Open AccessRecent sediment studies refute Glen Canyon Dam Hypothesis
Author(s) -
Rubin David M.,
Topping David J.,
Schmidt John C.,
Hazel Joe,
Kaplinski Matt,
Melis Theodore S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2002eo000191
Subject(s) - canyon , tributary , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , current (fluid) , shoal , channel (broadcasting) , sediment transport , sedimentology , sediment , geomorphology , geography , oceanography , geotechnical engineering , cartography , engineering , electrical engineering
Recent studies of sedimentology hydrology, and geomorphology indicate that releases from Glen Canyon Dam are continuing to erode sandbars and beaches in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park, despite attempts to restore these resources. The current strategy for dam operations is based on the hypothesis that sand supplied by tributaries of the Colorado River downstream from the dam will accumulate in the channel during normal dam operations and remain available for restoration floods. Recent work has shown that this hypothesis is false, and that tributary sand inputs are exported downstream rapidly typically within weeks or months under the current flow regime.