In situ characteristics of bottom sediment in Ichkeul Lake, Tunisia

Abstract

The supply of sediment to Ichkeul Lake has decreased due to the construction of several reservoirs in the upstream reaches of the rivers that flow into it. Furthermore, it is necessary to control lake sediment outflow in order to preserve the ecological balance of the lake. Soil stabilization methods could be used to prevent the erosion of bottom sediment. Therefore, this study explored the physical and mechanical condition of the lake bed in situ to aid the identification of an effective erosion prevention scheme based on solidification methods. Two locations on the lake bottom were investigated and compared: one where the sediment dried up in summer, and the other where the sediment was saturated with water throughout the year. Undisturbed samples were collected using a thin-walled stainless steel tube sampler. The shear strength and its depth distribution in the lake bed were measured using the vane shear test. The depth distributions of the shear strength at the two sampling locations studied were found to be rather different. The shear strength was highest in the surface layer at the location that was dry in summer, whereas the shear strength was lowest in the surface layer at the location that was always wet. The shear strength of the surface layer (20 mm depth) at the wet/dry location was 3.3 kPa and there was 93.1% moisture, while the shear strength at this depth at the permanently wet location was 1.8 kPa and there was 95.7% moisture. The strength of the wet/dry sediment, which underwent shrinkage when drying, was greater than that of the permanently wet sediment. This finding could facilitate the classification of areas that require soil improvement as well as the rational design of an erosion prevention plan.