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Open-File Report 2006-1243

Stage-Discharge Relations for the Colorado River in Glen, Marble, and Grand Canyons, Arizona, 1990-2005

By Joseph E. Hazel, Jr.1, Matt Kaplinski1, Rod Parnell1, Keith Kohl2, and David J. Topping2


1Department of Geology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
2U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ

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Abstract

This report presents stage-discharge relations for 47 discrete locations along the Colorado River, downstream from Glen Canyon Dam. Predicting the river stage that results from changes in flow regime is important for many studies investigating the effects of dam operations on resources in and along the Colorado River. The empirically based stage-discharge relations were developed from water-surface elevation data surveyed at known discharges at all 47 locations. The rating curves accurately predict stage at each location for discharges between 141 cubic meters per second and 1,274 cubic meters per second. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the fit to the data ranged from 0.993 to 1.00. Given the various contributing errors to the method, a conservative error estimate of ±0.05 m was assigned to the rating curves.


Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Acknowledgments

Physical Setting

Data and Method Used in Formulating Stage-Discharge Relations

Streamflow-Gaging Data

Water-Surface Elevations

Computation of Stage-Discharge Relations

Summary

References Cited


Suggested Citation

Hazel, J.E., Jr., Kaplinski, M., Parnell, R., Kohl, K., and Topping, D.J., 2007, Stage-Discharge Relations for the Colorado River in Glen, Marble, and Grand Canyons, Arizona, 1990-2005: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006–1243, 7 p.


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