Decision support tools for sediment management

Abstract

There are a variety of tools available for scientists and managers to facilitate the decision-making process. This chapter discusses various tools including geographic information, census and monitoring data, tracing and fingerprinting methods, and mathematical models, which answers to one or more key questions in sediment management concerning sediment amounts and quality. They allow an assessment of contaminant levels, erosion, and deposition rates, sediment and contaminant fluxes through river basins, and the sources of sediments and contaminants. Moreover, they enable the prediction of changes in erosion, sediment transport, deposition, morphology, and quality as a result of changes in land use, climate, and river basin management strategies. Sediment tracing and fingerprinting methods allow a further assessment of the amounts and sources of sediment that is being redistributed within river basins. Although the choice of tools and methodologies is ample, there is no integrated catchment tool available, which assists in all aspects and phases of the sequential process of decision-making on sediment management at the river basin scale. Consequently, decision-making must largely rely on models and methods that focus on separate aspects and steps in the decision-making process.