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Raw stage values from pressure transducers deployed in ephemeral channels to the San Juan River, Four Corners Region, U.S.A.

Metadata Updated: November 20, 2025

Streamflow data are essential for measuring water quality, including calculating loads of metals. Streamflow can be estimated from stage values (water height above known datum) using stage-streamflow ratings. However, in ephemeral channels, direct measurements of streamflow are often impractical due to remote, short-duration flow events, warranting the use of rating curves to derive discharge values. Recent advances in photogrammetry and low-cost uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) have enabled the creation of high-fidelity terrain models. This study used photogrammetry-derived digital surface models to extract channel geometry and model stage-streamflow ratings in the Four Corners region (the general area where the U.S. states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah boundaries converge), replacing survey of channel geometry using traditional surveying equipment. The slope-area method, using channel-geometry measurements derived from UAS generated terrain models, was used to create a rating for each site. Streamflow was simulated with USGS stage data and applying the empirical Manning equation (Dalrymple and Benson, 1967). Q=(1/n)AR^2/3S^1/2 where Q is the peak streamflow (m^3/s), n is the Manning roughness coefficient (s/m^1/3, often omitted) A is the cross-sectional area (m^2), R is the hydraulic radius (m), and S is the water surface slope (m/m, dimensionless). Discharge shows a high sensitivity to the roughness coefficient Manning's 'n.' Accurate selection of Manning's 'n', considering riparian vegetation and spatial variability is crucial. Modeling methodology and efficacy is discussed thoroughly in the associated publication (Brown et. al, 2024). This metadata file contains raw stage (depth in feet of water) values computed by the pressure transducer. This data is not corrected for barometric pressure and does not presently represent actual depth of water in the respective tributaries. References Cited: Brown, J. E., Bosch, K. E., Shephard, Z. M., Van Zante, C. A., Ball, G. P., Wickle, J., Blake, J. M., and DeBenedetto, J., 2024. Stage-streamflow modeling of ephemeral channels along the San Juan River using stage sensors and channel geometry derived from small uncrewed aircraft systems, Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis, (full citation to be updated upon publication) Dalrymple, T., and Benson, M. A. 1967. Measurement of peak discharge by the slope-area method: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 3, chap. A2, 12 p. (Also available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/twri/twri3-a2/). United States Geological Survery [USGS], 2013. Water Resources of the United States: SAC and SACGUI (ver. 2.0, August, 2013), accessed June 6, 2024 at: https://water.usgs.gov/software/SAC/

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date September 14, 2025
Metadata Updated Date November 20, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 14, 2025
Metadata Updated Date November 20, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-6797cf76d34e2b4e5ebcb4c2
Data Last Modified 2025-01-28T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 86014e6d-e406-4755-ad5d-3c0f0c9c7d46
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 6590433b2d883d6b6e84eb6c4a256953a8df2f0cacf90efd4a82bde51044558f
Source Schema Version 1.1

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