Sediment-data sources and estimated annual suspended-sediment loads of rivers and streams in Colorado

Water-Resources Investigations Report 86-4344
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Abstract

Sources of sediment data collected by several government agencies through water year 1984 are summarized for Colorado. The U.S. Geological Survey has collected suspended-sediment data at 243 sites; these data are stored in the U.S. Geological Survey 's water data storage and retrieval system. The U.S. Forest Service has collected suspended-sediment and bedload data at an additional 225 sites, and most of these data are stored in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 's water-quality-control information system. Additional unpublished sediment data are in the possession of the collecting entities. Annual suspended-sediment loads were computed for 133 U.S. Geological Survey sediment-data-collection sites using the daily mean water-discharge/sediment-transport-curve method. Sediment-transport curves were derived for each site by one of three techniques: (1) Least-squares linear regression of all pairs of suspended-sediment and corresponding water-discharge data, (2) least-squares linear regression of data sets subdivided on the basis of hydrograph season; and (3) graphical fit to a logarithm-logarithm plot of data. The curve-fitting technique used for each site depended on site-specific characteristics. Sediment-data sources and estimates of annual loads of suspended, bed, and total sediment from several other reports also are summarized. (USGS)

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Sediment-data sources and estimated annual suspended-sediment loads of rivers and streams in Colorado
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 86-4344
DOI 10.3133/wri864344
Year Published 1986
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description Report: vii, 148 p.; 2 Plates: 26.86 × 21.85 inches and 26.94 × 22.40 inches
Country United States
State Colorado
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