Chaco Canyon 1930s and 2000 geospatial data

A study of arroyo evolution in northern New Mexico (Friedman and others, 2015) assessed geomorphic change in the Chaco Wash arroyo from the 1930s to 2000. As part of this study, in October 2000 a trench was excavated across the arroyo bottom and a high-precision (Real-time kinematic) GPS survey was conducted. GPS survey data were used to georeference a 1930s topographic map and to identify key geomorphic features, including the tops of the arroyo walls and the channel thalweg. Linear features were mapped in a GIS for use in extracting channel thalweg profiles, an arroyo cross section, and arroyo widths (1930s and 2000) as a function of distance down-valley. These features have been converted to shapefiles included in the set of mapped features. Results from analyses using these data were presented in: Friedman, J.M., Vincent, K.R., Griffin, E.R., Scott, M.L., Shafroth, P.B., and Auble, G.T., 2015, Processes of arroyo filling in northern New Mexico, USA, GSA Bulletin, 127(3/4), 621-640. doi: 10.1130/B31046.1