Colorado River: Spring Disturbance Flow

For five days in March of 2021, the Glen Canyon Dam released a historically low flow of 4,000 cubic feet per second into the Colorado River. The USGS took this opportunity to collect data in an attempt to verify the measurements being reported by the Lee’s Ferry gaging station, which showed a discrepancy between the amount of water being released at the dam and the water flowing past the gage. This video showcases the data collected and methods used during this likely once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For more information visit:

• Arizona Water Science Center
• Glen Canyon Dam Hydrograph of Spring Disturbance Flow, March 2021 (usgs.gov)
• USGS Current Conditions for USGS 09380000 Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZ 
• Grand changes are coming (USGS Facebook)