Geology topics

Daniel R. Hartley

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel R. Hartley.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2001

Techniques for estimating sediment yield of ungaged tributaries on the southern Colorado Plateau

Numerous regional sediment transport data are used to evaluate three techniques for estimating streamflow sediment yield from ungaged tributaries of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. These techniques include: (1) a regression equation relating drainage area to sediment yield for all relevant sediment-yield data from northern Arizona, (2) an empirical relation developed by Renard (1972) selected from 8 potentially relevant methods, and (3) a new procedure that combines regional flood-frequency analysis with sediment-rating curves. Results based on techniques (1) and (2) are not significantly different. The third technique requires numerous assumptions, most notably that sediment yield on a decadal average can be described by several floods of recurrence intervals of 2 yr, 5 yr, and 10 yr described by regional flood-frequency relations. Using data collected at gaging stations, we develop a relation between peak discharge and total-event sediment yield derived from hydrographs and sediment-rating curves. This third technique produces sediment yield estimates comparable to those of the regional data regression and Renard (1972) relations and may be a more robust technique for estimating sediment yield when streamflow data are available.

Arizona↗

USGS2000

Sediment delivery by ungaged tributaries of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona

Sediment input to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona, is a valuable resource required to sustain both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. A total of 768 ungaged tributaries deliver sediment to the river between Glen Canyon Dan and the Grand Wash Cliffs (river miles - 15 to 276). The 32 tributaries between the dam and Lee's Ferry produce only streamflow floods, whereas 736 tributaries in Grand Canyon produce streamflow floods and debris flows. We used three techniques to estimate annual streamflow sediment yield from ungaged tributaries to the Colorado River. For the Glen Canyon and Marble Canyon reaches (river miles -15 to 61.5), respectively, these techniques indicate that 0.065 . 10 6 and 0.610 . 10 6 Mg/yr (0.68 . 10 6 Mg/yr of total sediment) enters the river. This amount is 20 percent of the sediment yield of the Paria River, the only gaged tributary in this reach and a major sediment contributor to the Colorado River. The amout of sand delivered ranges from 0.10 . 10 6 to 0.51 . 10 6 Mg/yr, depending on the sand content of streamflow sediment. Sand delivered in Glen Canyon is notably coarser (D 50 = 0.24 mm) than sand in other reaches (D 50 = 0.15 mm). A relation is given for possible variation of this sediment delivery with climate.

Arizona↗