Data Series 246

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the

GRAND CANYON MONITORING AND RESEARCH CENTER

Flow Velocity and Sediment Data Collected 

During 1990 and 1991 at National Canyon, 

Colorado River, Arizona
Inside Front Cover

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Flow Velocity and Sediment Data Collected 

During 1990 and 1991 at National Canyon, 

Colorado River, Arizona

By Nancy J. Hornewer and Stephen M. Wiele

Prepared in cooperation with the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center

Data Series 246

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2007

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Suggested citation:

Hornewer, N.J., and Wiele, S.M., 2007, Flow velocity and sediment data collected during 1990 and 1991 at National 

Canyon, Colorado River, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 246, 11 p.
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................1

Acknowledgments................................................................................................................................1

Description of the National Gage Study Area..................................................................................1

Releases from Glen Canyon Dam.......................................................................................................3

Flow, Velocity Profiles, Suspended and Bed Sediment Samples, and Sample Analysis..........3

References Cited............................................................................................................................................6

Figures

1. Map showing location of National Canyon study area on the 

Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona ................................................................................2

2. Hydrographs of discharge at U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging stations Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam (gage 

number 09379910) and Colorado River above National Canyon 

near Supai (gage number 09404120) during Research Flows A–F .......................................4

Tables

1. Number of cross sections, point-velocity measurements, and types 

and total numbers of sediment samples collected and analyzed 

from seven research flows in 1990 and 1991 ...........................................................................5

Conversion Factors 

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)
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Flow Velocity and Sediment Data Collected During 1990 

and 1991 at National Canyon, Colorado River, Arizona

By Nancy J. Hornewer and Stephen M. Wiele

Abstract

During 1990 and 1991, a series of research flows 

were released from Glen Canyon Dam. Data collected at 

the streamflow-gaging station on the Colorado River above 

National Canyon near Supai from that period have been 

compiled and entered into the U.S. Geological Survey 

database. The data consist of measurements of suspendedsediment concentration and sand sizes in suspension, sand 

sizes of streambed sediment, and velocity of the Colorado 

River above National Canyon near Supai streamflow-gaging 

site. Velocity and sediment data are available upon request 

from the Arizona Water Science Center and from the U.S. 

Geological Survey water-quality database (http://waterdata.

usgs.gov/az/nwis/qw).

Introduction

During 1990 and 1991, a series of research flows were 

released from Glen Canyon Dam (figure 1). The releases were 

part of a series of studies done in cooperation with the U.S. 

Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Geolgical Survey (USGS) 

to determine the effect of releases from the dam on the river 

corridor between Glen Canyon Dam (river mile -15.5) and 

Lake Mead (river mile 276.5). Locations along the river are 

indicated by river mile (RM) below Lees Ferry, which is 

designated RM 0, (Breedlove and Mietz, 2002). During the 

releases, suspended sediment and bed material were sampled 

to study sediment transport at the Colorado River above 

National Canyon near Supai (USGS gage number 09404120) 

streamflow-gaging station (referred to as the National gage in 

this report), located at RM 166. Velocity and sediment data are 

available upon request from the Arizona Water Science Center 

and from the USGS water-quality database (http://waterdata.

usgs.gov/az/nwis/qw).

Purpose and Scope

This report presents the availability of suspendedsediment concentration and sand sizes in suspension, sand 

sizes of streambed sediment, and velocity data collected at 

the National gage, 166 miles below Lees Ferry (182 miles 

below Glen Canyon Dam) on the Colorado River, during 

the research flows in 1990 and 1991. Field work consisted 

of measuring velocity profiles and collecting suspendedsediment and bed-sediment samples. The units used in 

this report are the units in which the data are stored in the 

database and are also the units used by Grand Canyon 

researchers and managers.

Acknowledgments

Julia Graf, John Gray, Greg Fisk, and Bob Hart (USGS) 

provided information regarding field methods used during 

the data collection. Ted Melis and Scott Wright of the USGS 

Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) 

supported this report and the GCMRC provided funding for 

publication. The Bureau of Reclamation through the Glen 

Canyon Environmental Studies funded the data collection 

and sample analysis. Finally, much credit and appreciation 

is owed to the many individuals who worked diligently and 

arduously to collect sediment samples during the 1990–1991 

research flows. 

Description of the National Gage Study Area

The reach in which the National Canyon streamflowgaging station was located is relatively straight and of uniform 

width compared to most of the rest of the Colorado River in 

Grand Canyon. The channel is deeply entrenched in bedrock, 

and the channel margins are lined with talus slopes. The debris 

fan at the mouth of National Canyon, 0.25 mile downstream 

from the streamflow-gaging station, forms a hydraulic control 

for the mainstem Colorado River in the sampling section for 

the discharges released during the research flows. The channel 

bottom typically was covered with a sand layer with dunes 

during 1990 and 1991 (Christiansen, 1993). The National gage 

was operated between July 31, 1983, and April 18, 1993, and 

again from March 7, 1996, through April 25, 1996. 
Figure 1. Location of National Canyon study area on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona.

River

Lees Ferry

Phantom Ranch

NATIONAL CANYON

Pearce

Ferry

ttle Li

do ra

Colo

Glen Canyon Dam

Grand Canyon

National Park

Colora

do

River

Colorado

UTAH

ARIZONA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

River

ir V gin

Paria

Lake

Mead

CA

LIF

O

RNIA

A

RIZ

ONA

River

Diamond

eek Cr

Page

Flagstaff

ver Ri

ARIZONA

35o

Base from U.S. Geological Survey

State base map 1:500,000

36o

37o 113o 112o 114o 111o

0 25 KILOMETERS

0 25 MILES

Flagstaff

Phoenix

EXPLANATION

U.S. Geological Survey

 streamflow-gaging

 station and station

 number

09404120

09380000 09379910

09404120

Supai

 Flow, Velocity Profiles, Suspended and Bed Sediment Samples, and Sample Analysis, National Canyon, Colorado River
Releases from Glen Canyon Dam

The research releases in 1990 and 1991 consisted of 

steady or fluctuating flows preceded and followed by steady 

flows lasting 3 days. The releases were designated with 

letters A-F (figure 2). Sediment was sampled and analyzed 

for releases as follows: A, December 17, 1990–December 27, 

1990; B, December 31, 1990–January 10, 1991; C, January 28, 

1991–February 7, 1991; D, May 6, 1991–May 16, 1991; 

E, May 20, 1991–May 30, 1991; F, July 1, 1991–July 11, 

1991; and G, July 15, 1991–July 25, 1991. Discharge records 

for flows A, B, C, D, E, F, and G from the Colorado River 

below Glen Canyon Dam streamflow-gaging station (USGS 

gage number 09379910) and National gage are available upon 

request from the Arizona Water Science Center.

Flow, Velocity Profiles, Suspended and Bed 

Sediment Samples, and Sample Analysis

The number of cross sections, point-velocity 

measurements, and types and total numbers of sediment 

samples collected and analyzed for each of the research 

flows are shown in table 1. Discharge at National gage was 

computed following standard USGS procedures from a record 

of stage and a stage-discharge rating curve developed with 

the method described by Rantz and others (1982a, 1982b) and 

Rote and others, 1997.

J.B. Graf (hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, written 

commun., 1991) described the suspended sediment sampling 

and velocity profile measurements:

During the highest flows in the 1991 measurements, 

samples were collected and velocity measurements 

made at 11 locations across the channel. These were 

at stations 60, 75, 95, 110, 130, 145, 160, 175, 190, 

210, and 225. The locations were selected to define 

sections of approximately equal discharge. At each 

station, samples were collected and measurements 

made at points 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0 ft from the 

channel bottom and at a point about 2 ft below 

the water surface. If flow depth exceeded 24 ft, an 

additional sample was collected at a point 18 ft 

from the channel bottom. For most sample suites, 

77 samples or velocity measurements were then 

collected (7 points at 11 stations). Point velocity 

measurements were made at each point where a 

suspended-sample was collected.

The station locations noted above are in feet, referenced 

from the left bank. It took approximately 1–2 hours to collect 

a full set of suspended-sediment samples or point-velocity 

measurements from all station points across the channel 

(referred to as 1 cross section). The spacing between station 

locations was determined at 11,500 cfs to approximate the 

equal-discharge-increment (EDI) method (Richard Siedeman, 

hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 1991; 

EDI method described by Guy and Norman, 1970). Sediment 

samples were collected and velocity measurements were made 

from a cableway. A P61 sampler and methods described by 

Edwards and Glysson (1999) were used to collect suspendedsediment samples.

Suspended-sediment samples were analyzed by the 

USGS Sediment Laboratory at Cascades Volcano Observatory. 

The samples were sieved to separate sand (> 0.0625 mm) 

from silt (< 0.0625 mm), and the sand-size distribution was 

determined with a visual-accumulation tube (Guy, 1969).

Bed sediment was sampled with a BM-54 sampler at 

stations about 15 ft apart (Richard Siedeman, hydrologist, 

U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 1991). Samples 

were analyzed at the USGS National Research Program 

Sediment Lab in Tucson, Arizona.

Introduction 
Figure 2. Hydrographs of discharge at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam 

(gage number 09379910) and Colorado River above National Canyon near Supai (gage number 09404120) during Research Flows A–F.

0 30

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

30,000

G.

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

Figure 2. Hyrographs of discharge at U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging stations Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam (09379910)

and Colorado River above National Canyon near Supai (09404120) during: A, Research Flow A; B, Research Flow B; C, Research Flow C;

D, Research Flow D; E, Research Flow E; F, Research Flow F; G, Research Flow G.

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

JULY, 1991

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

0

E.

27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4

MAY, 1991 JUNE, 1991

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

0 12

C.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13

JAN., 1991 FEB., 1991

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

0

A.

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

DECEMBER, 1990

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

DISCHARGE, IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND

0 16

F.

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

JUNE, 1991 JULY, 1991

27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5

0

D.

MAY, 1991

EXPLANATION

Below Glen Canyon Dam

National Canyon

0

B.

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

DEC., 1990 JAN., 1991

28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5

 Flow, Velocity Profiles, Suspended and Bed Sediment Samples, and Sample Analysis, National Canyon, Colorado River
Table 1. Number of cross sections, point-velocity measurements, and types and total numbers of sediment samples collected and analyzed from se

1990 and 1991. [---, no data]

Data

Number 

of cross 

sections

Total 

number 

of 

samples

Number 

of cross 

sections

Total 

number 

of 

samples

Number 

of cross 

sections

Total 

number 

of 

samples

Number 

of cross 

sections

Total 

number 

of 

samples

Number 

of cross 

sections

Total 

number 

of 

samples

Number 

of cross 

sections

n

sa

Flow A B C D E F 

Velocity(point measurements)

2 60 25 472 13 382 18 644 7 297 17 1

Suspended sediment–split(analyzed for sand/silt split)

--- --- --- --- 19 428 --- --- --- --- 7 

Suspended sediment–full(analyzed for grain size 

distribution)

--- --- --- --- 3 54 2 65 --- --- --- 

Bed sediment 2 10 4 38 2 11 --- --- 4 33 --- 
References Cited

Breedlove, M.J., Mietz, S., 2002, A map guide to the Colorado 

River in the Grand Canyon: U.S. Geological Survey, 

USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center 

technical report.

Christiansen, T., 1993, Suspended sediment transport in 

the Colorado River: Seattle, University of Washington, 

unpublished master’s thesis, 113 p.

Edwards, T.K., and Glysson, G.D., 1999, Field methods for 

measurement of fluvial sediment: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, chap. C2, 

book 3, 89 p.

Guy, H.P., 1969, Laboratory theory and methods for sediment 

analysis: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of WaterResources Investigations, chap. C1, book 5, 58 p.

Guy, H.P., and Norman, V.W., 1970, Field methods for 

measurement of fluvial sediment: U.S. Geological Survey 

Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, chap. C2, 

book 3, 59 p.

Rantz, S.E., and others, 1982a, Measurement and computation 

of streamflow: Volume 1, Measurement of stage and 

discharge: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply 

Paper 2175. 

Rantz, S.E., and others, 1982b, Measurement and computation 

of streamflow: Volume 2, Computation of discharge: U.S. 

Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2175. 

Rote, J.J., Flynn, M.E., and Bills, D.J., 1997, Hydrologic data, 

Colorado River and major tributaries, Glen Canyon Dam 

to Diamond Creek, Arizona, water years 1990–95: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 97–250, 474 p.

 Flow, Velocity Profiles, Suspended and Bed Sediment Samples, and Sample Analysis, National Canyon, Colorado River
Manuscript approved for publication, January 19, 2007.

Prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey Reports Section, 

Tucson, Arizona.

USGS Publishing staff

Tracey L. Suzuki, Technical Editor

John Callahan, Illustrator

For more information concerning the research in this report, contact 

the Arizona Water Science Center Director,

U.S. Geological Survey, 520 N. Park Ave., Suite 221

Tucson, AZ 85719

http://az.water.usgs.gov
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Inside Back Cover

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Hornewer and Wiele—FLOW VELOCITY AND SEDIMENTATION DATA COLLECTED DURING 1990 AND 19

AT NATIONAL CANYON, COLORADO RIVER, ARIZONA—U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 246