Surface Water Conditions in the Kanab Plateau Basin

Streamflow data, including average seasonal flow, average annual flow and other information are shown in Table 6.3-2.  Flood ALERT equipment in the basin is shown in Table 6.3-3.  Reservoir and stockpond data, including maximum storage or maximum surface area, are shown in Table 6.3-4. The location of streamflow gages identified by USGS number, flood ALERT equipment, USGS runoff contours and large reservoirs are shown on Figure 6.3-5.  Descriptions of stream, reservoir and stockpond data sources and methods are found in Volume 1, Appendix A.  Additional information on surface water in this basin can be found in Section 6.3.5 - Perennial/Intermittent Streams and Springs and Section 6.0.2 - Surface Water Hydrology. Where available, the header for each section provides a link to the data web site.  

Streamflow Data

• Refer to Table 6.3-2.

• Data from six stations located at three watercourses are shown in the table and their location is shown on Figure 6.3-5.  Three stations have been discontinued and two stations are real-time stations.

• The Colorado River near Grand Canyon station receives highest seasonal flow in the spring (April-June).  Unlike the other two stations on the Colorado River in this basin, the period of record for this station predates Glen Canyon Dam upstream on the Colorado River, and therefore more closely reflects the river’s unaltered average seasonal flow.

• The largest annual flow recorded in the basin is 20.6 million acre feet (maf) in 1984 at the Colorado River near Grand Canyon station with a contributing drainage area of 144,660 square miles.

• The Colorado River in the basin has a mean and median annual flow of over eight maf at all three gages.  The Paria River is a major tributary to the Colorado River, with a median annual flow of over 18,000 acre-feet.

• Figure 6.3-4 shows the annual flow in the Colorado River near Grand Canyon station.  Flood events/Glen Canyon Dam releases are shown in 1983-84 and in 1998.  Otherwise, the data show below average flow, and less variability in year-to-year flow after construction of Glen Canyon Dam in 1964. 

Flood ALERT Equipment

• Refer to Table 6.3-3.
• As of October 2005 there was one station in the basin.

Reservoirs and Stockponds

• Refer to Table 6.3-4.

• The basin contains three large reservoirs.  Two of the three large reservoirs are dry or intermittent lakes.

• Surface water is stored or could be stored in ten small reservoirs.

• There are 705 registered stockponds in this basin.

Runoff Contour

• Refer to Figure 6.3-5.
• Average annual runoff is highest, two inches per year or 106.6 acre-feet per square mile, below the Kaibab Plateau in the western portion of the basin and decreases to 0.1 inches, or 5.33 acre-feet per square mile, east and west of the Kaibab Plateau.

Click for Figure 6.3-4 Annual Flows (in acre-feet) Colorado River near Grand Canyon 1923-2005 (Station #9402500)

Click for Table 6.3-3 Flood ALERT Equipment in the

Kanab Plateau Basin

Click for Table 6.3-4 Reservoirs and Stockponds in the

Kanab Plateau Basin

Click for Figure 6.3-5 Kanab Plateau Basin

Surface Water Conditions

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