Cross sections illustrating the process of sediment
mobilization and redeposition for the controlled flood
release of 1996 from Glen Canyon Dam
Recent high flows on the Paria River and other Colorado River tributaries have provided an opportunity to test new techniques for managing the Lower Colorado River ecosystem. These recent flows have deposited large amounts of sediment in the main channel of the Colorado River. This high f low experiment, which is a controlled release from Glen Canyon Dam, is intended to move the sediment from the bottom of the main channel and rebuild sandbars, beaches, and backwater areas in the Grand Canyon. Since the closure of Glen Canyon Dam, sandbars have been eroded as a result of reduced sediment load in the river. Sandbars, beaches, and backwater areas are important parts of the Grand Canyon ecosystem and are important for wildlife and recreational use.
Sediment sampling on the Colorado River above Diamond Creek
Sediment sampling on the Paria River at Lees Ferry
Pre floodPre flood
Post floodPost flood
ControlledControlledfloodflood
Sand onchannel bed
Sandsuspended
Ri
Ri vveerr
Lees Ferry
LitLittletled
od
orara
Colo
Colo
Glen CanyonDam
GlenCanyon
DamGrandGrand
CanyonCanyonNationalNational
ParkPark
50 KILOMETERS
0 50 MILES
0
CCoolloorraaddoo
RRiivveerr
CCoolloorraaddoo
35˚Flagstaff
111˚114˚ UTAH
ARIZONAParia ver
LakePowell
LakeMead
113˚37˚ 36˚52’30’’
36˚50’
Base from U.S. Geological Survey,1:500,000, State base map
36˚
RiRivveerr
0938000009380000
0938200009382000
0940420009404200
PearceFerry
U.S.G.S. STREAMFLOW-GAGING STATION AND NUMBER
EXPLANATION
COLORADO RIVER HIGH FLOW EXPERIMENT
0938200009382000
0938310009383100
0940200009402000
0937991009379910
0940250009402500
Ri
DiC a
rkee
ondm
Page
112˚
Paria River
111˚37’30’’ 111˚35’
Lees Ferry
0938000009380000
CCoo ll
oorr
aaddoo RiRivveerr
1/2 MILE0
0 1/2 KILOMETER
0938200009382000
Real-time data of Paria River discharge retrieved from the U.S. Geological Survey Web homepage
Arizona URL: http://az.water.usgs.gov
Sand barsdeposited onriver banks
0940412009404120