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 Prepared in cooperation with the BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Hydrologic Data, Colorado River and Major Tributaries, Glen Canyon Dam to Diamond Creek, Arizona, Water Years 1990-95 By John J. Rote, Marilyn E. Flynn, and Donald J. Bills U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 97 250 Prepared in cooperation with the BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Tucson, Arizona 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Government. For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Water Resources Division Box 25286, 520 North Park Avenue, Suite 221 Denver, CO 80225-0286 Tucson, AZ 85719-5035 CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction..................................................................................~^ 1 Acknowledgments................................................................................................................................. 3 Description of the study area................................................................................................................. 3 Hydrologic conditions........................................................................................................................... 3 Data collection............................................................................................................................................ 6 Instrumentation........................................................................................................................................... 7 Data tables................................................................................................................................................... 10 Summary ................................................................................................................................................... 11 References cited.......................................................................................................................................... 11 FIGURES 1. Map showing study area and selected continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations used for data collection, Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, Arizona...................... 2 2-6. Graphs showing: 2. Daily mean discharge at streamflow-gaging station, Colorado River at Lees Ferry (station number 09380000), 1921-95 ........................................................................... 4 3. Daily mean suspended-sediment concentration at streamflow-gaging station, Colorado River at Lees Ferry (station number 09380000); periods of record 1928-33, 1942-44,1947-65................................................................................................... 4 4. Daily water temperature at streamflow-gaging station, Colorado River at Lees Ferry (station number 09380000), 1949-77............................................................... 5 5. Maximum and minimum daily reservoir releases from Glen Canyon Dam near Page (station number 09379901), 1966-95 .................................................................... 6 6. Daily mean water temperature at streamflow-gaging station, Colorado River at at Lees Ferry (station number 09380000), 1977-95............................................................... 7 7. Diagram showing research flows, June 1990 to July 1991........................................................... 8 8. Graphs showing discharge at streamflow-gaging station, Colorado River at Lees Ferry (station number 09380000), 1990 and 1991................................................................................. 9 9. Diagram of interim operating regulations for Glen Canyon Dam................................................ 10 10. Graph showing discharge at streamflow-gaging stations, Colorado River at Lees Ferry (station number 09380000) and Colorado River near Grand Canyon (station number 09402500), January 1-February 28, 1993.......................................................... 11 TABLES 1. Site information for continuous-record stations, Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam to Diamond Creek, Arizona........................................................................................................ 12 2. 09379910, Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, water years 1990-93 ............................................................................................................... 17 3. 09380000, Colorado River at Lees Ferry, Arizona, water years 1990-95 ................................... 59 4. 09382000, Paria River at Lees Ferry, Arizona, water years 1990-95.......................................... 122 5. 09383100, Colorado River above Little Colorado River near Desert View, Arizona, water years 1990-95 ............................................................................................................... 148 6. 09402000, Colorado River near Cameron, Arizona, water years 1990-95.................................. 195 7. 09402300, Little Colorado River above the mouth near Desert View, Arizona, water years 1990-93 ............................................................................................................... 221 Contents III TABLES CONTINUED Page 8. 09402500, Colorado River near Grand Canyon, Arizona, water years 1990-95......................... 246 9. 09403000, Bright Angel Creek near Grand Canyon, Arizona, water years 1991-93 .................. 293 10. 09403850, Kanab Creek above the mouth near Supai, Arizona, water years 1991-93 ............... 333 11. 09404115, Havasu Creek above the mouth near Supai, Arizona, water years 1991 95.............. 365 12. 09404120, Colorado River above National Canyon near Supai, Arizona, water years 1990-93 ............................................................................................................... 392 13. 09404200, Colorado River above Diamond Creek near Peach Springs, Arizona, water years 1990-95 ................................................................................................ 429 CONVERSION FACTORS Multiply By To obtain inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter foot (ft) 0.3048 meter mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second In this report, air temperature is reported in degrees Fahrenheit (°F), which can be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) by using the following equation: °C = (°F-32)/1.8 ABBREVIATED WATER-QUALITY UNITS Chemical concentration and water temperature are given only in metric units. Chemical concentration in water is given in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or micrograms per liter (mg/L). Milligrams per liter is a unit expressing the solute mass (milligrams) per unit volume (liter) of water. One thousand micrograms per liter is equivalent to 1 milligram per liter. For concentrations less than 7,000 milligrams per liter, the numerical value is about the same as for concentrations in parts per million. Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter (mS/cm) at 25°C. Chemical concentration in bottom sediment is given in grams per kilogram (g/kg), micrograms per gram (mg/g), milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), or micrograms per kilogram (mg/kg). Grams per kilogram is equal to parts per thousands (ppt). Milligrams per kilogram and micrograms per gram are equal to parts per million (ppm). Micrograms per kilogram are equal to parts per billion (ppb). VERTICAL DATUM Sea level: In this report, "sea level" refers to the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 a geodetic datum derived from a general adjustment of the first-order level nets of the United States and Canada, formerly called Sea Level Datum of 1929 IV Contents Hydrologic Data, Colorado River and Major Tributaries, Glen Canyon Dam to Diamond Creek, Arizona, Water Years 1990-95 By John J. Rote, Marilyn E. Flynn, and Donald J. Bills Abstract The U.S. Geological Survey collected hydrologic data at 12 continuous-record stations along the Colorado River and its major tributaries between Glen Canyon Dam and Diamond Creek. The data were collected from October 1989 through September 1995 as part of the Bureau of Reclamation's Glen Canyon Environmental Studies. The data include daily values for streamflow discharge, suspended-sediment discharge, temperature, specific conductance, pH, and dissolved-oxygen concentrations, and discrete values for physical properties and chemical constituents of water. All data are presented in tabular form. INTRODUCTION operations on the downstream riverine environ­ ment. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected streamflow and sediment-transport data The Colorado River, which originates in during this first phase (Garrett and others, 1993). Colorado, flows about 1,400 mi through portions of During Phase I, unexpected floodflows in 1983, five western States to the Gulf of California. The Colorado drains a large area of the arid West where 1984, 1985, and 1986 prevented adequate study of water is an important resource. The management of flows typical of the dam's powerplant operating this resource