I Report Title Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation Historical Physical and Chemical Data for Water in Lake Powell and from Glen Canyon Dam Releases, Utah-Arizona, 1964–2013 Data Series 471 Version 3.0, February 2015 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey COVER: Photograph of the San Juan River arm of Lake Powell downstream of Wilson Creek, Utah (USGS photograph by William Vernieu.) Historical Physical and Chemical Data for Water in Lake Powell and from Glen Canyon Dam Releases, Utah-Arizona, 1964–2013 By William S. Vernieu Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation Data Series 471 Version 3.0, February 2015 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia First release: 2009 Revised: October 2013 (ver. 2.0) Revised: February 2015 (ver. 3.0) For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http//www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS (1-888-275-8747) 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 material contained within this report. Suggested citation: Vernieu, W.S., 2015, Historical physical and chemical data for water in Lake Powell and from Glen Canyon Dam releases, Utah-Arizona, 1964–2013 (ver. 3.0, February 2015): U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 471, 23 p., http:// dx.doi.org/10.3133/ds471. ISSN 2327-638X (online) iii Contents Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1 Physical and Geographic Setting .......................................................................................................1 Hydrologic History ................................................................................................................................3 Information Sources and Monitoring History ..................................................................................4 Goals and Objectives of Monitoring Program .........................................................................4 Monitoring History .......................................................................................................................5 Phase 1 .................................................................................................................................5 Phase 2 .................................................................................................................................5 Phase 3 .................................................................................................................................5 Phase 4—Current Monitoring Program ..........................................................................5 Quarterly Reservoir-Wide Sampling .......................................................................5 Monthly Forebay Sampling ......................................................................................5 Tailwater Monitoring .................................................................................................6 Field Methods .................................................................................................................................................6 Sample Locations and Site Identification .........................................................................................7 Initial Observations ...............................................................................................................................9 Physicochemical Profiles ....................................................................................................................9 Objectives......................................................................................................................................9 Historical Methods, 1964–90 ....................................................................................................10 Current Methods, 1990–2013 .............................................................................................................10 Chemical Sampling and Processing ................................................................................................11 Objectives....................................................................................................................................11 Historical Methods, 1964–90 ....................................................................................................11 Current Methods, 1990–2013 ....................................................................................................11 Sample Collection .............................................................................................................11 Sample Filtration ...............................................................................................................12 Preservation ......................................................................................................................12 Transportation and Shipment ..........................................................................................12 Documentation ..................................................................................................................12 Quality Assurance/Quality Control ..........................................................................................12 Blank Samples ..................................................................................................................12 Replicate Samples ...........................................................................................................13 Known-Addition Samples ................................................................................................13 Analytical Methods ...................................................................................................................13 The WQDB ....................................................................................................................................................13 Site Locations ......................................................................................................................................14 Site Visits ..............................................................................................................................................15 Secchi-depth Transparency ..............................................................................................................15 Physical Profiles..................................................................................................................................15 Chemical Analyses .............................................................................................................................15 Sample Catalog ..........................................................................................................................15 iv Alkalinity Determinations .........................................................................................................15 Major Ion Concentrations ........................................................................................................15 Nutrient Concentrations ...........................................................................................................15 Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................16 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................16 Appendix—Database Table Descriptions ...............................................................................................18 Stations Table ......................................................................................................................................18 Surface Table .......................................................................................................................................18 Secchi Table ........................................................................................................................................19 Profiles Table .......................................................................................................................................20 Samples Table .....................................................................................................................................20 Alkalinity Table ....................................................................................................................................21 Major Ions Table .................................................................................................................................21 Nutrients Table ....................................................................................................................................21