Sidescan sonar surveys of the Colorado Riverbed from Glen Canyon Dam to Phantom Ranch, Arizona, captured sediment characteristics before and after a September 2000 experimental water release. The dataset includes interpreted maps showing sediment type distribution and sandwave extent, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Data collection occurred in two surveys: one in late August/early September 2000 and another immediately after the release in mid-September 2000.
Use Cases
- Analyze spatial changes in sediment type (bedrock, boulders, pebbles/cobbles, sand) between pre- and post-release surveys.
- Model the appearance or disappearance of sandwaves in response to a controlled high-flow event of 30,800 cfs.
- Map areas of fining, coarsening, erosion, or deposition along a 102.7-mile river segment using GIS spatial data files.
Strengths
- Provides before-and-after data from a specific, controlled experimental release event in September 2000.
- Covers a significant river segment of at least 102.7 miles from Glen Canyon Dam to Phantom Ranch.
Limitations
- Limited temporal scope, capturing only two snapshots in time from a single event in 2000.
- Spatial coverage is partial, targeting specific pools between rapids rather than the entire river corridor.
Provenance
- Source
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), part of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) physical sciences study.
- Collection Method
- Sidescan sonar surveys processed into GIS spatial data files and interpreted sediment maps.
- Time Range
- August 28 to September 18, 2000.
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam (mile -15) to Phantom Ranch (mile 87.7), Arizona, USA.