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<br />'"
<br />
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<br />
<br />CHANNEL NARROWING BY VERTICAL ACCRETION, GREEN RIVER
<br />
<br />
<br />120
<br />
<br />115
<br />
<br />o
<br />
<br />~
<br />
<br />110
<br />
<br /> 105
<br />J: 100
<br />I- ~
<br />oE
<br />~~
<br /> 95
<br /> 90
<br /> 85
<br /> 1930
<br />
<br />\\
<br />
<br />
<br />---- PERIODS OF LOW-ELEVATION BAR EMPlACEMENT
<br />
<br />1940
<br />
<br />1950
<br />
<br />1960
<br />
<br />1980
<br />
<br />1990
<br />
<br />1970
<br />
<br />DATE
<br />
<br />Figure 15. Channel width over time at two ranges of discharge. Flows ranging from 566 to 623
<br />m3/s (open circles) depict bankfull discharge channel width, and flows ranging from 145 to 220
<br />m3/s (filled circles) depict channel width at more moderate flows. These data demonstrate ear-
<br />lier periods of attached bar deposition and subsequent scour by large floods.
<br />
<br />..;
<br />
<br />studies have been based on geomorphic analysis
<br />of channel deposits and analysis of aerial pho-
<br />tographs that have poor temporal resolution.
<br />Gaging station records have been used to assess
<br />channel change in several recent studies (James,
<br />1991; Ennan, 1992; Jacobson, 1995; Friedman
<br />et al., 1996a; Van Steeter and Pitlick, 1998), but
<br />few of these studies have used the temporally rich
<br />width data contained in the discharge measure-
<br />ment notes. Topping's (1997) analysis of channel
<br />change of the Paria River is perhaps the most
<br />comprehensive analysis utilizing historical dis-
<br />charge measurement data
<br />The techniques used in our analysis allow the
<br />spatially rich but temporally poor data from aerial
<br />photographs to be integrated with gaging station
<br />data, which are temporally rich but spatially poor.
<br />Such an integration can add great detail about the
<br />timing and actual processes of channel change
<br />that cannot be determined solely from aerial pho-
<br />tographs or alluvial stratigraphy. Such an analyti-
<br />cal strategy provides a more complete record of
<br />historical channel adjustment than can be ob-
<br />tained by other means. The archived records of
<br />the U.S. Geological Survey, which describe chan-
<br />nel condition and its evolution throughout the
<br />U.S. remain an underutilized scientific treasure.
<br />
<br />ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
<br />
<br />This project was primarily funded by the
<br />Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the
<br />
<br />Recovery Program for the Endangered Fish of
<br />the Upper Colorado River Basin. Supplemental
<br />support for this project was provided by the
<br />U.S. Geological SurveylWater Resources Divi-
<br />sion through E. D. Andrews, whose assistance is
<br />greatly appreciated. Earlier revisions were re-
<br />viewed by Jon Pitlick, Robert Webb, Brian
<br />Cluer, and Ellen WoW, whose comments greatly
<br />improved this manuscript. We wish to acknowl-
<br />edge David Allen and Julane Muldaur from the
<br />Salt Lake City, Utah, office USGSIWRD for
<br />their assistance in obtaining historical docu-
<br />ments. Other assistance and helpful discussion
<br />was given by E. D. Andrews, Jim Dobrowolski,
<br />Mike O'Neill, Richard Cutler, Janis Boettinger,
<br />John Pitlick and David Topping. Also a very
<br />special thanks goes to Steve Monroe and many
<br />others for help in the field.
<br />
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