Streamflow and Sediment-Transport Data, Colorado River and Three Tributaries in Grand Canyon, Arizona, 1983 and 1985-86 By William B. Garrett, Ellen K. Van De Vanter, and Julia B. Graf U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 93 174 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Tucson, Arizona November 1993 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Robert M. Hirsch, Acting Director For additional information Copies of this report can be write to: purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Information Center Water Resources Division Open-File Reports Section 375 South Euclid Avenue Box 25286, MS 517 Tucson, Arizona 85719 Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract........................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and scope..................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments.................................................................................................... 3 Description of the study area.................................................................................... 3 Sampling plan.................................................................................................................. 4 Selection of sampling sites....................................................................................... 4 Sampling periods...................................................................................................... 5 Sampling strategy..................................................................................................... 7 Data collection................................................................................................................. 7 Stage measurement................................................................................................... 7 Suspended-sediment sampling.................................................................................. 8 Bed material and bedload......................................................................................... 8 Methods of analysis ........................................................................................................ 9 Discharge.................................................................................................................. 9 Suspended-sediment sampling.................................................................................. 9 Bed material and bedload......................................................................................... 10 Data tables........................................................................................................................ 10 Summary.......................................................................................................................... 11 Selected references........................................................................................................... 11 ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Map showing Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and selected streamflow-gaging stations............................................... 2 2. Hydrograph showing daily mean discharge at Lees Ferry, 09380000, January 1983 through February 1986.................................. 6 m IV ILLUSTRATIONS Page Figure 3-4. Hydrographs showing: 3. Typical discharge for Colorado River at Lees Ferry, 09380000, for the 1983 and 1985-86 sampling periods.......................................................................... 6 4. Typical sampling schedule for Colorado River above Diamond Creek near Peach Springs, 09404200, for the 1985-86 sampling period....................................................... 8 5-9. Diagrams showing: 5. Cross-section geometry at maximum and minimum discharge for Colorado River at Lees Ferry, 09380000, for the 1983 and 1985-86 sampling periods................................. 13 6. Cross-section geometry at maximum and minimum discharge for Colorado River above Little Colorado River, 09383100, for the 1983 and 1985-86 sampling periods............... 14 7. Cross-section geometry at maximum and minimum discharge for Colorado River near Grand Canyon, 09402500, for the 1983 and 1985-86 sampling periods............... 15 8. Cross-section geometry at maximum and minimum discharge for Colorado River above National Canyon, 09404120, for the 1983 and 1985-86 sampling periods............... 16 9. Cross-section geometry at maximum and minimum discharge for Colorado River above Diamond Creek, 09404200, for the 1983 and 1985-86 sampling periods............... 17 TABLES Table 1. Concentration and grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Colorado River at Lees Ferry, 1983...................................................... 19 2. Concentration and grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Colorado River above Little Colorado River, 1983.............................. 23 3. Concentration and grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Colorado River near Grand Canyon, 1983............................................ 27 TABLES Page Table 4. Concentration and grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Colorado River above National Canyon, 1983...................................... 32 5. Concentration and grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Colorado River above Diamond Creek, 1983 ....................................... 36 6. Suspended-sediment concentrations at individual verticals of cross sections, Colorado River at Lees Ferry, 1983.............................. 39 7. Suspended-sediment concentrations at individual verticals of cross sections, Colorado River above Little Colorado River, 1983............................................................................................ 42 8. Suspended-sediment concentrations at individual verticals of cross sections, Colorado River near Grand Canyon, 1983.................... 43 9. Suspended-sediment concentrations at individual verticals of cross sections, Colorado River above National Canyon, 1983 ............. 44 10. Suspended-sediment concentrations at individual verticals of cross sections, Colorado River above Diamond Creek, 1983............... 45 11. Grain-size distribution of bed material, Colorado River at Lees Ferry, 1983.................................................................................... 46 12. Grain-size distribution of bed material, Colorado River above Little Colorado River, 1983................................................................... 55 13. Grain-size distribution of bed material, Colorado River near Grand Canyon, 1983.............................................................................. 61 14. Grain-size distribution of bed material, Colorado River above National Canyon, 1983.......................................................................... 68 15. Grain-size distribution of bed material, Colorado River above Diamond Creek, 1983............................................................................ 73 16. Grain-size distribution of bedload, Helley-Smith sampler, Colorado River above Little Colorado River, 1983.............................. 79 17. Grain-size distribution of bedload, Helley-Smith sampler, Colorado River above National Canyon, 1983...................................... 80 18. Hydraulic and physical characteristics of cross section during discharge measurements, Colorado River at Lees Ferry, 1983............. 83 19. Hydraulic and physical characteristics of cross section during discharge measurements, Colorado River above Little Colorado River, 1983................................................................... 104 20. Hydraulic and physical characteristics of cross section during discharge measurements, Colorado River near Grand Canyon, 1983....................................................................................................... 125 VI TABLES Page Table 21. Hydraulic and physical characteristics of cross section during discharge measurements, Colorado River above National Canyon, 1983......................................................................................... 157 22. Hydraulic and physical characteristics of cross section during discharge measurements, Colorado River above Diamond Creek, 1983............................................................................ 178 23. Hydraulic and physical characteristics of cross section during discharge measurements, Kanab Creek near Fredonia, 1983................ 196 24. Grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Paria River at Lees Ferry, 1983.................................................................................... 200 25. Grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Little Colorado River at Cameron, 1983......................................................................... 202 26. Grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Kanab Creek near Fredonia, 1983............................................................................... 205 27. Grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, Little Colorado River at mouth, 1983............................................................................. 206 28. Grain-size distribution of suspended sediment, miscellaneous tributary flows, 1983 ............................................................................