NAU Sand Bar Studies
The sandbar studies project at the Department of Geology, Northern Arizona University, is investigating the effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on sediment storage and transport in Glen, Marble, and Grand Canyons. We are funded through the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center by the Bureau of Reclamation.
Our currently funded activities include:
SANDBAR SURVEYS: Investigating sediment storage changes within the eddies and main channel in response to Glen Canyon Dam operations.
DAILY PHOTOGRAPHY: We have cameras at all of our study sites that take a picture every day. We've posted several photos from each site and also sequenced several months worth of images into a short video. We are also developing photogrammetric techniques using these cameras to measure short-term changes at these sites between our survey visits.
CAMPSITE MONITORING: Surveying the campsite area at all of our study sites to measure changes in campsite area
.PRE-DAM TERRACE MONITORING: Surveys of arroyo mouths that drain pre-dam terraces containing pre-dam human artifacts.