Laserfiche WebLink
<br />, . <br /> <br />384 <br /> <br />J KORMAN, 5, ~1. WiELE AND M, TORIZZO <br /> <br />The flow and sand transport model uses a simple turbulence closure to approximate the \'cnical structure of the <br />velocity profile, This method does not account for regions with abruptly changing bed topography where the <br />assumption about the now structure is violated. The regions where the flow patterns are more cDmp\kated than <br />is represented by the use of a vertical velocity profile based on a turbulence closure tend to occupy a small part of <br />the channel and have not had a significant e.frect on the calculations of erosion and deposition. For this study, we <br />hu.....e ncg\e.cted the vertical strUcture of the flow and used only the vertically averaged velocity. \Vith the logarith- <br />mic yelocity profile used in the model, the velocity in the upper 80% of the flow is nearl)' constant. The main <br />compromise with our approach is in neglecting the velocity structure in the 100\'er 20% of (he flow. The qverall <br />channel shape in our study reaches is fixed by bedrock, large talus blocks, and debris fans that are stabilized by <br />cobbles and boulders that are rarely transported by dam-controlled flows, We modelled one channel shape in each <br />of our study reaches. although channel shape, and consequently flow fields. can be altered by changes in the <br />volume and location of sand deposits. Comparisons of nrea of favourabte habitat with differ~nces in discharge <br />could be influenced by variations in sand deposition \vithin the study reaches, but relative changes between reaches <br />are likely to be less sensitive to variations in sand deposition. Historical comparisons may be complicated by the <br />variability in sand deposits in the low-velocity zones as a result of the decreased sand supply after the closure of <br />Glen Canyon Dam, The difference between pre- and post-dam sand supply in our study reaches is partly mitigated, <br />however, by their proximity to the Litlle Colorado River (Figure 1). one of two major sand-contributing tributaries, <br />All study sites are located within 8 km below the confluence with the Little Colorado River, <br /> <br />Mapping of shorelille types <br /> <br />Field-surveyed bathymetric and shoreline topographic data (Hazel el a/,. 2000) were combined with photogram- <br />metrically generated contour data (US Bureau of Reclamation, 1990), A triangulated irregular network (TIN) sur. <br />face model was created using the Delauney method of triangulation. implemented by ARCfli'iFO (Environmental <br />Systems Research Institute. Inc,. 1991), The TIN surface was then in'terpolated using a bivariate quintic interpola- <br />(ion scheme in order to generate 6.25 m2 resolution grids. The in(erpolated surfaces \....ere then combined with ripar- <br />ian vegetation maps (US Bureau of Reclamation, 1990) established on the basis of elevation. vegetation density, <br />and surficial geology (Schmidt ef ai"~ 1999), The mapping units of these data sets were merged and reclassified to <br />match the six shoreline types used by Converse ef ai, (1998) to describe the habitat preference of juvenile hump- <br />back chub in Grand Canyon: bedrock, cobble, debris fan, sand. talus, and vegetation, <br /> <br />Suitczble hllbirm <br /> <br />We computed the amount of total suitable habitat by summing the total wetted area of each study reach where <br />velocity was less than or equal to a critical value of 0,25 tnts. The amount of suitable shoreline habitat waS com- <br />puted by placing an additional constraint that depth was less than or equal to I m, The amount of tOtal suitable <br />habitat and suitable shoreline habitat was computed for each study reach for nine discharges (Table Il). <br /> <br />. T<lble II. Significance of nine discharge levels used to develop habitat- <br />discharge relationships <br /> <br />Discharge {ml/s) <br /> <br />Significance <br /> <br />84 <br />141 <br />226 <br />425 <br />566 <br />907 <br />1272 <br />2123 <br />2830 <br /> <br />Annual average minimum pre-dam flow <br />Nightime minimum under current operations <br />Daytime minimum under current operations <br />Approx:imatc average post-dam flow <br />Typical high operating flows <br />Approximate powerplllnt c<lpacity Glen Canyon Dam <br />March-April 1996 experimental flood <br />Exceeded in 28% of years between 1922 and 2000 <br />Exceeded in 13% of years between 1922 and 2000 <br /> <br />Copyright ~ 2004 John Wiley & Sons. Lid. <br /> <br />River Re3. Applic. 20: 319-400 (2004) <br />