Repeat measurements of bathymetry, streamflow velocity and sediment concentration made during a high flow experiment on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, March 2008

The acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data were collected and compiled to characterize the velocity patterns in channel of the Colorado River and in an adjacent zone of laterally recirculating flow (eddy). Topographic/bathymetric digital elevation models (DEMs) were collected and compiled to characterize erosion and deposition in the Colorado River and in an adjacent zone of laterally recirculating flow (eddy). Profiles of suspended-sediment concentration were also collected and compiled to characterize suspended sediment in the Colorado River. These datasets were collected during both average flow conditions and during a controlled flood that occurred in March 2008. Objectives of the study were to measure changes in velocity and flow structure, changes in sandbar morphology, and changes in suspended sediment during changes in discharge associated with the controlled flood. These data were collected between March 4 and March 10, 2008 in a 1-mile study reach on the Colorado River within Grand Canyon National Park beginning 44.5 miles downstream from Lees Ferry, Arizona. Data were collected by the USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center with cooperators from Northern Arizona University and funding provided by the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. The ADCP data can be used to study streamflow velocity patterns in zones of recirculating flow, which can be used in predictions of sediment transport and can be used to develop, calibrate, and verify streamflow models. DEM data can be used to study changes in channel morphology associated with changes in streamflow conditions. Lastly, the suspended-sediment concentration profile data can be used to study suspended sediment concentration, which can be used in predictions of sediment transport and can be used to develop, calibrate, and verify transport models.

Tags: acoustic-doppler-current-profiling, arizona, bathymetry, bathymetry-measurement, channel-morphology, colorado-river, controlled-flooding, deposition, digital-elevation-models, eddies, eminence-break, eminence-break-field-site, erosion, field-experiments, field-sampling, freshwater-ecosystems, glen-canyon-dam, glen-canyon-dam-adaptive-management-program, grain-size, grain-size-analysis, grand-canyon-national-park, high-flow-experiment, hydrology, inlandwaters, lateral-flow-separation-zones, lees-ferry, marble-canyon, multibeam-sonar, predictive-models, recirculating-flow, reson-seabat-8124-sonar-with-tss-mahrss-reference-system, river-mile-44-5, river-mile-44-64, river-mile-45, sandbar-morphology, sandbars, sediment-depostion, sediment-erosion, sediment-transport, sedimentation, stream-channel, stream-discharge, streamflow, streamflow-condtions, streamflow-data, streamflow-models, streamflow-velocity, streamflow-velocity-profile-measurements, suspended-sediment, suspended-sediment-concentration, topography, total-station, usgs-60ac2a0ad34ea221ce5209bc, usgs-grand-canyon-monitoring-and-research-center, velocity-patterns, velocity-profile, vertical-profile, water-sampling, willie-taylor-field-site, workhorse-rio-grande-adcp
Organization: Department of the Interior