Sediment delivery by ungaged tributaries of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona
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Abstract
Sediment input to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, is a valuable resource required to sustain both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. A total of 768 ungaged tributaries deliver sediment to the river between Glen Canyon Dan and the Grand Wash Cliffs (river miles - 15 to 276). The 32 tributaries between the dam and Lee's Ferry produce only streamflow floods, whereas 736 tributaries in Grand Canyon produce streamflow floods and debris flows. We used three techniques to estimate annual streamflow sediment yield from ungaged tributaries to the Colorado River. For the Glen Canyon and Marble Canyon reaches (river miles -15 to 61.5), respectively, these techniques indicate that 0.065.106 and 0.610.106 Mg/yr (0.68.106 Mg/yr of total sediment) enters the river. This amount is 20 percent of the sediment yield of the Paria River, the only gaged tributary in this reach and a major sediment contributor to the Colorado River. The amout of sand delivered ranges from 0.10.106 to 0.51.106 Mg/yr, depending on the sand content of streamflow sediment. Sand delivered in Glen Canyon is notably coarser (D50 = 0.24 mm) than sand in other reaches (D50 = 0.15 mm). A relation is given for possible variation of this sediment delivery with climate.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Sediment delivery by ungaged tributaries of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona |
| Series title | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2000-4055 |
| DOI | 10.3133/wri004055 |
| Year Published | 2000 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Contributing office(s) | Rocky Mountain Regional Office |
| Description | v, 67 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Other Geospatial | Grand Canyon |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |