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Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Reclamation
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The Colorado River just downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam is one of the most biologically productive reaches of the river. Because water released from the dam comes from deep in Lake Powell, it is clear and carries enough nutrients to support substantial growth of algae and higher aquatic plants. This basic primary production in water that is cold and clear year-round provides conditions that support a world-famous trout fishery.
The biological processes of photo-synthesis and respiration influence daily chemical change in the Colorado River. During daylight hours, photosynthesis by aquatic plants adds oxygen to the water and removes carbon dioxide. At night, respiration does the reverse--consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide. The daily range of oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations that results from these processes depends on the amount of photosynthesis and respiration that takes place in the river. Other conditions that influence photosynthesis are length of day, amount of sunlight, condition of the plants, depth and clarity of the water, and nutrient availability.
The addition or removal of carbon dioxide causes a measurable change in the pH (a measure of the acidity) of the water. The pH increases when carbon dioxide is removed from the water during photosynthesis and decreases when carbon dioxide is added during respiration. Thus, a second way to assess these processes is to measure the pH, which is useful, because pH and oxygen concentrations can be measured by automated sensors.
The daily change in concentrations is larger at low river discharge simply because the same amount of plant material is causing changes in a smaller volume of water. At high discharges, the chemical change per unit volume may be so small as to be unmeasurable.
The Flood Experiment of 1996 |
The design of the flood experiment included low-flow periods for 3 days before the high release and for 3 days after the high release. This experiment was done primarily to document changes in sediment distribution in the Grand Canyon; it was, however, an extraordinary opportunity to assess the basic biological processes in this reach of the river under the same flow conditions before and after the flood. The working hypothesis was that if the flood scoured plants from the river, then the daily range of pH and oxygen concentration would be decreased (fig.1). If there were no scouring, then the daily range would same. In either case, the information would be useful to fishery managers.
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Measurements of the Study |
| The daily change in pH and oxygen concentration after the controlled flood was smaller than before the flood but was still measurable. |
Measurements were made for 24-hour periods during the low flows and before and after the high flows. Oxygen measurements were made with three different methods at 0.5-hour intervals at Lees Ferry and at 3-hour intervals in the lower half of Glen Canyon between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry. Likewise, pH measurements were made with two methods at the same times and places. Measurements of the dissolved-carbon chemistry also were made at 4-hour intervals to be redundant and to ensure that no measurements were missed and that data could be cross-checked. Light intensity was measured during each 24-hour period in case there was a difference in cloud cover. A difference did occur with less light during the "before" measurements, but the difference was small.
Some Results |
Measurements of pH and oxygen concentration at Lees Ferry before and after the flood show that the daily range was about 50 to 80 percent smaller immediately after the flood, which indicates that the flood scoured plants from the channel. This result was not unexpected. Of greater interest, however, is the fact that the daily increase and decrease in pH and oxygen concentration was still easily measurable after the flood, showing that substantial plant biomass was still in place. Recovery was not only possible, but it happened quickly.
| Measurements of pH and oxygen concentrations were made at Lees Ferry and in the lower half of Glen Canyon downstream from Glen Canyon Dam |
--G. Richard Marzolf
Additional Information |
Marzolf, E.R., Mulholland, P.J., and Steinman,A.D., 1995, Improvements to the diurnal upstream-downstream dissolved oxygen change technique for determining whole-stream metabolism in small streams: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, v. 51, no. 7, p. 1591-1599.
Marzolf, G.R., Bowser, C.W., Hart, R.J., Stevens, D.W., and Vernieu, W.S., 1999, Photosynthetic and respiratory processes-- An open-stream approach, in Webb, R.H., Schmidt, J.C., and Valdez, R.A., eds., The controlled flood in Grand Canyon: American Geophysical Union, Monograph No. 110, p. 205-215.
Odum, H.T., 1956, Primary production in flowing waters: Limnology and Oceanography, v. 1, p. 102-117.
For more information contact:
G. Richard Marzolf
U.S. Geological Survey
National Center, MS432
Reston, VA 20192
(703) 648-5828
