Sedimentation in area of Diversion Dam, Figueredo Wash, New Mexico

86 Pages·05.862 MB·English

by  Slosson, James E

SEDIMENTATION IN AREA OF DIVERSION DAM,
FIGUEREDO WASH, NEW MEXICO
A Thesis
Presented To
The Faculty of the Department of Geology
University of Southern California
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Master of Science
By
James E. Slosson
June 1950
UMI Number: EP58432
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This thesis, written by
......Jame s.. Edward.. Slo.s s on.......
under the guidance of h%JSi... Faculty Committee,
and approved by all its members, has been
presented to and accepted by the Council on
Graduate Study and Research in partial fulfill­
ment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science
Faculty Committee
hairman
NOTE: The author wishes to explain that the
ideas and conclusions put forth in this paper are his
own and do not, in any way, reflect those of any govern­
mental agency* It should also be understood that the
auther did the actual writing of this report after his
official service with the United States Geological Sur­
vey had been completed.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Abstract...................... . ........... 1
Introduction ........................ 1
Acknowledgements ........... 3
Geography and Physiography • • • • • • • • • • • 5
General Geology............ 5
Stratigraphy. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . 6
Historical Geology............ 9
Climate and Vegetation . . . . . ............. 10
Methods........... 11
Field................................... 11
Laboratory............................... 13
Distribution of Grain Sizes............ 18
Effect of Vegetation on Deposition . ....... 26
Relationship to Deposition in Larger Areas . . . 27
Conclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Bibliography . . . ....... • • • • • • • • • • 30
LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table No. 1. Summary of Data - Size Analysis 45, 46, 47, 4&
Table No. 2. Probable Error of Estimate, Wetted
and Dried, 6 Hour-10 Minute. . . . . 49
Table No. 3. Probable Error of Estimate, Wetted
and Dried, 40 Second . . . . . . . . 5 0
Table No. 4. Probable Error of Estimate, Natural
State, 6 Hour-10 Minute............ 51
Table No. 5* Probable Error of Estimate, Natural
State, 40 Second .......... 52
Table No. 6. Least-square Trend Line, Wetted and
Dried, 6 Hour-10 Minute......... • 53
Table No. 7* Least-square Trend Line, Wetted and
Dried, 40 Second ......... . . . . 5 4
Table No. &. Least-square Trend Line, Natural
State, 6 Hour-10 Minute............ 55
Table No. 9• Least-square Trend Line, Natural
State, 40 Second . . . . . . . . . . 5 6
Table No. 10. Standard Deviation • * ............57
Table No. 11. Suspended Samples. .............5#
Table No. 12. Size Analysis for Surface Samples. . 59
Table No. 13* Profile Gradients. • ............ 60
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure No- 1. Soil auger disassembled. . . . . . 3#
Figure No. 2. Soil auger in use................. 3$
Figure No. 3* Integrated stream sampler
assembled........................ 39
Figure No. 4* Integrated stream sampler
disassembled ......... . . . . . 39
Figure No. 5- Area of dam fill................. 40
Figure No. 6. Photograph taken from old
Figueredo Wash channel, looking
toward the dam...................40
Figure No. 1* Photograph taken from dam looking
downstream in old channel......... 41
Figure No. 3. Photograph taken near Station 140. 41
Figure No. 9* Pediment remnant located in vicinity 42
Figure No. 10. Photograph taken from old Figueredo
Wash channel approximately one mile
downstream from dam. . . . . . . . 1+2
Figure No. 11. Photograph of downstream portion of
the old Figueredo channel • • • • . 43
Figure No. 12. Mud cracks formed after flood in
present channel...................43
Figure No. 13. Round mud balls formed in meander­
ing portion of new channel . . . . 44
Figure No. 14 Oblong mud ball formed in straight
portion of new channel . . . . . . 44
LIST OF GRAPHS
Page
Graph 1 Correlation of Air-dry Moisture and
Percent in Suspension for Wetted Samples 61, 62
Graph 2 Correlation of Air-dry Moisture and
Percent in Suspension for Samples in
Natural State........... 63, 64
Graph 3 Graphic Presentation of Table No. 1* • • 65, 66,
Graph 4 Profile Down Channel, Stratification
Overlay. •• ................. . . • . 6&
Graph 5 Profile A-A,tf and Profile South of Dam,
Stratification Overlay ............... 69
Graph 6 Profile 11, Profile B-Bf11 and Profile
C-Cff,, Stratification Overlay ....... 70
Graph 7 Profile 7 and 9, Stratification Overlay. 71
Graph 8 1 Suspended Samples. . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2
LIST OF MAPS
Map No. 1. Topographic and Index Map. . . in folder
Map No. 2. Planimetric Map. • • • • • • • in folder
SEDIMENTATION IN AREA OF DIVERSION DAM
FIGUEREDO NASH, NEW MEXICO
By
James.E* Slosson
ABSTRACT
This report describes a large diversion dam on one
of the intermittent streams in New Mexico and attempts to out­
line the type of alluvial deposition that has and is taking
place. It is pointed out that due to various local conditions
the deposition here is not identical to that of large alluvial
fans. Of these local conditions, the type and direction of
stream flow together with the lithology of the source area seems
to be the most important. A rapid but accurate method for sed­
iment analysis is discussed. This method entails using the per­
centage of moisture retained by each of the sediment samples
for calculating the percent of sand, silt, and clay*
INTRODUCTION
Since 1880 there has been considerable wasting away
of valuable range and agricultural lands in the southwest
portion of the United States, and in 1933 the United States
Soil Conservation Service began a series of investigations
to determine the causes of the problem. In order to deter­
mine methods of reducing the rapid removal of valuable soils,
the Soil Conservation Service established one of its first
experiment stations at Mexican Springs, New Mexico, located
in the southeastern portion of the Navajo Indian Reservation.