 

many of these chutes in 2012 and 2013, and effects of these 

repairs as well as changes in total discharge can be seen in 

the discharge split between the Missouri River main channel 

and the chute in data collected for this study. It is likely that 

the repairs affected the water depths and riverbed elevations 

not only at the construction site, but throughout the chutes 

and backwaters—however, there is no way to distinguish the 

changes contributed specifically to the repairs from general 

post-flood geomorphic changes. Also, survey data could not be 
Hydrographic Survey of the Chutes and Backwaters 11

collected over newly built and repaired structures because of 

safety concerns (rough water flowing over the new structures, 

heavy machinery still working on structures, and difficultly 

walking on new structures because the rip-rap was still settling 

into place). In addition to total discharge and discharge splits, 

the mean velocity of the cross section collected during each 

discharge measurement is reported. Cross sections selected 

for discharge measurements typically were uniform, narrow 

areas of the chute, and are not necessarily representative of the 

entire chute, but represented the best locations to accurately 

measure discharge. Therefore, even when mean velocities 

of discharge measurement cross sections were greater than 

0.6 m/s, there were likely areas along the cross section and 

many areas throughout the chute that did have flow velocities 

less than 0.6 m/s. 

Ponca Backwater

Ponca backwater was surveyed on August 18, 2011; 

October 23 and November 14, 2012; and October 25, 2013 

(table 1 and figs. 1 and 4). Surveyed elevations ranged from 

328 to 337 m in 2011, from 330 to 337 m in 2012, and from 

332 to 336 m in 2013. In 2011, RTK GNSS topographic surveys were not collected because the entire backwater area was 

inundated with floodwater, allowing all areas to be surveyed 

by boat. The 2011 survey was completed near the discharge 

peak of the long-duration flood. In 2012, both RTK GNSS and 

limited (fig. 4) bathymetric survey data were collected and in 

2013 only RTK GNSS data were collected (table 1). In 2012, 

bathymetric surveying was limited because the entrance to 

the larger branch of the backwater was too shallow for boat 

navigation. Therefore, the survey coverage in 2011 was much 

greater than in 2012 and 2013 because areas that were too 

deep to wade and not accessible by boat were not surveyed in 

2012 and 2013. 

Figure 4. Hydrographic survey data for Ponca backwater near 

Ponca, Nebraska, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure4.pdf.

Council Chute

Council chute was surveyed on August 8, 2011; June 14, 

2012; and July 7, 2013 (table 1 and figs. 1 and 5). Surveyed 

elevations ranged from 280 to 299 m in 2011, from 281 to 

300 m in 2012, and from 282 to 299 m in 2013. In 2011, 

RTK GNSS topographic surveys were not completed because 

the high banks of the chute were inundated with floodwater, 

allowing them to be surveyed by boat. 

Council chute was substantially deepened, and the island 

separating it from the river was mostly eroded during the 

2011 Missouri River flood (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013). The inlet-control 

structure, island revetment, and internal chute-control structures were repaired after the 2011 Missouri River flood and 

before the 2012 surveys (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013).

Discharge measured in Council chute ranged from 

69–855 cubic meters per second (m3/s) and mean velocity 

ranged from 0.3–1.1 m/s (table 3). Discharges measured at 

Council chute indicate that in 2011 the chute was carrying 

20.1 percent of the total Missouri River discharge; however, 

the chute was only carrying 6.5 percent of total Missouri River 

discharge in 2012 (table 3). Total Missouri River discharge in 

2012 was about 25 percent of the total Missouri River discharge measured during the 2011 surveys. 

Figure 5. Hydrographic survey data for Council chute near 

Council Bluffs, Iowa, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure5.pdf.

Table 3. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Council chute and in Council 

chute, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 2011–12.

[m3/s, cubic meters per second; m/s, meters per second; NA, no discharge measured]

Date Discharge 

(m3/s) Location

 Percent of total 

Missouri River 

discharge

Mean 

velocity 

(m/s)

8/17/2011 4,260 Missouri River above Council chute 100.0 1.5

8/17/2011 855 Council chute 20.1 1.1

6/14/2012 1,060 Missouri River above Council chute 100.0 1.0

6/14/2012 69 Council chute 6.5 0.3

7/7/2013 NA Missouri River above Council chute NA NA

7/7/2013 NA Council chute NA NA
12 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Plattsmouth Chute

Plattsmouth chute was surveyed on August 22 and 23, 

2011; July 12 and 13, and August 23, 2012; and May 22 and 

23, 2013 (table 1 and figs. 1 and 6). Surveyed elevations 

ranged from 278 to 293 m in 2011, from 284 to 296 m in 

2012, and from 287 to 293 m in 2013. In 2011, RTK GNSS 

topographic data were not collected because the entire backwater area was inundated with floodwater, allowing all areas 

to be surveyed by boat. In 2012, no bathymetric survey data 

were collected because the chute was not connected to the 

river as a result of deposition at the chute entrance from the 

2011 Missouri River flood (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013), and the channel was almost dry with only a few isolated areas of water. 

In 2013, no bathymetric survey data were collected because 

water levels were not greater than 1 m despite a new pilot 

channel constructed during spring 2013. Even though riverbed elevation ranges may suggest deposition occurred from 

2011 to 2012–2013, the lower elevations surveyed in 2011 

were located at small scour holes and at the mouth of the 

chute almost in the main channel of the Missouri River. These 

areas were inaccessible for RTK GNSS survey crews during 

the 2012 and 2013 surveys. When comparing elevations in 

the chute channel, surveys from 2011 and 2012 documented 

similar elevations, but the 2013 riverbed was approximately 

0.5–3 m lower throughout 60 percent of the chute channel, 

most likely because of the dredge work completed in the channel (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other, 2013). 

Discharge measured in Plattsmouth chute ranged from 

362–405 m3/s and mean velocity ranged from 1.0–1.2 m/s 

(table 4). Discharge measured in 2011at Plattsmouth chute 

documented that the chute was carrying approximately 9 percent of the total Missouri River discharge; however, in 2012 

and 2013 water depth was too low to measure discharge in the 

chute with an ADCP.

Figure 6. Hydrographic survey data for Plattsmouth chute near 

Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure6.pdf.

Plattsmouth Backwater

Plattsmouth backwater was surveyed on November 11, 

2011; October 15, 2012; and October 31, 2013 (table 1 and 

figs. 1 and 7). Surveyed elevations ranged from 285 to 292 m 

in 2011, from 285 to 292 m in 2012, and from 286 m to 292 m 

in 2013. No bathymetric survey data were collected in 2013 

because wet soil and crops in the surrounding field limited 

access to the site by vehicle so a boat could not be launched; 

consequently, only RTK GNSS surveys were completed.

Figure 7. Hydrographic survey data for Plattsmouth backwater 

near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.

usgs.gov/ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure7.pdf.

Tobacco Chute

Tobacco chute was surveyed on October 13 and 14, 2011; 

July 11 and 12, 2012; and August 20–22, 2013 (table 1 and 

figs. 1 and 8). Surveyed elevations ranged from 276 to 303 m 

in 2011, 278 to 293 m in 2012, and 277 to 293 m in 2013. 

Maximum elevations from 2011 were surveyed on the bluff 

of the Missouri River that functions as the high bank of the 

chute. In 2012 and 2013, data on the high bluff were not collected. During the 2012 survey, limited bathymetric data were 

collected because construction activity blocked the inlet of the 

chute, disconnecting it from the river. As a result, most of the 

water in the chute was too shallow for bathymetric surveys. 

Where possible, RTK GNSS surveys were collected instead. 

Table 4. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Plattsmouth chute and in Plattsmouth 

chute near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 2011.

[m3/s, cubic meters per second; m/s, meters per second; NA, no discharge measured]

Date Discharge 

(m3/s) Location

Percent of total 

Missouri River 

discharge

Mean 

velocity 

(m/s)

8/22/2011 4,490 Missouri River above Plattsmouth chute 100.0 1.4

8/22/2011 405 Plattsmouth chute 9.0 1.2

8/23/2011 3,920 Missouri River above Plattsmouth chute 100.0 1.4

8/23/2011 362 Plattsmouth chute 9.2 1.0

7/12–13 and 8/23/2012 NA Missouri River above Plattsmouth chute NA NA

7/12–13 and 8/23/2012 NA Plattsmouth chute NA NA

5/22–23/2013 NA Missouri River above Plattsmouth chute NA NA

5/22–23/2013 NA Plattsmouth chute NA NA
Hydrographic Survey of the Chutes and Backwaters 13

In 2013, construction on the chute was completed, and new 

sections of chute channel had been constructed (fig. 8). These 

new sections of the chute were included in the 2013 survey. 

Measured discharge in Tobacco chute ranged from 

15–62 m3/s and mean velocity ranged from 0.7–0.8 m/s 

(table 5). Measured discharge at Tobacco chute documented 

that in 2011 the chute was carrying 3.3–3.6 percent of the 

total Missouri River discharge (table 5). Because the chute 

was disconnected from the river flow in 2012, discharge was 

not measured in the chute. In 2013, when total Missouri River 

discharge was about 50 percent of the October 2011 total Missouri River discharge, the chute was carrying 1.8–1.9 percent 

of the total Missouri River discharge (table 5).

Figure 8. Hydrographic survey data for Tobacco chute near 

Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure8.pdf.

Upper Hamburg Chute

Upper Hamburg chute was surveyed on August 24 and 

25, 2011; June 19 and 20 and October 2 and 3, 2012; and 

June 26 and 27 and July 3, 2013 (table 1 and figs. 1 and 9). 

Surveyed elevations ranged from 259 to 279 m in 2011, from 

262 to 282 m in 2012, and from 262 to 284 m in 2013. In 

2011, RTK GNSS topographic data were not collected because 

the entire area was inundated with floodwater, allowing all 

areas to be surveyed by boat. Construction to repair scour 

holes and damaged flow-control structures from the 2011 flood 

(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 2013) was in progress during the 2012 surveys. During this time, the mouth of the chute was disconnected from 

the river to control the amount of water entering the chute. The 

upstream 0.65 km of the chute channel was not surveyed in 

2012 because the water was too deep for RTK GNSS surveys, 

and the water levels were too low to navigate around or over 

control structures to collect bathymetric data. In 2013, construction on the chute was complete, and hydrographic survey 

data of the entire chute were collected.

Measured discharge in Upper Hamburg chute ranged 

from 24–911 m3/s and mean velocity ranged from 0.1–1.0 m/s 

(table 6). In 2011, Upper Hamburg chute was carrying almost 

30 percent of the total Missouri River discharge (table 6). 

In June 2012, before repairing the flood damage, total Missouri River discharge was 38 percent of the 2011 total Missouri River discharge, and the chute was carrying 10 percent. 

During repair work at the end of 2012 and after the repairs in 

2013 total Missouri River discharge was similar to 2012 total 

Missouri River discharge, but the chute was carrying only 

approximately 2–3 percent (table 6).

Figure 9. Hydrographic survey data for Upper Hamburg chute 

near Nebraska City, Nebraska, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.

usgs.gov/ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure9.pdf.

Lower Hamburg Chute

Lower Hamburg chute was surveyed on October 5, 6, 

and 10, 2011; July 9 and 10, 2012; and July 23 and 24, 2013 

(table 1 and figs. 1 and 10). Surveyed elevations ranged from 

260 to 281 m in 2011, from 259 to 281 m in 2012, and from 

259 to 281 m in 2013. Construction on the chute to repair 

damage caused by the 2011 Missouri River flood included 

restriction of flow into the chute while a new rock entrance 

Table 5. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Tobacco chute and in 

Tobacco chute near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, 2011–13.

[m3/s, cubic meters per second; m/s, meters per second; NA, no discharge measured]

Date Discharge 

(m3/s) Location

Percent of total 

Missouri River 

discharge

Mean 

velocity 

(m/s)

10/13/2011 1,730 Missouri River above Tobacco chute 100.0 1.4

10/13/2011 62 Tobacco chute 3.6 0.8

10/14/2011 1,660 Missouri River above Tobacco chute 100.0 1.2

10/14/2011 54 Tobacco chute 3.3 0.7

7/11/2012 1,020 Missouri River above Tobacco chute 100.0 1.2

7/11/2012 NA Tobacco chute NA NA

8/20/2013 839 Missouri River above Tobacco chute 100.0 1.1

8/20/2013 15 Tobacco chute 1.8 0.7

8/22/2013 877 Missouri River above Tobacco chute 100.0 1.1

8/22/2013 16 Tobacco chute 1.9 0.8
14 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Table 6. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Upper Hamburg chute and 

in Upper Hamburg chute near Nebraska City, Nebraska, 2011–13.

[m3/s, cubic meters per second; m/s, meters per second]

Date Discharge 

(m3/s) Location

Percent of total 

Missouri River 

discharge

Mean 

velocity 

(m/s)

8/24/2011 3,120 Missouri River above Upper Hamburg chute 100.0 1.7

8/24/2011 911 Upper Hamburg chute 29.2 1.0

8/25/2011 2,940 Missouri River above Upper Hamburg chute 100.0 1.6

8/25/2011 823 Upper Hamburg chute 28.0 0.9

6/19/2012 1,190 Missouri River above Upper Hamburg chute 100.0 1.1

6/19/2012 119 Upper Hamburg chute 10.0 0.4

10/2/2012 1,080 Missouri River above Upper Hamburg chute 100.0 1.1

10/2/2012 30 Upper Hamburg chute 2.8 0.1

6/26/2013 1,180 Missouri River above Upper Hamburg chute 100.0 1.2

6/26/2013 32 Upper Hamburg chute 2.7 0.1

7/3/2013 1,140 Missouri River above Upper Hamburg chute 100.0 1.2

7/3/2013 24 Upper Hamburg chute 2.1 0.1

structure and two new internal rock control structures were 

built (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, 2013). The USGS is uncertain when these 

construction activities began and when all construction was 

completed. In 2013, a complete hydrographic survey was 

not possible because low water levels over control structures 

restricted boat access to part of the chute. Some of these inaccessible areas contained water that was too deep to collect 

RTK GNSS survey data by wading and therefore were not 

surveyed. 

Measured discharge in Lower Hamburg chute ranged 

from 13–314 m3/s and mean velocity ranged from 0.1–0.7 m/s 

(table 7). Lower Hamburg chute was carrying 24.4–26.4 percent of the total Missouri River discharge in 2011. In 2012 and 

2013, the total Missouri River discharge was approximately 

70 percent of the 2011 total Missouri River discharge and the 

chute carried approximately 1–5 percent (table 7). 

Figure 10. Hydrographic survey data for Lower Hamburg chute 

near Hamburg, Iowa, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure10.pdf.

Kansas Chute

Kansas chute was surveyed on October 10, 2011; 

June 21, 2012; and July 25, 2013 (table 1 and figs. 1 and 

11). Surveyed elevations ranged from 263 to 277 m in 2011, 

from 261 to 278 m in 2012, and from 265 to 277 m in 2013. 

Damage caused by the 2011 Missouri River flood (U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013) 

on the chute was repaired before the 2012 survey. In 2013, 

more than one-half of the chute was not surveyed because 

low water levels made navigation over control structures 

impossible, leaving the area inaccessible by boat. Many of the 

inaccessible areas also were too deep for RTK GNSS surveys 

by wading.

Measured discharge in Kansas chute ranged from 

40–312 m3/s and mean velocity ranged from 0.3–1.4 m/s 

(table 8). Kansas chute was carrying more than 20 percent of 

the total Missouri River discharge as the 2011 flood receded. 

In 2012 and 2013, the total Missouri River discharge was 

71–89 percent of the 2011 total Missouri River discharge and 

the chute carried approximately 4–6 percent (table 8). Discharge was measured in 2012 and 2013 after repairs had been 

made to the chute. 

Figure 11. Hydrographic survey data for Kansas chute near 

Peru, Nebraska, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure11.pdf.

Langdon Backwater

Langdon backwater was surveyed on October 26, 2011; 

August 8, 2012; and October 28, 2013 (table 1 and fig. 12). 

Surveyed elevations ranged from 267 to 271 m in 2011, 267 to 

274 m in 2012, and 267 to 269 m in 2013. Water levels were 

low in Langdon backwater when surveyed in 2011 and the 

backwater was not connected to the river, most likely because 

of sedimentation at the inlet of the backwater attributed to the 

2011 flood (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and 
Hydrographic Survey of the Chutes and Backwaters 15

Table 7. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Lower Hamburg chute and 

in Lower Hamburg chute near Hamburg, Iowa, 2011–13.

[m3/s, cubic meters per second; m/s, meters per second]

Date Discharge 

(m3/s) Location

Percent of total 

Missouri River 

discharge

Mean 

velocity 

(m/s)

10/5/2011 1,190 Missouri River above Lower Hamburg chute 100.0 1.1

10/5/2011 314 Lower Hamburg chute 26.4 0.7

10/6/2011 1,270 Missouri River above Lower Hamburg chute 100.0 1.2

10/6/2011 311 Lower Hamburg chute 24.4 0.6

7/9/2012 943 Missouri River above Lower Hamburg chute 100.0 1.1

7/9/2012 47 Lower Hamburg chute 4.9 0.3

7/23/2013 923 Missouri River above Lower Hamburg chute 100.0 1.1

7/23/2013 13 Lower Hamburg chute 1.4 0.1

7/24/2013 909 Missouri River above Lower Hamburg chute 100.0 1.1

7/24/2013 14 Lower Hamburg chute 1.6 0.1

Wildlife Service, 2013). There was sufficient water to complete a partial bathymetric survey in 2011, in addition to the 

RTK GNSS topographic surveys, which allowed survey data 

to be collected along all planned transects. In 2012 and 2013, 

no bathymetric-survey data were collected because most of 

the backwater was dry; thus, RTK GNSS surveying techniques 

were used instead. 

Figure 12. Hydrographic survey data for Langdon backwater 

near Nemaha, Nebraska, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.usgs.

gov/ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure12.pdf.

Deroin Chute

Deroin chute was surveyed on September 7, 8, and 9, 

2011; June 11, 12, and 13, 2012; and June 18, 19, and 20, 

2013 (table 1 and figs. 1 and 13). Surveyed elevations ranged 

from 250 to 267 m in 2011, from 248 to 276 m in 2012, and 

from 249 to 273 m in 2013. In 2011, RTK GNSS topographic 

surveys were not collected because the entire backwater 

area was inundated with floodwater, allowing all areas to be 

surveyed by boat. A backwater connected to the chute was 

surveyed in 2011 but was not surveyed in subsequent years 

because it no longer was connected to the chute. Before the 

2013 survey, construction began on the chute to repair damage 

caused by the 2011 Missouri River flood (U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2013). In 2013, 

it was not possible to collect bathymetric-survey data in part of 

Table 8. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Kansas chute and in 

Kansas chute near Peru, Nebraska, 2011–13.

[m3/s, cubic meters per second; m/s, meters per second]

Date Discharge 

(m3/s) Location

Percent of total 

Missouri River 

discharge

Mean 

velocity 

(m/s)

10/12/2011 1,330 Missouri River above Kansas chute 100.0 1.1

10/12/2011 312 Kansas chute 23.5 1.4

6/21/2012 1,150 Missouri River above Kansas chute 100.0 1.1

6/21/2012 70 Kansas chute 6.1 0.4

7/25/2013 942 Missouri River above Kansas chute 100.0 1.0

7/25/2013 40 Kansas chute 4.3 0.3
16 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

the chute because ongoing construction was a safety concern. 

Also, a second short length of the chute was not surveyed in 

2013 because of weather conditions and time constraints.

Measured discharge in Deroin chute ranged from 

323–727 m3/s and mean velocity ranged from 0.8–1.1 m/s 

(table 9). Deroin chute was carrying was 22.8 to 26.5 percent 

of the total Missouri River discharge (table 9). Although the 

highest discharge for this site (in both the Missouri River and 

the chute) was measured in 2011, the percentage of total Missouri River discharge carried by the chute was smaller than in 

2012 and 2013 (table 9).

Figure 13. Hydrographic survey data for Deroin chute near 

Corning, Missouri, 2011–13. Available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/

ds/0909/downloads/ds909_figure13.pdf.

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation 

with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Omaha 

District, completed hydrographic surveys of seven chutes and 

three backwaters yearly during 2011–13. These chutes and 

backwaters were constructed by the USACE to increase the 

amount of available shallow water habitat to support threatened and endangered species, as required by the amended 

“2000 Biological Opinion” on the operation of the Missouri 

River main-stem reservoir system. Chutes surveyed included 

Council chute, Plattsmouth chute, Tobacco chute, Upper 

Hamburg chute, Lower Hamburg chute, Kansas chute, and 

Deroin chute. Backwaters surveyed included Ponca backwater, 

Plattsmouth backwater, and Langdon backwater. Hydrographic 

surveys of the chutes and backwaters occurred August through 

November 2011, June through November 2012, and May 

through October 2013. During the 2011 surveys, high water 

was present at all sites because of major flooding on the Missouri River. Bathymetric survey data and Real-Time Kinematic Global Navigation Satellite System (RTK GNSS) survey 

data are published along with this report in comma-separatedvalues (csv) format with associated metadata. In this report, 

“hydrographic survey” refers to the entire survey including 

both RTK GNSS and bathymetric surveys. In this report, the 

term RTK GNSS surveys or data refer to all data points collected using RTK GNSS equipment that includes data collected on the banks, in shallow water that was wadeable, and 

water-surface elevations. Bathymetric surveys or data refer 

to depth data collected using a echosounder, positioned using 

differentially corrected global positioning system (GPS), and 

converted to elevation using water-surface elevations measured with RTK GNSS equipment. 

Hydrographic survey data were collected along transects to delineate the channel cross section from top of bank 

to top of bank. Hydrographic surveys over the entire transect were not always collected because of low water over 

control structures, equipment malfunction, time constraints, 

Table 9. Discharge measurements collected in the Missouri River above Deroin chute and in Deroin 

chute near Corning, Missouri, 2011–13.

[m3/s, cubic meters per second; m/s, meters per second]

Date Discharge 

(m3

/s) Location

Percent of total 

Missouri River 

discharge

Mean 

velocity 

(m/s)

9/7/2011 3,180 Missouri River above Deroin chute 100.0 1.3

9/7/2011 727 Deroin chute 22.8 1.1

6/11/2012 1,270 Missouri River above Deroin chute 100.0 1.2

6/11/2012 323 Deroin chute 25.4 0.9

6/12/2012 1,300 Missouri River above Deroin chute 100.0 1.2

6/12/2012 345 Deroin chute 26.5 0.9

6/13/2012 1,290 Missouri River above Deroin chute 100.0 1.3

6/13/2012 330 Deroin chute 25.6 0.8

6/18/2013 1,610 Missouri River above Deroin chute 100.0 1.5

6/18/2013 374 Deroin chute 23.2 0.9

6/19/2013 1,520 Missouri River above Deroin chute 100.0 1.4

6/19/2013 357 Deroin chute 23.4 0.9

6/20/2013 1,410 Missouri River above Deroin chute 100.0 1.4

6/20/2013 345 Deroin chute 24.4 0.9
References Cited 17

or weather conditions. Segments along transects that were 

covered by more than 1 meter of water were surveyed using a 

single-beam echosounder to measure depth and a differentially 

corrected GPS to measure location. These depth soundings 

were converted to elevation by subtracting the depth from the 

corresponding water-surface-elevation information collected 

using a RTK GNSS. Segments along transects that were covered with less than 1 meter of water were surveyed using RTK 

GNSS. This included top of bank, toe of bank, edge of water, 

sand bars, and near shore areas. For survey control, bench 

marks were established at each survey site or previously existing bench marks were located. Some of these bench marks 

were monumented and some were nonmonumented bench 

marks. Most of the surveys that established survey-grade coordinates on bench marks met the USGS Level II, single-base 

static quality which requires satellite data logged by a staticbase receiver for at least four hours and processed through the 

National Geodetic Survey Online Positioning Users Service. 

Discharge was measured at chute survey sites. Discharge 

was measured both in the main channel of the Missouri River 

upstream from the chute and in the chute. The split of total 

discharge between the Missouri River main channel and the 

chutes was consistent with observed effects of the 2011 Missouri River flood (deposition, erosion, degradation of entrance 

control structures, flanking of internal control structures, 

chute widening) at most chutes as noted by the USACE and 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2011, many chute entrances 

and control structures were damaged by floodwater, allowing a larger percentage of the total Missouri River discharge 

to flow through the chutes than originally intended in each 

chute design. Almost 30 percent of the total Missouri River 

discharge flowed through Upper Hamburg chute in 2011. The 

USACE repaired many of these chutes in 2012 and 2013 and 

many chutes carried a smaller percent of total Missouri River 

discharge when measured in 2012 and 2013 likely because 

of lower flow and the effects of these repairs. For example, 

Upper Hamburg chute was carrying 10 percent of the total 

Missouri River discharge in 2012 before repairing the flood 

damage and at total Missouri River discharges approximately 

38 percent of the 2011 total Missouri River discharge. In 2013, 

Upper Hamburg chute was only carrying 2–3 percent of the 

total Missouri River discharge following repairs and at a total 

Missouri River discharge similar to 2012. Lower Hamburg 

chute was carrying approximately 25 percent of the total Missouri River discharge in 2011 and 1–5 percent in 2012 and 

2013 when the total Missouri River discharge was approximately 70 percent of the 2011 total Missouri River discharge 

and repairs from the 2011 flood had been completed. Kansas 

chute was carrying more than 20 percent of the total Missouri 

River discharge as the 2011 flood receded and 4–6 percent in 

2012 and 2013 after repairs and when total Missouri River 

discharge was approximately 71–89 percent of 2011 total Missouri River discharge.

References Cited

HYPACK, Inc., 2011, HYPACK® Hydrographic survey software user’s manual 02/11: Middletown, Conn., HYPACK, 

1,582 p.

Jalili, Shahrzad, and Pridal, Dan, 2010, Missouri River shallow water habitat accounting report–2010: Omaha, Nebr., 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, accessed February 3, 2014, 

at http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/MRRP_

PUB_DEV.download_documentation?p_file=7218.

Kress, W.H., Sebree, S.K., Littin, G.R., Drain, M.A., and 

Kling, M.E., 2005, Comparison of preconstruction and 2003 

bathymetric and topographic surveys of Lake McConaughy, 

Nebraska: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations 

Report 2005–5040, 19 p.

Mueller, D.S., and Wagner, C.R., 2009, Measuring discharge 

with acoustic Doppler current profilers from a moving boat: 

U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 3A-22, 

72 p. [Available at http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/tm3a22.]

 National Geodetic Survey, 2011, GEOID09: National Geodetic Survey, accessed May 20, 2014, at http://www.ngs.

noaa.gov/GEOID/GEOID09/.

National Geodetic Survey, 2012, GEOID12A: National Geodetic Survey, accessed May 20, 2014, at http://www.ngs.

noaa.gov/GEOID/GEOID12A/.

National Geodetic Survey, 2014, OPUS—Online positioning 

user service: National Geodetic Survey, accessed May 20, 

2014, at http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/OPUS/.

OmniSTARTM, 2014, OmniSTARTM VBS;—Global reliable 

sub-meter accuracy subscription service: Houston, Tex., 

OmniSTARTM, accessed May 2014, at http://www.omnistar.com/SubscriptionServices/OmniSTARVBS.aspx. 

Rydlund, P.H., Jr., and Densmore, B.K., 2012, Methods of 

practice and guidelines for using survey-grade Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to establish vertical datum 

in the United States Geological Survey: U.S. Geological 

Survey Techniques and Methods, book 11, chap. D1, 102 p.

Thompson, R.F., Johnson, M.R., and Anderson, M.J., 2007, 

Data collected to support monitoring of constructed emergent sandbar habitat on the Missouri River downstream 

from Gavins Point Dam, South Dakota and Nebraska, 

2004–06: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

2007–1056, 178 p.
18 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Trimble® Navigation, 2009, User guide—Trimble® R8 GNSS 

Receiver, Trimble R6 and R4 GPS Receivers, and Trimble 

5800 Model 3 GPS Receiver, Version 4.11, Revision A: 

Dayton, Ohio, Trimble® Navigation, 78 p., accessed May 

2014, at http://trl.trimble.com/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-666214/R8-R6-R4-5800M3_v411A_UserGuide.pdf.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2010, Missouri River 

Recovery Program—Pallid Sturgeon Habitat Assessment and Monitoring Program (‘HAMP’ study): Omaha, 

Nebr., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, accessed January 

21, 2014, at http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/

f?p=136:155:0::NO::PIS_ID:45.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2011, Missouri River Recovery Program—Shallow water habitat (SWH): Omaha, 

Nebr., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, accessed February 

27, 2014, at http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/

f?p=136:131:0::NO.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 2013, 2012 Annual report for the Biological 

Opinion on the operation of the Missouri River main stem 

system, operation and maintenance of the Missouri River 

Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project, and the operation of the Kansas River reservoir system: Omaha, Nebr., 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [Omaha and Kansas City 

Districts], 55 p., accessed May 5, 2014, at http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/MRRP_PUB_DEV.download_documentation?p_file=7713.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2000, Biological Opinion on 

the operation of the Missouri River main stem reservoir 

system, operation and maintenance of the Missouri River 

Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project, and operation of 

the Kansas River reservoir system: U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, 385 p., accessed August 28, 2014, at http://moriverrecovery.usace.army.mil/mrrp/f?p=136:6:0::NO /2000BiOp.

pdf.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2003, Amendment to the 2000 

Biological Opinion on the operation of the Missouri River 

main stem reservoir system, operation and maintenance 

of the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation 

Project, and operation of the Kansas River reservoir system: 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 308 p., accessed April 1, 

2014, at http://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/mmanual/

FinalBO2003.pdf.
Appendix 19

Appendix

Data Files

Files available for download include:

ds909_Ponca_backwater.csv

ds909_Council_chute.csv

ds909_Plattsmouth_chute.csv

ds909_Plattsmouth_backwater.csv

ds909_Tobacco_chute.csv

ds909_Upper_Hamburg_chute.csv

ds909_Lower_Hamburg_chute.csv

ds909_Kansas_chute.csv

ds909_Langdon_backwater.csv

ds909_Deroin_chute.csv

Metadata

Identification_Information: 

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Krahulik, J.R. and Densmore, B.K. 

Publication_Date: March 2015

Title: ds909_Ponca_backwater.csv 

Edition: Version 1.0 

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data 

Publication_Information: 

Publication_Place: Reston, Va. 

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey 

Online_Linkage: http://water.usgs.gov/lookup/

getspatial?ds909_Ponca_backwater

Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information: 

Originator: Justin R. Krahulik and Brenda K. Densmore 

Publication_Date: March 2015

Title: Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three 

Backwaters on the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, 

and Missouri, 2011–13 

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document 

Series_Information: 

Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 

Issue_Identification: ds909

Publication_Information: 

Publication_Place: Reston, Va. 

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Description: 

Abstract: An Innerspace 456 single-beam echosounder in 

conjunction with a Trimble® differential Global Positioning 

System (DGPS) and HYPACK® navigation software, 

and Ashtech Z-Xtreme and Trimble® R8 GNSS receivers was used to survey 7 chutes and 3 backwaters on the 

Missouri River yearly from 2011–13. These chutes and 

backwaters are located on the Missouri River between 

Newcastle, Nebraska and Rulo, Nebraska in the States 

of Nebr., Iowa, and Mo. Surveys of chutes consisted of 

topographic and bathymetric data collected along transects 

spaced 30.48 meters (m) apart from high bank to high 

bank. Surveys of backwaters consisted of topographic and 

bathymetric data collected along a transect grid of 76.2 m 

spacing. The format of this data is point data. The data were 

collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation 

with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District as 

part of the Missouri River Habitat Assessment and Monitoring Program.

Purpose: The purpose of collecting this survey data was to 

provide yearly measurements of the chutes and backwaters 

for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to calculate yearly 

geomorphic change to understand chute and backwater 

evolution. This data is also used by the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers for measuring the amount of shallow water habitat available for endangered species for compliance with 

the “2000 Biological Opinion” and the “2003 Amendment 

to the Biological Opinion” on the Missouri River as part of 

the Habitat Assessment and Monitoring Program.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information: 

Range_of_Dates/Times: 

Beginning_Date: 2011 

Ending_Date: 2013 

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status: 

Progress: Complete 

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned 

Spatial_Domain: 

Bounding_Coordinates: 

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -96.7191 

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -96.7013 

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.6276 

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.5905 

Keywords: 

Theme: 

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None 

Theme_Keyword: ISO 19115 

Theme_Keyword: inlandWaters 

Theme: 

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None 

Theme_Keyword: topography 
20 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Theme_Keyword: single-beam sonar 

Theme_Keyword: bathymetry 

Theme_Keyword: terrain 

Theme_Keyword: GNSS 

Place: 

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System 

Place_Keyword: Missouri River 

Place_Keyword: Nebraska 

Place: 

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None 

Place_Keyword: Ponca backwater 

Access_Constraints: None 

Use_Constraints: The U.S. Geological Survey makes no 

guarantee nor offers any warranty concerning the accuracy, 

condition, or application of the information contained in 

this geographic data release. Although these data have been 

used successfully on computers of the USGS, no warranty, 

expressed or implied, is made by USGS regarding the use 

of these data on any other system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. In no event 

shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever for payment 

of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or tort 

damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any loss 

of profits, arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or use of these data. This database has been approved 

for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. 

Although this database has been subjected to rigorous 

review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves 

the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and 

review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither 

the USGS nor the U.S. Government may be held liable for 

any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized 

use. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Point_of_Contact: (Warning: Although accurate at the time 

of production, this information may have become obsolete. 

See the Metadata_Reference_Information section for a current contact.) 

Contact_Information: 

Contact_Person_Primary: 

Contact_Person: Justin R. Krahulik 

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey 

Contact_Position: Hydrologic Technician 

Contact_Address: 

Address_Type: mailing and physical 

Address: 5231 S 19th St

City: Lincoln 

State_or_Province: NE 

Postal_Code: 68512 

Country: USA 

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-402-328-4100 

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jkrahuli@usgs.gov

Browse_Graphic: 

Browse_Graphic_File_Name: ds909_Ponca_backwater.jpg 

Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Illustration of data set 

Browse_Graphic_File_Type: JPG 

Data_Set_Credit: Prepared in Cooperation with the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineer Omaha District

Security_Information: 

Security_Classification_System: None 

Security_Classification: Unclassified 

Security_Handling_Description: None 

Native_Data_Set_Environment: HYPACK® 2013 and Trimble® Access; processed in Microsoft Windows 7 Version 

6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.0.5.4400 

and Microsoft® Excel® 2010 (14.0.7109.50000) SP1 MSO 

(14.0.7116.5000) 

Cross_Reference: 

Citation_Information: 

Originator: HYPACK®

Publication_Date: 2013 

Title: 2013 HYPACK User Manual 

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document 

Publication_Information: 

Publication_Place: Online 

Publisher: Hypack, Inc. 

Online_Linkage: http://www.hypack.com/new/Training/

Documentation/tabid/239/DMXModule/1018/Default.

aspx?EntryId=179

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report: Reviewers examined attributes and elevation values.

Completeness_Report: Surveys were completed along 

transects spaced at 30.48 or 76.2 m. Occasionally areas of 

transects were not able to be surveyed if depth and substrate were not adequate or weather did not permit.

Positional_Accuracy: 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Horizontal 

accuracy is dependent on the accuracy of the GPS-surveyed 

position. There were two GPS/GNSS surveying methods 

used for this data collection effort. The first method, for 

horizontal position of the hydrographic sounding data, is 

DGPS. The stated horizontal accuracy for the DGPS is less 

than one meter assuming there are greater than 5 satellites, 

a Position Dilution Of Precision (PDOP) of less than 4, 

Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of greater than 6, elevation 

mask greater than 7.5, and a differential correction equivalent to a Trimble® 4000RSi. The second method, GPS/

GNSS Real Time Kinematic (RTK) surveying, was used 

to survey the banks and shallow water areas. GPS/GNSS 

RTK surveying used either an Ashtech Z-Xtreme receiver 

and Geodetic IV revision “A” antenna or a Trimble® R8 

antenna. RTK surveys were completed using USGS established bench marks utilizing the NGS Online Positioning 

Users Service (OPUS). The peak-to-peak error estimates 

in the latitudinal and longitudinal directions calculated by 

OPUS ranged from 0.006 to 0.020 m and 0.001 to 0.034 m 

respectively. GPS accuracy is not only determined by the 
Appendix 21

base station accuracy, but also by the accuracy of the rover 

unit. Only data with a “fixed” position (where the exact 

number of radio wavelengths between the satellites and the 

base station antenna were calculated—a process known as 

ambiguity resolution—to yield a whole number, or integer) 

were used for topographic surveys. The receiver accuracy 

is 1 centimeter (cm) + 2 parts per million (ppm) (based on 

the distance the rover is from the base) for RTK points with 

five satellites and PDOP less than 4.

Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 1.0 m 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Accuracy 

for DGPS used to locate hydrographic soundings

Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.044 m 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Accuracy 

of topographic data points collected using RTK GPS/GNSS 

surveying methods

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy: 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Vertical accuracy is 

dependent on the accuracy of the GPS-surveyed elevation 

and the accuracy of the depth estimation. The GPS survey 

is based off USGS established bench marks utilizing the 

NGS OPUS. The bench marks processed through OPUS 

with peak-to-peak error estimates in the ellipsoid ranging from 0.012 to 0.035 m and in the orthometric ranging 

from 0.022 to 0.059 m. GPS elevation accuracy is not only 

determined by the base station accuracy, but also by the 

accuracy of the rover unit. The rover unit used during terrestrial and bathymetric surveying was either an Ashtech 

Z-Xtreme receiver and Geodetic IV revision “A” antennae 

or a Trimble® R8 antenna. Only data coded as a “fixed” 

position by the GPS/GNSS receivers are used to determine 

water-surface elevations and topographic elevations. The 

accuracy of the receivers is 2 centimeters + 2 ppm (based 

on the distance the rover is from the base) with 5 satellites 

and a PDOP of less than 4. Depth was determined by using 

an Innerspace 456 single-beam echosounder. Echosounder 

depth estimates can be affected by the motion of the boat 

most generally pitch and roll. Depth was collected in a 

manner that minimized these factors by not allowing movement around the boat during data collection and by not 

collecting data during times of high wind/rough water. The 

stated accuracy for the echosounder is +/- 0.15 m.

Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.15 m 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Accuracy of 

the echosounder used to measure depth

Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.08 m 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Accuracy of 

topographic data points collected using RTK GPS/GNSS 

surveying methods

Lineage: 

Process_Step: 

Process_Description: Surveys were collected during the 

summer of 2011–13. Surveys consisted of GNSS topographic surveys utilizing either an Ashtech Z-Xtreme 

receiver and Geodetic IV revision “A” antennae or a 

Trimble® R8 antenna. The survey extent included high bank 

to edge of water and some in channel locations where depth 

permitted. Bathymetric data were collected using an Innerspace 456 echosounder with an 8° beam and HYPACK®

navigation software in conjunction with a Trimble® Ag 132 

DGPS.

Process_Date: Unknown 

Process_Step: 

Process_Description: GNSS data were exported and corrected based on bench mark position as processed through 

OPUS-S (USGS Level II static methods) and exported as 

xyz text.

Process_Date: Unknown 

Process_Step: 

Process_Description: Bathymetric data were processed 

using HYPACK® single beam editor using a centerline 

slope model for elevation from water surface elevation collected during the GNSS survey. Data was then exported as 

xyz text.

Process_Date: Unknown 

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information: 

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector 

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information: 

SDTS_Terms_Description: 

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point 

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 51802 

Spatial_Reference_Information: 

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: 

Planar: 

Grid_Coordinate_System: 

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse 

Mercator 

Universal_Transverse_Mercator: 

UTM_Zone_Number: 15 

Transverse_Mercator: 

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996 

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -93.0 

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0 

False_Easting: 500000.0 

False_Northing: 0 

Planar_Coordinate_Information: 

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair 

Coordinate_Representation: 

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.00000000222002416450096 

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.00000000222002416450096 

Planar_Distance_Units: meters 

Geodetic_Model: 

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983 

Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980 
22 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137 

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101 

Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition: 

Altitude_System_Definition: 

Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 

1988 

Altitude_Resolution: 0.01 

Altitude_Distance_Units: meters 

Altitude_Encoding_Method: Explicit elevation coordinate 

included with horizontal coordinates 

Entity_and_Attribute_Information: 

Detailed_Description: 

Entity_Type: 

Entity_Type_Label: ds909_Ponca_backwater 

Entity_Type_Definition: Bathymetric and topographic data 

collected at Ponca backwater in 2011–13 

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey 

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Date 

Attribute_Definition: Gregorian date

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Enumerated_Domain: 

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Date 

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: mm/dd/yyyy

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Method 

Attribute_Definition: Describes if the XYZ coordinate was 

collected by bathymetry or GNSS survey

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Enumerated_Domain: 

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Bathymetry or RTK_GNSS 

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Survey method 

used to collect each data point

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: GEOID 

Attribute_Definition: Describes the Geoid model used for 

each XYZ coordinate

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Enumerated_Domain: 

Enumerated_Domain_Value: GEOID12A or GEOID09 

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Geoid model used 

to calculate orthometric height from ellipsoid height.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Northing_UTM15m 

Attribute_Definition: Y or Northing coordinate in UTM 

zone 15 North meters

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Range_Domain: 

Range_Domain_Minimum: 4722051.777 

Range_Domain_Maximum: 4726111.49 

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meter 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information: 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy: 1.0 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: Based on equipment accuracy stated by manual 10 mm + 1 ppm root mean 

square (RMS) for horizontal position from the RTK GNSS 

as well as the horizontal accuracy of the Omnistar collected 

DGPS. 

Attribute_Measurement_Frequency: None planned 

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Easting_UTM15m 

Attribute_Definition: X or Easting Coordinate in UTM 

zone 15 meters

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Range_Domain: 

Range_Domain_Minimum: 194995.439 

Range_Domain_Maximum: 196299.491 

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meter 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information: 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy: 1.0 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: Based on equipment accuracy stated by manual 10 millimeters (mm) + 1 

ppm root mean square (RMS) for horizontal position from 

the RTK GNSS as well as the horizontal accuracy of the 

Omnistar collected DGPS. 

Attribute_Measurement_Frequency: None planned 

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Horizontal_Datum 

Attribute_Definition: Describes the datum used for the XY 

coordinate position

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Enumerated_Domain: 

Enumerated_Domain_Value: NAD83 (2011) or NAD83 

(CORS96) 

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Horizontal datum 

realization

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Ortho_NAVD88m 

Attribute_Definition: The Orthometric height or elevation of the Z coordinate using the North American Vertical 

Datum of 1988 in meters

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Range_Domain: 

Range_Domain_Minimum: 328.87 

Range_Domain_Maximum: 407.447 

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meter 
Appendix 23

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information: 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy: 0.15 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: Based on equipment accuracy stated by manual 20 mm + 1 ppm RMS 

vertical position for the RTK GNSS data points and the 

accuracy of the depth data collected from the echosounder. 

Attribute_Measurement_Frequency: None planned 

Distribution_Information: 

Distributor: 

Contact_Information: 

Contact_Organization_Primary: 

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey 

Contact_Position: Ask USGS—Water Webserver Team 

Contact_Address: 

Address_Type: mailing 

Address: 445 National Center

City: Reston 

State_or_Province: Virginia 

Postal_Code: 20192 

Country: USA 

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-275-8747 

(1-888-ASK-USGS) 

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: http://water.usgs.gov/

user_feedback_form.html

Resource_Description: Downloadable Data 

Distribution_Liability: The U.S. Geological Survey makes 

no guarantee nor offers any warranty concerning the accuracy, condition, or application of the information contained 

in this geographic data release.

Although these data have been used successfully on 

computers of the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is 

made by USGS regarding the use of these data on any other 

system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply 

any such warranty.

In no event shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever 

for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, 

or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any 

loss of profits, arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or use of these data.

This database has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has 

been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant 

to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on 

condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government may 

be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or 

unauthorized use. 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Standard_Order_Process: 

Digital_Form: 

Digital_Transfer_Information: 

Format_Name: ASCII 

Format_Version_Number: 1 

Format_Specification: Text

Format_Information_Content: x, y, z, date, Method, Horizontal datum, and GEIOD from GNSS and bathymetric 

surveys

File_Decompression_Technique: Zipped 

Digital_Transfer_Option: 

Online_Option: 

Computer_Contact_Information: 

Network_Address: 

Network_Resource_Name: http://water.usgs.gov/GIS/dsdl/

ds909_Ponca_backwater.csv

Access_Instructions: Access links through the USGS 

Publications Warehouse associated with the Larger Works 

Citation. 

Fees: None. This dataset is provided by the USGS as a 

public service. 

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20140710 

Metadata_Contact: 

Contact_Information: 

Contact_Organization_Primary: 

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey 

Contact_Position: Ask USGS—Water Webserver Team 

Contact_Address: 

Address_Type: mailing 

Address: 445 National Center

City: Reston 

State_or_Province: Virgina 

Postal_Code: 20192 

Country: USA 

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-275-8747 

(1-888-ASK-USGS) 

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: http://answers.usgs.

gov/cgi-bin/gsanswers?pemail=h2oteam&subject=GIS

+Dataset+ds909_Ponca_backwater

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for 

Digital Geospatial Metadata 

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 

Metadata_Use_Constraints: The U.S. Geological Survey 

makes no guarantee nor offers any warranty concerning the 

accuracy, condition, or application of the information contained in this geographic data release. Although these data 

have been used successfully on computers of the USGS, no 

warranty, expressed or implied, is made by USGS regarding the use of these data on any other system, nor does the 

fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. 

In no event shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever 

for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, 

special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not 

limited to, any loss of profits, arising out of the delivery, 

installation, operation, or use of these data. This database 

has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected 
24 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS 

reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further 

analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government may 

be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized 

or unauthorized use. Any use of trade, product, or firm 

names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Metadata_Security_Information: 

Metadata_Security_Classification_System: text 

Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified 

Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: no restrictions 

Identification_Information: 

Citation: 

Citation_Information:

Originator: Krahulik, J.R. and Densmore, B.K. 

Publication_Date: March 2015

Title: ds909_Council_chute.csv 

Edition: Version 1.0 

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data 

Publication_Information: 

Publication_Place: Reston, Va. 

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey 

Online_Linkage: http://water.usgs.gov/lookup/

getspatial?ds909_Council_chute

Larger_Work_Citation: 

Citation_Information: 

Originator: Krahulik, J.R., Densmore, B.K., Anderson, 

K.J., and Kavan, C.L. 

Publication_Date: March 2015

Title: Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three 

Backwaters on the Missouri River in Nebraska, Iowa, and 

Missouri, 2011–13 

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document 

Series_Information: 

Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 

Issue_Identification: ds909 

Publication_Information: 

Publication_Place: Reston, Va. 

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Description: 

Abstract: An Innerspace 456 single-beam echosounder in 

conjunction with a Trimble® differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), HYPACK® navigation software, and 

Ashtech Z-Xtreme and Trimble® R8 Global Navigation 

Satellite System (GNSS) receivers was used to survey 7 

chutes and 3 backwaters on the Missouri River yearly from 

2011–13. These chutes and backwaters are located on the 

Missouri River between Newcastle, Nebraska and Rulo, 

Nebraska in the States of Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. 

Surveys of chutes consisted of topographic and bathymetric 

data collected along transects spaced 30.48 m apart from 

high bank to high bank. Surveys of backwaters consisted 

of topographic and bathymetric data collected along a 

transect grid of 76.2 m spacing. The data were collected by 

the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Omaha District as part 

of the Missouri River Habitat Assessment and Monitoring 

Program.

Purpose: The purpose of this survey was to provide annual 

measurements of the chutes and backwaters for the USACE 

to calculate yearly geomorphic change to understand chute 

and backwater evolution. This dataset is also used by the 

USACE for measuring the amount of shallow water habitat 

available for endangered species to comply with the “2000 

Biological Opinion” and “2003 Amendment to the 2000 

Biological Opinion” on the Missouri River as part of the 

their Habitat Assessment and Monitoring Program.

Time_Period_of_Content: 

Time_Period_Information: 

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 2011 

Ending_Date: 2013 

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status: 

Progress: Complete 

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned 

Spatial_Domain: 

Bounding_Coordinates: 

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -95.9177 

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -95.8996 

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.2750 

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.2689 

Keywords: 

Theme: 

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None 

Theme_Keyword: ISO 19115 

Theme_Keyword: inlandWaters 

Theme: 

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None 

Theme_Keyword: topography 

Theme_Keyword: single-beam sonar 

Theme_Keyword: bathymetry 

Theme_Keyword: terrain 

Theme_Keyword: GNSS 

Place: 

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System 

Place_Keyword: Missouri River 

Place_Keyword: Iowa 

Place: 

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None 

Place_Keyword: Council chute 

Access_Constraints: None 

Use_Constraints: The U.S. Geological Survey makes no 

guarantee nor offers any warranty concerning the accuracy, 

condition, or application of the information contained in 

this geographic data release. Although these data have been 

used successfully on computers of the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by USGS regarding 

the use of these data on any other system, nor does the fact 
Appendix 25

of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. In 

no event shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever for 

payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, 

or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, 

any loss of profits, arising out of the delivery, installation, 

operation, or use of these data. This database has been 

approved for release and publication by the Director of 

the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to 

rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS 

reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further 

analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its 

authorized or unauthorized use. Any use of trade, product, 

or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not 

imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Point_of_Contact: (Warning: Although accurate at the time 

of production, this information may have become obsolete. 

See the Metadata_Reference_Information section for a current contact.) 

Contact_Information: 

Contact_Person_Primary: 

Contact_Person: Justin R. Krahulik 

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey 

Contact_Position: Hydrologic Technician 

Contact_Address: 

Address_Type: mailing and physical 

Address: 5231 S 19th St

City: Lincoln 

State_or_Province: NE 

Postal_Code: 68512 

Country: USA 

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-402-328-4100 

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jkrahuli@usgs.gov

Browse_Graphic: 

Browse_Graphic_File_Name: ds909_Council_chute.jpg 

Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Illustration of data set 

Browse_Graphic_File_Type: JPG 

Data_Set_Credit: Prepared in Cooperation with the U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineer Omaha District

Security_Information: 

Security_Classification_System: None 

Security_Classification: Unclassified 

Security_Handling_Description: None 

Native_Data_Set_Environment: HYPACK® 2013 and Trimble® Access; processed in Microsoft Windows 7 Version 

6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.0.5.4400 

and Microsoft® Excel® 2010 (14.0.7109.50000) SP1 MSO 

(14.0.7116.5000) 

Cross_Reference: 

Citation_Information: 

Originator: HYPACK®

Publication_Date: 2013 

Title: 2013 HYPACK User Manual 

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document 

Publication_Information: 

Publication_Place: Online 

Publisher: Hypack, Inc. 

Online_Linkage: http://www.hypack.com/new/Training/

Documentation/tabid/239/DMXModule/1018/Default.

aspx?EntryId=179

Data_Quality_Information: 

Logical_Consistency_Report: Reviewers examined attributes and elevation values.

Completeness_Report: Surveys were completed along 

transects spaced at 30.48 or 76.2 m. Occasionally areas of 

transects were not able to be surveyed if depth and substrate were not adequate or weather did not permit.

Positional_Accuracy: 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Horizontal 

accuracy is dependent on the accuracy of the GPS-surveyed 

position. There were two GPS/GNSS surveying methods 

used for this data collection effort. The first method, for 

horizontal position of the hydrographic sounding data, is 

DGPS. The stated horizontal accuracy for the DGPS is less 

than one meter assuming there are greater than 5 satellites, 

a Position Dilution Of Precision (PDOP) of less than 4, 

Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) of greater than 6, elevation 

mask greater than 7.5, and a differential correction equivalent to a Trimble® 4000RSi. The second method, GPS/

GNSS Real Time Kinematic (RTK) surveying, was used 

to survey the banks and shallow water areas. GPS/GNSS 

RTK surveying used either an Ashtech Z-Xtreme receiver 

and Geodetic IV revision “A” antenna or a Trimble® R8 

antenna. RTK surveys were completed using USGS established bench marks utilizing the NGS Online Positioning 

Users Service (OPUS). The peak-to-peak error estimates 

in the latitudinal and longitudinal directions calculated by 

OPUS ranged from 0.006 to 0.020 m and 0.001 to 0.034 m 

respectively. GPS accuracy is not only determined by the 

base station accuracy, but also by the accuracy of the rover 

unit. Only data with a “fixed” position (where the exact 

number of radio wavelengths between the satellites and the 

base station antenna were calculated—a process known as 

ambiguity resolution—to yield a whole number, or integer) 

were used for topographic surveys. The receiver accuracy 

is 1 centimeter + 2 ppm (based on the distance the rover is 

from the base)for RTK points with five satellites and PDOP 

less than 4.

Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 1.0 m 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Accuracy 

for DGPS used to locate hydrographic soundings

Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.044 m 

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Accuracy 

of topographic data points collected using RTK GPS/GNSS 

surveying methods

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy: 
26 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Vertical accuracy is 

dependent on the accuracy of the GPS-surveyed elevation 

and the accuracy of the depth estimation. The GPS survey 

is based off USGS established bench marks utilizing the 

NGS OPUS. The bench marks processed through OPUS 

with peak-to-peak error estimates in the ellipsoid ranging from 0.012 to 0.035 m and in the orthometric ranging 

from 0.022 to 0.059 m. GPS elevation accuracy is not only 

determined by the base station accuracy, but also by the 

accuracy of the rover unit. The rover unit used during terrestrial and bathymetric surveying was either an Ashtech 

Z-Xtreme receiver and Geodetic IV revision “A” antennae 

or a Trimble® R8 antenna. Only data coded as a “fixed” 

position by the GPS/GNSS receivers are used to determine 

water-surface elevations and topographic elevations. The 

accuracy of the receivers is 2 centimeters + 2 ppm (based 

on the distance the rover is from the base) with 5 satellites 

and a PDOP of less than 4. Depth was determined by using 

an Innerspace 456 single-beam echosounder. Echosounder 

depth estimates can be affected by the motion of the boat 

most generally pitch and roll. Depth was collected in a 

manner that minimized these factors by not allowing movement around the boat during data collection and by not 

collecting data during times of high wind/rough water. The 

stated accuracy for the echosounder is +/- 0.15 m.

Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.15 m 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Accuracy of 

the echosounder used to measure depth

Quantitative_Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Value: 0.08 m 

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation: Accuracy of 

topographic data points collected using RTK GPS/GNSS 

surveying methods

Lineage: 

Process_Step: 

Process_Description: Surveys were collected during the 

summer of 2011–13. Surveys consisted of GNSS topographic surveys utilizing either an Ashtech Z-Xtreme 

receiver and Geodetic IV revision “A” antennae or a 

Trimble® R8 antenna. The survey extent included high bank 

to edge of water and some in channel locations where depth 

permitted. Bathymetric data were collected using an Innerspace 456 echosounder with an 8° beam and HYPACK®

navigation software in conjunction with a Trimble® Ag 132 

DGPS.

Process_Date: Unknown 

Process_Step: 

Process_Description: GNSS data were exported and corrected based on bench mark position as processed through 

OPUS-S (USGS Level II static methods) and exported as 

xyz text.

Process_Date: Unknown 

Process_Step: 

Process_Description: Bathymetric data were processed 

using HYPACK® single beam editor using a centerline 

slope model for elevation from water surface elevation collected during the GNSS survey. Data was then exported as 

xyz text.

Process_Date: Unknown 

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information: 

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector 

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information: 

SDTS_Terms_Description: 

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point 

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 110142 

Spatial_Reference_Information: 

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: 

Planar: 

Grid_Coordinate_System: 

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse 

Mercator 

Universal_Transverse_Mercator: 

UTM_Zone_Number: 15 

Transverse_Mercator: 

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996 

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -93.0 

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0 

False_Easting: 500000.0 

False_Northing: 0 

Planar_Coordinate_Information: 

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair 

Coordinate_Representation: 

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.00000000222002416450096 

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.00000000222002416450096 

Planar_Distance_Units: meters 

Geodetic_Model: 

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983 

Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980 

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137 

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101 

Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition: 

Altitude_System_Definition: 

Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 

1988 

Altitude_Resolution: 0.01 

Altitude_Distance_Units: meters 

Altitude_Encoding_Method: Explicit elevation coordinate 

included with horizontal coordinates 

Entity_and_Attribute_Information: 

Detailed_Description: 

Entity_Type: 

Entity_Type_Label: ds909_Council_chute 

Entity_Type_Definition: Bathymetric and topographic data 

collected at Council chute in 2011–13 

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey 

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Date 
Appendix 27

Attribute_Definition: Gregorian date

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Enumerated_Domain: 

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Date 

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: mm/dd/yyyy

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Method 

Attribute_Definition: Describes if the XYZ coordinate was 

collected by bathymetry or GNSS survey

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Enumerated_Domain: 

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Bathymetry or RTK_GNSS 

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Survey method 

used to collect each data point

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: GEOID 

Attribute_Definition: Describes the Geoid model used for 

each XYZ coordinate

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Enumerated_Domain: 

Enumerated_Domain_Value: GEOID12A or GEOID09 

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Geoid model used 

to calculate orthometric height from ellipsoid height.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Northing_UTM15m 

Attribute_Definition: Y or Northing coordinate in UTM 

zone 15 North meters

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Range_Domain: 

Range_Domain_Minimum: 4572714.78 

Range_Domain_Maximum: 4573337.01 

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meter 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information: 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy: 1.0 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: Based on equipment accuracy stated by manual 10 mm + 1 ppm (based on 

the distance the rover is from the base) root mean square 

(RMS) for horizontal position from the RTK GNSS as well 

as the horizontal accuracy of the Omnistar collected DGPS. 

Attribute_Measurement_Frequency: None planned 

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Easting_UTM15m 

Attribute_Definition: X or Easting Coordinate in UTM 

zone 15 meters

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Range_Domain: 

Range_Domain_Minimum: 255613.16 

Range_Domain_Maximum: 257135.73 

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meter 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information: 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy: 1.0 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: Based on equipment accuracy stated by manual 10 mm + 1 ppm (based on 

the distance the rover is from the base) root mean square 

(RMS) for horizontal position from the RTK GNSS as well 

as the horizontal accuracy of the Omnistar collected DGPS. 

Attribute_Measurement_Frequency: None planned 

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Horizontal_Datum 

Attribute_Definition: Describes the datum used for the XY 

coordinate position

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Enumerated_Domain: 

Enumerated_Domain_Value: NAD83 (2011) or NAD83 

(CORS96) 

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Horizontal datum 

realization

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute: 

Attribute_Label: Ortho_NAVD88m 

Attribute_Definition: The Orthometric height or elevation of the Z coordinate using the North American Vertical 

Datum of 1988 in meters

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values: 

Range_Domain: 

Range_Domain_Minimum: 280.41 

Range_Domain_Maximum: 300.177 

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meter 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information: 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy: 0.15 

Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: Based on equipment accuracy stated by manual 20 mm + 1 ppm (based on 

the distance the rover is from the base) RMS vertical position for the RTK GNSS data points and the accuracy of the 

depth data collected from the echosounder. 

Attribute_Measurement_Frequency: None planned 

Distribution_Information: 

Distributor: 

Contact_Information: 

Contact_Organization_Primary: 

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey 

Contact_Position: Ask USGS—Water Webserver Team 

Contact_Address: 

Address_Type: mailing 

Address: 445 National Center

City: Reston 

State_or_Province: Virginia 
28 Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13

Postal_Code: 20192 

Country: USA 

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-275-8747 

(1-888-ASK-USGS) 

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: http://water.usgs.gov/

user_feedback_form.html

Resource_Description: Downloadable Data 

Distribution_Liability: The U.S. Geological Survey makes 

no guarantee nor offers any warranty concerning the accuracy, condition, or application of the information contained 

in this geographic data release.

Although these data have been used successfully on 

computers of the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is 

made by USGS regarding the use of these data on any other 

system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply 

any such warranty.

In no event shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever 

for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, 

or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any 

loss of profits, arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or use of these data.

This database has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has 

been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant 

to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on 

condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its 

authorized or unauthorized use. 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

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Standard_Order_Process: 

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Format_Name: ASCII 

Format_Version_Number: 1 

Format_Specification: Text

Format_Information_Content: x, y, z, date, Method, Horizontal datum, and GEIOD from GNSS and bathymetric 

surveys

File_Decompression_Technique: Zipped 

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ds909_Council_chute.csv

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Access links through the USGS Publications Warehouse 

associated with the Larger Works Citation. 

Fees: None. This dataset is provided by the USGS as a 

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Metadata_Reference_Information: 

Metadata_Date: 20140710 

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Contact_Information: 

Contact_Organization_Primary: 

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey 

Contact_Position: Ask USGS—Water Webserver Team 

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Address: 445 National Center

City: Reston 

State_or_Province: Virgina 

Postal_Code: 20192 

Country: USA 

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(1-888-ASK-USGS) 

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: http://answers.usgs.

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+Dataset+ds909_Council_chute

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Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 

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makes no guarantee nor offers any warranty concerning the 

accuracy, condition, or application of the information contained in this geographic data release. Although these data 

have been used successfully on computers of the USGS, no 

warranty, expressed or implied, is made by USGS regarding the use of these data on any other system, nor does the 

fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. 

In no event shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever 

for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, 

special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not 

limited to, any loss of profits, arising out of the delivery, 

installation, operation, or use of these data. This database 

has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected 

to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS 

reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further 

analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government may 

be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized 

or unauthorized use. Any use of trade, product, or firm 

names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

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Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified 

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Or visit the Nebraska Water Science Center Web site at: 

http://ne.water.usgs.gov
Krahulik and others—Hydrographic Surveys at Seven Chutes and Three Backwaters on the Missouri River, 2011–13—Data Series 909

ISSN 2327-638X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ds909