Measurement of currents in Lake Mead with the deep water isotopic current analyzer (DWICA)

Authors

J. J. SartorisFollow
D. A. HoffmanFollow
Bureau of ReclamationFollow

Document Type

Technical Report

Publication Date

10-1971

Publisher

Bureau of Reclamation

Abstract

In Nov 1967, a Deep Water Isotopic Current Analyzer (DWICA) was used to study current patterns in the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead to determine if low-quality water from Las Vegas Bay might enter the Southern Nevada Water Project intake on Saddle Island. Secondary objectives were to study the general current patterns in Boulder Basin and the effect of power discharges at Hoover Dam on these currents. Results of current measurements at 3 stations in Boulder Basin are given. Observations indicate a definite possibility that low-quality water from Las Vegas Bay might enter the water intake on Saddle Island. Current measurements off Promontory Point show a correlation between power discharges at Hoover Dam and current velocities in this area, with peak current velocity lagging the discharge peak by about 2 hr. Because data obtained in the study cover a short time period, suggestions for further study of general current patterns in Boulder Basin are included.

Keywords

Boulder Canyon Project; Density currents; Density stratification; Flow patterns; Hoover Dam (Ariz. and Nev.); Iodine radioisotopes; Lake Mead (Ariz. and Nev.); Limnology; Peak discharge; Radioisotopes; Salinity; Thermal stratification; Water pollution; Water temperature

Disciplines

Civil Engineering | Engineering Physics | Environmental Engineering | Environmental Monitoring | Fluid Dynamics | Natural Resources Management and Policy

Language

English

Repository Citation

Sartoris, J. J., Hoffman, D. A., Bureau of Reclamation (1971). Measurement of currents in Lake Mead with the deep water isotopic current analyzer (DWICA).
Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/water_pubs/44