This dissertation research will examine spatial and temporal variation in stream power in a mountainous watershed in southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Stream power is the time-rate of energy expenditure as water flows downslope, and it is an indicator of the ability of the stream to do work (i.e., erode its banks or transport sediment). The PIs seek to determine the relationships between stream power and a number of hydrologic and geomorphic variables by developing empirical models based primarily on data collected in the field. Predicted (model) flows will then be compared to flows measured in the field. The overall importance of this research is in generating a more accurate and precise understanding of mountain stream hydraulics and geomorphology.
