Losses and Gains for Eight Unlined Canals Along the Purgatoire River Near Trinidad, Colorado, 2000–2004
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Prepared in cooperation with the Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District, Colorado Water Conservation Board, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Losses and Gains for Eight Unlined Canals Along the Purgatoire River near Trinidad, Colorado, 2000–2004 Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5164 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Losses and Gains for Eight Unlined Canals Along the Purgatoire River near Trinidad, Colorado, 2000–2004 By Lisa D. Miller Prepared in cooperation with the Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District, Colorado Water Conservation Board, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5164 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: 2006 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS--the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Miller, L.D., 2006, Losses and gains for eight unlined canals along the Purgatoire River near Trinidad, Colorado, 2000–2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5164, 59 p. iii Contents Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................3 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................4 Methods for Loss and Gain Investigations ................................................................................................4 Field Reconnaissance ..........................................................................................................................4 Discharge Measurements ...................................................................................................................4 Loss and Gain Computations ............................................................................................................10 Canal Losses and Gains ..............................................................................................................................10 Picketwire (Baca Joint) Canal ..........................................................................................................10 El Moro Canal ......................................................................................................................................16 Chilili Canal...........................................................................................................................................16 Enlarged Southside Canal .................................................................................................................23 Model Inlet and Outlet Canals ..........................................................................................................23 John Flood Canal.................................................................................................................................33 Hoehne Canal ......................................................................................................................................33 Comparison of Flume-Rated and Measured Discharges at Canal Headgates ..................................39 Factors Affecting Canal Losses and Gains and Changes in Headgate Stage-Discharge Relations ..........................................................................................................................................46 Summary........................................................................................................................................................47 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................48 Appendix........................................................................................................................................................49 Figures 1. Map showing location of study area and selected Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District Canals near Trinidad, Colorado ............................................................2 2. Photograph showing water-stage recorder and Parshall flume at measurement site HOHG (Hoehne Canal headgate) ........................................................................................9 3. Photograph showing splitter box located at measurement site SS07 on the Enlarged Southside Canal ...........................................................................................................9 4. Map showing location of measurement sites along Picketwire Canal (Baca Joint Canal) ............................................................................................................................................12 5. Graphs showing losses and gains in (A) cubic feet per second and (B) percentage of subreach inflow in selected subreaches of the Picketwire Canal ................................15 6. Map showing location of measurement sites along El Moro Canal ..................................17 7. Graphs showing losses and gains in (A) cubic feet per second and (B) percentage of subreach inflow in selected subreaches of the El Moro Canal .....................................19 8. Map showing location of measurement sites along Chilili Canal .......................................21 9. Graphs showing losses and gains in (A) cubic feet per second and (B) percentage of subreach inflow in selected subreaches of the Chilili Canal ..........................................22 10. Map showing location of measurement sites along Enlarged Southside Canal .............24 iv 11. Graphs showing losses and gains in (A) cubic feet per second and (B) percentage of subreach inflow in selected subreaches of the Enlarged Southside Canal ................26 12. Map showing location of measurement sites along Model Inlet and Outlet Canals ......31 13. Graphs showing losses and gains in (A) cubic feet per second and (B) percentage of subreach inflow in selected subreaches of the Model Canal ........................................34 14. Map showing location of measurement sites along John Flood Canal .............................36 15. Graphs showing losses and gains in (A) cubic feet per second and (B) percentage of subreach inflow in selected subreaches the John Flood Canal ....................................38 16. Map showing location of measurement sites along Hoehne Canal ..................................41 17. Graphs showing losses and gains in (A) cubic feet per second and (B) percentage of subreach inflow in selected subreaches of the Hoehne Canal .....................................42 Tables 1. Measurement site identification, canal name, distance downstream from canal headgate, site description, diversion type, flume size, latitude, and longitude for eight unlined canals along the Purgatoire River near Trinidad, Colorado ..........................5 2. Annual total acre-feet and total days used for eight Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District canals, irrigation years 2000–2004 ....................................................11 3. Losses and gains for selected subreaches of Picketwire Canal, 2000–2004 ...................13 4. Losses and gains for selected subreaches of Baca Canal, 2000–2004 .............................14 5. Losses and gains for selected subreaches of El Moro Canal, 2000–2004 .........................18 6. Losses and gains for selected subreaches of Chilili Canal, 2000–2004 .............................20 7. Losses and gains for selected subreaches of Enlarged Southside Canal, 2000–2004 .....................................................................................................................................25 8. Losses and gains for selected subreaches of Model Canal, 2000–2004 ...........................32 9. Losses and gains for selected subreaches of John Flood Canal, 2000–2004 ...................37 10. Losses and gains for selected subreaches of Hoehne Canal, 2000–2003 .........................40 11. Measured discharge and differences from standard flume ratings at Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District canal headgates, 2000–2004 ........................................43 Appendix Tables A1. Summary of loss and gain measurements made along Picketwire Canal, 2000–2004 .....................................................................................................................................50 A2. Summary of loss and gain