Grand Canyon Streamflow and Sediment Project Active
The AZWSC Grand Canyon Streamflow and Sediment project supports the work of Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center’s (GCMRC) Discharge, Sediment and Water Quality Project. This support is accomplished by collecting sediment, temperature, and streamflow data from tributaries of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon and by collecting temperature and streamflow data on the main stem of the Colorado River.
When Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1964, most of the supply of fine-grained sediment (sand, silt, and clay) for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon was cut off. The operation of Glen Canyon Dam affects how sediment in the Colorado River is either deposited in beaches or eroded and transported downstream to Lake Mead. Sediment, especially sand, is important in the Colorado River system for wildlife habitat and recreation.
The AZWSC Grand Canyon Streamflow and Sediment Project monitors streamflow, water quality, and sediment inputs on tributaries to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon including the Paria River, Little Colorado River, Kanab Creek, and Havasu Creek. Measuring the inputs of water and sediment from these important tributaries helps to better understand the transport of fine-grained sediment in the waters of the Colorado River system in Grand Canyon and supports the work and overall goal of our parent GCMRC project.
Monitoring sites are listed below and include descriptions of and links to data published for each site. Data collected for this project can also be accessed using GCMRC’s interactive map.
- Paria River: The Paria River is one of the largest suppliers of sand to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Automated pump samplers installed at the Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ (09382000: NWIS / GCMRC) streamflow gaging station located upstream of the Lees Ferry Road bridge collect samples based on water level and duration of flooding events. AZWSC personnel collect samples during flooding events using a depth integrating (US-D49) sampler suspended from the bridge and operate a surface velocity radar and particle tracking cameras to improve discharge record and sediment load calculations.
- Little Colorado River: The Little Colorado River is another important supplier of sand to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Automated pump samplers installed at the Little Colorado River near Cameron, AZ (09402000: NWIS / GCMRC) and the Little Colorado River above the mouth near Desert View, AZ (09402300: NWIS / GCMRC) streamflow gaging stations collect samples based on water level and duration of flooding events. The project also publishes discharge and water temperature data collected at the streamflow gage near Desert View, AZ.
- Kanab Creek: Manual sampling and automated pump samplers measure suspended sediment concentration at the Kanab Creek above the mouth near Supai, AZ gage (09403850: NWIS / GCMRC) streamflow gaging station. The project also publishes discharge and water temperature data collected at this site.
- Havasu Creek: Manual sampling and automated pump samplers measure suspended sediment concentration at the Havasu Creek above the mouth, near Supai, AZ gage (09404115: NWIS / GCMRC ) gaging station. The project also publishes discharge and water temperature data at collected this site
- Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZ: The project publishes water temperature data collected at the Colorado River at Lees Ferry (09380000: NWIS and GCMRC) streamflow gaging station.
- Colorado River above Diamond Creek near Peach Springs, AZ: The project publishes a record of discharge at the Colorado River above Diamond Creek near Peach Springs (NWIS and GCMRC) streamflow gaging station.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Optimal timing of high-flow experiments for sandbar deposition
Long-term evolution of sand transport through a river network: Relative influences of a dam versus natural changes in grain size from sand waves
Importance of measuring discharge and sediment transport in lesser tributaries when closing sediment budgets
Inaccuracies in sediment budgets arising from estimations of tributary sediment inputs: an example from a monitoring network on the southern Colorado plateau
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
The AZWSC Grand Canyon Streamflow and Sediment project supports the work of Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center’s (GCMRC) Discharge, Sediment and Water Quality Project. This support is accomplished by collecting sediment, temperature, and streamflow data from tributaries of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon and by collecting temperature and streamflow data on the main stem of the Colorado River.
When Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1964, most of the supply of fine-grained sediment (sand, silt, and clay) for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon was cut off. The operation of Glen Canyon Dam affects how sediment in the Colorado River is either deposited in beaches or eroded and transported downstream to Lake Mead. Sediment, especially sand, is important in the Colorado River system for wildlife habitat and recreation.
The AZWSC Grand Canyon Streamflow and Sediment Project monitors streamflow, water quality, and sediment inputs on tributaries to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon including the Paria River, Little Colorado River, Kanab Creek, and Havasu Creek. Measuring the inputs of water and sediment from these important tributaries helps to better understand the transport of fine-grained sediment in the waters of the Colorado River system in Grand Canyon and supports the work and overall goal of our parent GCMRC project.
Monitoring sites are listed below and include descriptions of and links to data published for each site. Data collected for this project can also be accessed using GCMRC’s interactive map.
- Paria River: The Paria River is one of the largest suppliers of sand to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Automated pump samplers installed at the Paria River at Lees Ferry, AZ (09382000: NWIS / GCMRC) streamflow gaging station located upstream of the Lees Ferry Road bridge collect samples based on water level and duration of flooding events. AZWSC personnel collect samples during flooding events using a depth integrating (US-D49) sampler suspended from the bridge and operate a surface velocity radar and particle tracking cameras to improve discharge record and sediment load calculations.
- Little Colorado River: The Little Colorado River is another important supplier of sand to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Automated pump samplers installed at the Little Colorado River near Cameron, AZ (09402000: NWIS / GCMRC) and the Little Colorado River above the mouth near Desert View, AZ (09402300: NWIS / GCMRC) streamflow gaging stations collect samples based on water level and duration of flooding events. The project also publishes discharge and water temperature data collected at the streamflow gage near Desert View, AZ.
- Kanab Creek: Manual sampling and automated pump samplers measure suspended sediment concentration at the Kanab Creek above the mouth near Supai, AZ gage (09403850: NWIS / GCMRC) streamflow gaging station. The project also publishes discharge and water temperature data collected at this site.
- Havasu Creek: Manual sampling and automated pump samplers measure suspended sediment concentration at the Havasu Creek above the mouth, near Supai, AZ gage (09404115: NWIS / GCMRC ) gaging station. The project also publishes discharge and water temperature data at collected this site
- Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZ: The project publishes water temperature data collected at the Colorado River at Lees Ferry (09380000: NWIS and GCMRC) streamflow gaging station.
- Colorado River above Diamond Creek near Peach Springs, AZ: The project publishes a record of discharge at the Colorado River above Diamond Creek near Peach Springs (NWIS and GCMRC) streamflow gaging station.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Optimal timing of high-flow experiments for sandbar deposition
Sediment-transport theory and field measurements indicate that the greatest or most efficient deposition of sand in eddies occurs during controlled floods (a.k.a. High-Flow Experiments or HFEs) when the greatest amount of the finest sand is available on the bed of the Colorado River (Topping and others, 2010). Conducting HFEs when the sand on the bed of the Colorado River is depleted and coarse caAuthorsDavid Topping, Paul E. Grams, Ronald E. Griffiths, Joseph E. Hazel, Matthew Kaplinski, David Dean, Nicholas Voichick, Joel Unema, Thomas A. SabolLong-term evolution of sand transport through a river network: Relative influences of a dam versus natural changes in grain size from sand waves
Temporal and spatial nonuniformity in supplies of water and sand in a river network leads to sand transport that is in local disequilibrium with the upstream sand supply. In such river networks, sand is transported downstream as elongating waves in which coupled changes in grain size and transport occur. Depending on the magnitude of each sand‐supplying event and the interval between such events,AuthorsDavid Topping, Erich R. Mueller, John C. Schmidt, Ronald E. Griffiths, David Dean, Paul E. GramsImportance of measuring discharge and sediment transport in lesser tributaries when closing sediment budgets
Sediment budgets are an important tool for understanding how riverine ecosystems respond to perturbations. Changes in the quantity and grain size distribution of sediment within river systems affect the channel morphology and related habitat resources. It is therefore important for resource managers to know if a river reach is in a state of sediment accumulation, deficit or stasis. Many sediment-bAuthorsRonald E. Griffiths, David ToppingInaccuracies in sediment budgets arising from estimations of tributary sediment inputs: an example from a monitoring network on the southern Colorado plateau
Sediment budgets are an important tool for understanding how riverine ecosystems respond to perturbations. Changes in the quantity and grain-size distribution of sediment within river systems affect the channel morphology and related habitat resources. It is therefore important for resource managers to know if a channel reach is in a state of sediment accumulation, deficit or stasis. Many studiesAuthorsRonald E. Griffiths, David Topping - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.