WSP05649

• File Number: 8220.101.10.D
• Description: Glen Canyon Dam/Lake Powell
• State: AZ
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 2/1/2000
• Author: Topping et al.
• Title: Colorado River Sediment Transport
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

532

1000

100

..
c
"
u
"
:;
E
c
~ 10
I
c
.,
9
....
z
w
"
o
w
"'
W
z
u:

0.1

a)

4000

3500

..3000
1-
w
"
0:
~ 2500
"
<II
o
0:
w 2000
!;;:
~
"'
:J
o
w
z 1500
.,
....
Z
;0
"'
;!i; 1000

500

TOPPING ET AL: COLORADO RIVER SEDIMENT TRANSPORT. I

-0-- COLORADO AIVEA 0 LEES FERRY
---.. on PARIA RIVEA
...-,0;--- UTIlE COLORADO RIVER
...*... UNGAGEDTAIBUTAAtES
_____ COLORADO RIVER 0 GRAND CANYO

I f,.. .~~.?-:~ I
! \. i l;;. " 'II.. \ in .. .
.., . ~ ,.. ....
li ,:.. .. ::: I .

o

~~~~~~~~~~~~~g~~~~~~~mm~~~~~~~~
m~~mmmmm~mm~mmmmcccmcccCCCCCCCC
-------------------------------

SEDIMENT YEAR (July "'rough J....)

,,'
.,.
c'
~:
~i
~!
~:
~
<!Ii
~:
w'
0:'
:J
<II
o
-,.
0:

0
"' 0 :;; N M V "' "' ~ "' "' 0 :;; N M V "' "' ~ "' "' 0
v "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' "' ~
b) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SEDIMENT YEAR

Figure 9. (a) Annual fine-sediment (i.e., sand and finer material) loads of the Colorado River in Glen
Canyon (as measured al the Lees Ferry gage), the Paria River, the Little Colorado River, the ungaged
tributaries, and the Colorado River at the Grand Canyon gage. Error bars indicate the uncertainties in the
loads (see leXl). (b) Instantaneous water discharge of the Colorado River at Lees Ferry during sediment yeaTS
1949-1970. This time series was constructed using unpublished raw USGS stage and discharge data. (e)
Annual fine-sediment supply to and export from Marble Canyon and upper Grand Canyon. In all but a few
years, the supply and export of fine sediment in both tht: predam and postdam periods were equal within the
uncertainlies in the sediment budget.