Erosion, storage, and transport of sediment in two subbasins of the Rio Puerco, New Mexico

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2012 Erosion, storage, and transport of sediment in two subbasins of the Rio Puerco, New Mexico A.C. Gellis; A.C. Gellis † 1U.S. Geological Survey, 5522 Research Park Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, USA †E-mail: [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M.J. Pavich; M.J. Pavich 2U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A.L. Ellwein; A.L. Ellwein 3Department of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Western State College of Colorado, Gunnison, Colorado 81231, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Aby; S. Aby 4Box 488, Dixon, New Mexico 87527, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar I. Clark; I. Clark 2U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M.E. Wieczorek; M.E. Wieczorek 1U.S. Geological Survey, 5522 Research Park Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. Viger R. Viger 5U.S. Geological Survey, MS 412, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information A.C. Gellis † 1U.S. Geological Survey, 5522 Research Park Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, USA M.J. Pavich 2U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA A.L. Ellwein 3Department of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Western State College of Colorado, Gunnison, Colorado 81231, USA S. Aby 4Box 488, Dixon, New Mexico 87527, USA I. Clark 2U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, USA M.E. Wieczorek 1U.S. Geological Survey, 5522 Research Park Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, USA R. Viger 5U.S. Geological Survey, MS 412, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, USA †E-mail: [e-mail] Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 11 Sep 2010 Revision Received: 01 Jun 2011 Accepted: 19 Jun 2011 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2012 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2012) 124 (5-6): 817–841. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30392.1 Article history Received: 11 Sep 2010 Revision Received: 01 Jun 2011 Accepted: 19 Jun 2011 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation A.C. Gellis, M.J. Pavich, A.L. Ellwein, S. Aby, I. Clark, M.E. Wieczorek, R. Viger; Erosion, storage, and transport of sediment in two subbasins of the Rio Puerco, New Mexico. GSA Bulletin 2012;; 124 (5-6): 817–841. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30392.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Arroyos in the American Southwest proceed through cut-and-fill cycles that operate at centennial to millennial time scales. The geomorphic community has put much effort into understanding the causes of arroyo cutting in the late Quaternary and in the modern record (late 1800s), while little effort has gone into understanding how arroyos fill and the sources of this fill. Here, we successfully develop a geographic information system (GIS)–modeled sediment budget that is based on detailed field measurements of hillslope and channel erosion and deposition. Field measurements were made in two arroyo basins draining different lithologies and undergoing different land disturbance (Volcano Hill Wash, 9.30 km2; Arroyo Chavez, 2.11 km2) over a 3 yr period.Both basins have incised channels that formed in response to the late nineteenth-century incision of the Rio Puerco. Large volumes of sediment were generated during arroyo incision, equal to more than 100 yr of the current annual total sediment load (bed load + suspended load) in each basin. Downstream reaches in both arroyos are presently aggrading, and the main source of the sediment is from channel erosion in upstream reaches and first- and second-order tributaries. The sediment budget shows that channel erosion is the largest source of sediment in the current stage of the arroyo cycle: 98% and 80% of the sediment exported out of Volcano Hill Wash and Arroyo Chavez, respectively. The geomorphic surface most affected by arroyo incision and one of the most important sediment sources is the valley alluvium, where channel erosion, gullying, soil piping, and grazing all occur. Erosion rates calculated for the entire Volcano Hill Wash (–0.26 mm/yr) and Arroyo Chavez (–0.53 mm/yr) basins are higher than the modeled upland erosion rates in each basin, reflecting the large contributions from channel erosion. Erosion rates in each basin are affected by a combination of land disturbance (grazing) and lithology—erodible sandstones and shales in Arroyo Chavez compared with basalt for Volcano Hill Wash. Despite these differences, hillslope sediment yields are similar to long-term denudation rates. As the arroyo fills over time from mouth to headwaters, hillslope sediment becomes a more significant sediment source. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.