9670

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9670
• Author: Pitlick, J.
• Title: Channel Monitoring To Evaluate Geomorphic Changes On The Main Stem Of The Colorado River.
• USFW Year: n.d.
• USFW - Doc Type: Boulder, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

Sediment Transport
Seasonal Trends in Suspended Sediment: Measurements of suspended sediment have
been made at USGS gauging stations in the study area periodically from 1976-1999. The length
of record and number of observations at each stations varies; however, the complete data set
contains hundreds of entries listing water discharge, sediment concentration, and percentage of
sand measured in suspended sediment samples. These data were retrieved from the USGS data
base and are used here to examine seasonal trends in sediment transport more closely.
Figure 15 plots suspended sediment relations for the Colorado River near Cameo, CO.
The panel on the left (Fig. 15a) plots the suspended sediment concentration, C, (mgl?, versus the
instantaneous water discharge, Q (m3/s), with samples distinguished according to whether they
were taken prior to or after the peak in the annual hydrograph (rising limb and falling limb,
respectively). The panel on the right (Fig. 15b) plots suspended sediment load, QS, (metric tons
per day) versus instantaneous water discharge. The load is calculated from Qs = 0.0864 Cs Q,
where the constant 0.0864 is a factor for converting units.
A 10'

CO E , •
?'°' •?•'
..,, W
O
E 4-ot
••
m 101 t•? •
e
H
•
9

9
C ?
m •
•
CL I,
m •y
M.
0
U)
, • • rising
•
10' • falling
10' 10= 109 'l e
Discharge (m3/s)
B

lip
9 • • •
t

m
C ee

,
o
J ..

•

E
• 109 •
?
9
m
9
C
m
CL
7 10Z

y •
• rising
• falling
10'
101
10? 109 10?
Discharge (m31s)
Figure 15. Suspended sediment relations for the Colorado River near Cameo, CO; (a) suspended
sediment concentration versus water discharge, and (b) suspended load versus water discharge.
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