Paria River Streamflow and Sedimen

and Early Warning System

A joint effort betweenUSBR - US Bureau of ReclamationUSGS – Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research CentUSGS – Arizona District, Water Resources DisciplineUSGS – Utah District, Water Resources Discipline

A presentation developed for the 

Glen Canyon Dam

Adaptive Management Program

Technical Work Group Meeting

Phoenix, Arizona

May 30, 2003
Presentation Outline

Preparation

Gage installationsSite constraintsDischarge ratings/calibrations developedEstablishment of modeled/calibrated travel times betEstablishment of flow thresholds and action protocols

Early Warning

NWS, satellite imagery, news outletsPagers engaged when preset thresholds exceeded

Confirmation

Internet graphicsBroad-band Internet technology/remote river imager

Action

Protocols engaged for contact by USGS/WRD of GCM

Needs
Why?

GCMRC and USBR are tasked with the job of monitoring and quantifying sedim

River below Glen Canyon Dam, which now only comes from Colorado River tribOne of these tributaries, the Paria River, drains to the Colorado River downstr

upstream from Marble Canyon. This tributary, along with the Little Colorado R

of sediment to the Colorado River system in the Grand Canyon.In an effort to better manage sediment fluxes to the system for the purposes enhancement, GCMRC and USBR now have the information, tools, and permis

from Glen Canyon Dam when large amounts of sediment are about to enter thBy decreasing flowrates when substantial amounts of sediment are in transporsediment inputs from this tributary can be stored in the Colorado River below 

flows can be produced. Subsequent high flows (January?) will put the stored s

the river and transport it downstream to locations where it will build beaches adeposition in eddy areas along the margins of the Colorado River.
Colorado River in Grand Canyon, 

During ’96 After ’96 

National Canyon site, Colorado River in Grand Canyon

~45,000 cfs released fora period of one week
-40

-30-20-10

0

102030

40

5060

% Volume

CHANNEL BED CHANGES

(below baseflow)

Marble CanyonGrand Canyon

0.0E+0

1.0E+62.0E+6

3.0E+6

Sand Input, in Mg

1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

1993 LittleColorado River Floods

Paria RiverLittle Colorado River

1992

1997 Paria River

Floods

1998

1996BHBF

GCMRC
Approach

In cooperation with Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC a

Discipline) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), the USGS Utah Distric

Discipline) has installed and is currently operating and maintaining streamflow

River near Cannonville and near Kanab. Also, the USGS Arizona District, is ope

sediment monitoring station on Paria River at the confluence with the Colorado 

Accurate and realtime information on river stage and discharge for these statiohigh flow, which generally occur during summer and fall, especially now that G

permission to perhaps alter flows from Glen Canyon Dam when large amounts enter the downstream system.
Preparation:

gage installation
Preparation:

Historical information

Paria Riv-Site reactiv-Previous in

-1950-1959

Paria Riv-Site activat-Previous in

-1959

Paria Riv-Site activa-Previous in

-1923
Preparation:

Site constraints

Paria Riv-Restricted -EnvironmParia Riv-Hazardou-Environm-Trigger st

Paria Riv

maintained 

-No major 
Preparation:

Discharge ratings/calibrations develo

Paria RivTheoretical Paria RivLow-end of Needed for 

Paria RivStage-dischNeeded for 
Preparation:

Paria River at Kanab – new “trig
SR-50

Down-looking radar

Orifice forDesignAnalysisBubblerSystem,And ISCOsampler

Preparation:

Paria River at Kanab
Preparation: 

Establishment of modeled/calibrated travel tim
Preparation: 

Establishment of modeled/calibrated travel tim

“trigger site”Paria River near Kanab

8-12 hrs travel time

4-5 hrtravel 
2/26/2003 3:00 7.8 2/2

2/26/2003 3:15 7.84 2/22/26/2003 3:30 7.87 2/22/26/2003 3:45 7.96 2/22/26/2003 4:00 7.95 2/22/26/2003 4:15 7.95 2/2

2/22/22/22/22/2

Paria Kanab (gh) Pari

T = approx 12 hrs at approx 180 cfs

Travel Times:
Early Warning:

NWS, satellite imagery, news outle
Early Warning:

Pagers engaged when preset thresholds e

Paria River neParia River at stage/stream

*Random DCP transmissions when preset thre
Confirmation:

Internet graphics

ut.water.us
Confirmation:
Confirmation:
Confirmation:
Confirmation:
Confirmation:

Broad-band Internet technology/remote rive

Paria River at Kanab

Because there is little to no room for errare required to ensure accurate acquisitinformation. However, for this extremely power is available, the site is out of celluno phone lines, and, again, the site is in sensitive area. Solution for the required confirmation of flows for this trigger site enclosed system needed to be designed before used for such a purpose – realtimhydrologic conditions at a fully remote s
Broadband

Internet

The primary components of the system consist of a full array of solar panels, large high-capacity batteries, battery regulators, a computer processor, a web camera, and a broadband satellite dish.
Controller: 40 amp charge regulator

Batt

Inverter: 24 volt, 2400 watt inverter

Satellite Dish IG-1000 Solution with 4020Axis 2420 network camera
Rea

A

U

Images acquired May 28, 2003
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Action:

Protocols engaged for contact by USGS/WRD of GCM

Initial actions (tentative):

- When preliminary thresholds are reached at either the 

at Kanab) or the upstream station at Cannonville, USGS S

Cedar City and USGS Flagstaff to indicate highwatedownstream (trial and error – evolving – process - When secondary thresholds are exceeded at Paria RivSLC again will contact USGS Cedar City and USGS Flagsdischarge and suspended sediment measurements, and collected samples. USGS SLC will contact USBR SLC and - At this point, the trigger at Paria River near Kanab wilspeak, and further action will be in the hands of USBR- USGS SLC will continue to monitor streamflow and sedstations, and regularly update USBR SLC and GCMRC o
Needs:

- Refine and finalize protocols- Better coordination between USGS/WRD Utah, UArizona (June/July 2003), and meetings with GCM- Additional sediment and travel time information David Topping’s model- A stage-discharge rating has been developed foat Paria River near Kanab, but the “upper” end of needs development. This should be completed du