Comparison of seven different bedload monitoring technologies in a flood-driven ephemeral channel

The Arroyo de los Piños monitoring site is a new world-class sediment monitoring station in an ephemeral, flood-driven tributary to the Rio Grande. The station is comprised of seven different bedload and suspended load surrogate monitoring technologies. These technologies are calibrated with direct measurements of bedload and suspended load flux. Bedload monitoring instruments include Reid-type slot samplers, pipe microphones, plate geophones, seismometers, hydrophones, and manual, discrete measurements.

In preparation for completion of the station, manual measurements of water depth, flow velocity, suspended load, and bedload were taken from eight different flow events during the summer 2017 monsoon season. Discharge from these events was varied, ranging 0.2 m³/sec to 9.92 m³/sec. Two flood events were recorded during the 2018 monsoon season. A full complement of data are analyzed and discussed. The benefits of each surrogate technology are considered while monitoring continues on the Piños.