Sandbar deposition caused by high-flow experiments on the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam: November 2012 – November 2018

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Abstract

The streamflow regime and sand supply of the Colorado River have been affected by the presence and operations of Glen Canyon Dam since filling of Lake Powell began in March 1963. Consequent changes in river morphology have included decreases in the size and abundance of sandbars used as campsites in Grand Canyon National Park (Dolan and others, 1974; Schmidt and Graf, 1990; Kearsley and others, 1994). The sandbars that occur along the banks of the Colorado River and create camping beaches and backwaters and are habitat used by native fish (Dodrill and others, 2015) are inherently unstable features of an active river channel (Schmidt, 1990). The deposits form when sand, carried in suspension in the main channel of the Colorado River, settles in the lower velocity recirculating currents of eddies (Rubin and others, 1990; Schmidt, 1990). When the flows that resulted in bar deposition recede, leaving a fresh sand deposit, the deposits begin eroding. Decreases in the magnitude and frequency of annual floods have resulted in decreased opportunities for deposition. The complete elimination of sand sources upstream from Glen Canyon Dam decrease the supply that is available when high flows do occur. Finally, the increase in the magnitude of flows throughout the year coupled with daily fluctuations for hydropower generation accelerate rates of erosion for remaining sandbars (Hazel and others, 2010).

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Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Sandbar deposition caused by high-flow experiments on the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam: November 2012 – November 2018
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher US Bureau of Reclamation Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program
Contributing office(s) Southwest Biological Science Center
Description 11 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title High-Flow Experiments Assessment Extended Abstracts
First page 12
Last page 22
Conference Title Adaptive Management Work Group Meeting
Conference Location Tempe, AZ
Conference Date March 6-7, 2019
Country United States
State Arizona
Other Geospatial Colorado River, Glen Canyon Dam, Grand Canyon
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