Linking Suspended Sediment Conditions to Hyporheic Dissolved Oxygen and Fine Sediment Deposition in Salmonid Spawning Habitat Below an Irrigation Dam, Park County, Wyoming

Native brown trout populations are declining in Swiss rivers. This could be due, among other reasons, to a clogged riverbed caused by fine sediment deposition, leading to a decrease in interstitial flow and therefore in a reduced oxygen supply to the salmonid embryos. Furthermore, suspended sediment (SS) could directly harm health and fitness of free swimming fish. The aim of this dissertation was to develop and apply methods to measure SS and the effects of weekly fine sediment infiltration and net fine sediment accumulation over the entire egg incubation season on oxygen concentrations in artificial redds and the survival of the implemented brown trout eggs. Furthermore, the effects of riverbed structure, redd morphology and hydrological and hydrogeological conditions on interstitial oxygen and egg survival was assessed. In addition, source areas of SS and organic matter were assessed by C/N atomic ratio, 13Ctot, 13Corg and 15N isotopes. The study was conducted at three sites named A, B and C, from up- to downstream along the canalized and partly stabilized river Enziwigger in the Swiss Plateau. Data were collected weekly or measured continuously during two spawning seasons (2009/10 and 2010/11) from November to March in a total of 36 redds. Weekly fine sediment infiltration rates in redds were relatively high and generally increased with higher SS concentrations. Both, infiltrated sediments and SS showed strong temporal variations between low flow and peak discharge conditions. Fine sediment infiltration was at maximum during high flow events with sediments mainly in the size of sand (0.063 - 2 mm). These sediments originated for the most part in the upper watershed. Small amounts of fine sediments infiltrated during base flow periods with particles mainly in the size of silt and clay (< 63 µm) and with increasing organic matter concentrations. Organic matter was generally of allochthonous origin and major sediment source areas were pasture and arable land during those low flow periods. Less fine sediment accumulated over the entire egg incubation period in upwelling zones on the local scale and within areas of higher mean water levels due to corresponding flushing of fine sediments. Even though SS and bedloads increased from up- to downstream, less fine sediment accumulated downstream. Higher flushing of fine sediments and generally increased sediment dynamics downstream due to higher water levels are probably the reasons for this observation. Increased sediment dynamics also caused remarkably scouring of redds: 50% of the redds in the two downstream sites were excavated or buried during high flow events in early winter due to sediment movements. Redd loss at the upstream site A was substantially lower (8%). The high permeability of the redd substratum and the typical pit-tail structure of redds led to high dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in redds shortly after redd construction. Specific infiltration rates q decreased substantially within one month due to riverbed sediment displacements and fine sediment infiltration. This resulted in lower DO concentrations in redds. In individual redds, DO concentration decreased temporally to almost 0%, leading to a depleted redd environment unfavorable for embryo survival. Interstitial DO concentration and q generally increased during high flows. In contrast they decreased during the falling limb of the water level, likely indicating exfiltration of depleted ground- or interstitial water. Similarly, DO concentrations decreased under prolonged base flow conditions. This paralleled the higher percentage of silt and clay particles in the infiltrated sediment, probably triggering riverbed clogging and therefore reducing q. Even though organic matter in SS increased from up- to downstream due to an increase of pasture and arable land downstream of the river, egg survival was better at the downstream sites. Organic matter concentrations were with means between 5.1% at site A and 6.5% at site C relatively low. The low egg survival at site A was likely due to the high fine sediment accumulation at the site, triggering low specific infiltration rates and consequently decreased DO concentrations. This was especially true at spots with low mean water levels, where flushing of fines is inhibited. Enhanced soil erosion processes on pasture and arable land are expected with increasing heavy rain events and less snow during winter seasons due to climate change. Consequently, SS and organic matter in the river will increase, which will possibly affect brown trout negatively. Furthermore, a higher frequency of high flows in the future could potentially enhance scouring of redds especially in the downstream sites, which could further reduce egg survival rates.

Riparian plants exert flow resistance and largely influence the flow structure, which affects erosion, deposition and transport processes of fine sediments. Predicting these vegetative effects is important for flood, sediment and nutrient management. However, predictions on the fate of sediments are complicated by uncertainties associated with the suitable parameterization of natural plants and the associated effects on the turbulent flow field and on the variables in the transport equations. The aim of this study is to quantify deposition and transport of fine sandy sediment in a partly vegetated channel under laboratory conditions. Care was taken to reproduce conditions typical of vegetated floodplain flows including dense flexible grassy understory as a starting point. The experiments were conducted in a flume that is specifically designed to recirculate fine sediment. We measured suspended sediment concentrations with optical turbidity sensors and determined patterns of net deposition over the vegetated parts of the cross section. The flow field was determined with acoustic Doppler velocimetry. Our investigations are intended to improve future predictions of fine sediment storage and transport in natural or constructed vegetated channels, and the first results reported herein were useful in designing further, on-going experiments with complex combinations of vegetation and channel geometry. Key words: sediment transport, suspended sediment, deposition, riparian vegetation, flow field.

Effect of fish pond drainage on turbidity, suspended solids, fine sediment deposition and nutrient concentration in receiving pearl mussel streams.

The mobilization and mixing of sediments by the activities of in‐stream fauna, referred to as sediment reworking, constantly modifies the hydro‐physical properties of streambeds. This sediment‐organism interaction has been increasingly recognized to influence the hyporheic exchange flows in stream ecosystems, particularly in low flow environments (e.g., during base flow). In this work, we advance the knowledge of sediment reworking process by studying its impact on hyporheic exchange flows in streambeds with fine sediment deposits. Laboratory experiments are conducted in re‐circulating flumes following a control (only fine sediments) and treatment‐ (fine sediments + organisms) based design. The experiments involve studying the interaction of model organisms (Lumbriculus variegatus) with fine sediment (clay) deposits, and its subsequent influence on hyporheic flow regime in homogenous streambeds with fine sand, coarse sand, and gravel as substrate sediments. We observe that model organisms burrowed extensively into the fine sediment layer, mixed the clay particles with underlying grains, and eventually exposed the substrate sediments in the treatment flumes. Consequently, the treatment flumes exhibited greater solute penetration depth, shorter residence times, and higher hyporheic exchange flux compared to their respective control flumes. The results also suggest that the modification of hyporheic exchange flows depends on the overall reworking of the beds that is, the interaction of organisms with both substrate material and deposited fine sediments. It is critical to comprehend the influence of streambed inhabitants on mass and energy exchange across the sediment‐water interface as it has implications on the overall quality of both stream and groundwater.

Fine grain sediment transport and deposition in the Patos Lagoon–Cassino beach sedimentary system

Effect of biota on fine sediment transport processes: A study of Lake Markermeer

Two stations of suspended sediments during neap and spring tides were measured in the west channel of the Yalu River. Together with analysis results of surface sediment characters and current forces,this article does some researches about suspended sediment concentration variations and their relations with tides and current forces during spring and neap tides,does calculation of sediment discharge of unit width and net sediment discharges and direction analysis,and gives relations between suspended sediment grain sizes and tides and bed sediments,which mainly involves sediment concentration,discharge and grain size. The results show that the main factors influencing suspended sediment characters are space position,current strength and sediment source. Station 1# is rich in fine sediment,and current and sediment transport are controlled by terrain features. Station 2# has flat terrain and coarse sediment,and sediment source comes from other positions. Suspended sediment concentration varies regularly because of influence of current and tide force,and sediment discharge is dominated not only by current force,but also by sediment source. Suspended sediment grade percentage at two observation poins has different peak values with ebbs and flows resulting from different current velocities,directions and tidal levels. This indicates sediment space distributions and reflects external environment's effects on suspended sediment.

The deposition of excess fine sediment and clogging of benthic substrates is recognised as a global threat to ecosystem functioning and community dynamics. Legacy effects of previous sedimentation create a habitat template on which subsequent ecological responses occur, and therefore, may have a long-lasting influence on community structure. Our experimental study examined the effects of streambed colmation (representing a legacy effect of fine sediment deposition) and a suspended fine sediment pulse on macroinvertebrate drift and community dynamics. We used 12 outdoor stream mesocosms that were split into two sections of 6.2 m in length (24 mesocosm sections in total). Each mesocosm section contained a coarse bed substrate with clear bed interstices or a fine bed substrate representing a colmated streambed. After 69 days, a fine sediment pulse with three differing fine sediment treatments was applied to the stream mesocosms. Added fine sediment influenced macroinvertebrate movements by lowering benthic density and taxonomic richness and increasing drift density, taxonomic richness, and altering drift assemblages. Our study found the highest dose of sediment addition (an estimated suspended sediment concentration of 1112 mg l−1) caused significant differences in benthic and drift community metrics and drift assemblages compared with the control treatment (30 l of water, no added sediment). Our results indicate a rapid response in drifting macroinvertebrates after stressor application, where ecological impairment varies with the concentration of suspended sediment. Contrary to expectations, bed substrate characteristics had no effect on macroinvertebrate behavioural responses to the fine sediment pulse.

Interpreting the links between transient in‐channel fine sediment storage and the dynamics of suspended sediment transport during flood events helps the understanding of river geomorphology, and also the impacts of fine sediment on water quality and bed habitats of rivers and downstream receiving environments. We present a unique physically based model of suspended sediment transport which is intimately coupled with fine sediment deposition and re‐entrainment processes within the gravel bed. This multi‐size fraction theory provides unique information about the effect of fine sediment size classes due to their dynamics and associated river bed changes in net deposition. The data from a series of flood events from the Oreti River, located in Southland, New Zealand were used to test the ability of this theory to provide a description of the dynamics of the fine sediment size distribution, their concentration, load, and rate of river bed deposition and re‐entrainment. After calibration of the model using the data from one flood event, the model provides good agreement between observed and modeled fine sediment concentration and event load for seven subsequent test events. One of the main applications of this theory in future is for routing suspended sediment concentration and changes on fine sediment deposition down a river network.

Lowland chalk streams in the UK are experiencing increased deposition of fine sediment due to changes in land-use practices, channel modifications, and groundwater abstraction. The excessive fine sediment deposits have been linked to benthic habitat degradation, the obstruction of surface–groundwater flow, and the storage of contaminants, such as nutrients and pesticides. While research has been conducted on the provenance, transport, deposition, and storage of fine sediment in chalk streams, none has expressly investigated the erosion of fine sediment deposits. A year-long field survey was conducted in two reaches of the Frome-Piddle catchment (Dorset, UK) to quantify spatial and temporal variations in the erosion thresholds of surficial fine sediment deposits. Erosion thresholds were measured at randomly located points within areas of sediment accumulation using a cohesive strength meter (CSM). The threshold measurements were paired with sediment cores for analysis of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the sediment. Spatial and temporal patterns in the erosion thresholds of fine sediment were analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests and visualized with GIS. The sediment properties underlying the variations in erosion thresholds were examined through correlation and linear regression analyses. Erosion thresholds varied significantly over space and time within the stream reaches. Erosion thresholds were greater for fine sediment deposits found in the center of the channel than in the margins. Thresholds were highest in September 2008 and declined substantially to a minimum in May 2009, with a small peak in March 2009, indicating an annual cycle in erosion thresholds. Effective particle size was identified statistically as the most important sediment property influencing erosion thresholds and was probably underlying much of the spatial variation within the reaches. None of the measured sediment properties adequately characterized the temporal variation in erosion thresholds, however, the results suggest that biological sediment properties and water geochemistry (i.e., cation content) may play a role. By identifying significant spatial and temporal variations in erosion thresholds, this study provides valuable information on the stability of fine sediment deposits, and sediment-bound contaminants, in lowland river systems. This is a crucial step in assessing their local environmental impacts and developing models of fine sediment transport for the effective management of catchment sediment budgets and water resources.

Even though flow in natural rivers and channels is generally unsteady, only a few studies on turbulent structures in unsteady open-channel flows have been carried out. In hydraulic engineering problems, unsteady flow is often approximated with concepts of steady flow, because the treatment of unsteady flow can be difficult. Many variables enter into the mathematical relationship and the differential equations cannot be integrated in closed form, except under very simplified conditions. The limited number of studies of unsteady flow may also be due to the lack of experimental equipment capable of capturing small-scale, unsteady open-channel flow dynamics. Therefore, it is important to know when unsteady flow can be approximated by steady flow concepts and which simplifications are acceptable. In most cases, especially when simulating unsteady flood flow by a steady flow approach, the calculations may not produce reliable results. The mechanism of sediment transport in rivers and open channels is governed by complicated interactions between unsteady accelerating and decelerating turbulent flow, particle motion and bed configuration. Understanding the dynamics of unsteady sediment-laden water flows and characterizing the velocity of suspended particles is essential for enhancing the predictive accuracy of sediment transport and its impact on environmental processes in the water column. In order to simulate fine sediment dynamics over an armored bed in a river during the passage of a flood wave, unsteady accelerating, and decelerating open-channel flow over a movable (but not moving) coarse gravel bed (D50 = 5.5 mm) first without and then with fine sediment were studied. A layer of fine sediment of mean particle size about 120 µm was placed on the coarse gravel bed. The thickness of the fine sediment layer on the gravel bed was varied between 4 mm and 6 mm, but it was found that the thickness of the layer had no effect on the results. Quasi-instantaneous profiles of velocity and sediment concentration were taken simultaneously and co-located. An acoustic Doppler and imaging method, using an Acoustic Doppler Velocity Profiler (ADVP) was combined with an optical method, using Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) for suspended sediment particle tracking. Measurements resolved turbulence scales. Unsteadiness strongly affects the profile shape of velocity and friction velocity, particularly in the final phase of the accelerating range. Flow in the decelerating range approaches steady flow. Systematically higher friction velocities were observed in the accelerating flow than in the decelerating flow for comparable flow depth. This indicates that for the same change of relative submergence, different flow dynamics are generated during accelerating and decelerating flows. For the lowest unsteadiness (90 s hydrograph), the differences between velocity profiles in the accelerating and the decelerating ranges become small, indicating that for this unsteadiness, steady state conditions are approached. During the accelerating flow range, fine sediment suspension from the bed started in bursts and in the final phase of the accelerating flow range, a ripple pattern is rapidly created that remained nearly stationary. Thereafter, vortex shedding produced most of the sediment suspension into the water column in the form of events, making suspension intermittent. Simultaneously, sediment particles rolled along the bed following the ripple structure, thus slowly advancing the ripple pattern in the direction of the flow. However, ripple geometry and ripple shape were not altered by this process, despite the fact that flow velocities changed. Due to the ripple structure, high sediment suspension events continued to occur in bursts during the decelerating flow even though mean flow velocity and friction velocity decreased. The dynamics of sediment suspension observed in this study indicate that mean value concepts cannot be applied in unsteady flow. Fine sediment particles and hydrogen bubbles were used individually and combined as flow tracers in the acoustic measurements. When used individually, hydrogen bubbles provided full depth flow and backscattering information, whereas sediment particles traced only the lower layers of the flow, indicating sediment suspension. When both tracers were combined, hydrogen bubbles could not be distinguished from sediment particles. The intermittency was observed in the backscattering of the acoustic system. The event structure in fine sediment suspension is seen by the PTV method. PTV velocity vectors varied in speed and orientation, but were organized in large coherent packets, mainly in the near-bed layers. They also extended well above the bed, supporting the concept that coherent structure events contribute to sediment suspension over ripples. The two methods provide complementary information. ADVP measurements allow long timeseries analysis, whereas the spatial details seen in the PTV results cannot be resolved in the ADVP measurements.

Urbanization of previously undeveloped or agricultural lands can lead to significant changes in watershed discharge and sediment yields. Increased fine sediment loads can have deleterious effects on instream biological productivity in gravel- and cobble-bed streams since both periphyton and macroinvertebrates are adversely affected by fine sediment deposition. Previous studies have shown that flushing of fine sediment to appreciable depths requires mobilization of the bed material. In the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River, although most of the annual sediment load in the river is transported during the snowmelt runoff period, summer storms and resulting runoff have a major impact on the spatial and temporal dynamics of in-channel fine sediment (mud) deposition and erosion that strongly influence the biotic assemblages in the river and their productivity. Mud deposition occurs where shear stress is less than 1.4 N/m 2 . Remobilization occurs when the shear stress threshold for the mud is exceeded, but these shear stresses are much lower than those required to mobilize the underlying gravel and cobble bed material. Results from 2-D hydrodynamic modeling indicate that the amount of fine-sediment-free area in riffles and runs can be predicted for a wide range of flows. Reservoir releases in the late summer period following thunderstorm events can be used to remove fine sediment without mobilizing the bed material, and can, therefore, be used to improve biological productivity.

Suspended sediment behavior in a coastal dry-summer subtropical catchment: Effects of hydrologic preconditions

Benthic macroinvertebrates inhabit the streambed sediments of temporary streams during drying events. Fine sediment (< 2 mm in diameter) deposition and clogging of interstitial pathways reduces the connectivity between benthic and subsurface habitats, potentially inhibiting macroinvertebrate vertical movements. Direct observations within subsurface sediments are, however, inherently difficult. As a result, confirmation of macroinvertebrate vertical movement, and the effect of fine sediment, is limited. We used laboratory mesocosms containing transparent gravel sized particles (10–15 mm) to facilitate the direct observation and tracking of vertical movements by Gammarus pulex in response to water level reduction and sedimentation. Seven sediment treatments comprised two fine sediment fractions (small: 0.125–0.5 mm, coarse sand: 0.5–1 mm) deposited onto the surface of the substrate, and a control treatment where no fine sediment was applied. We found that G. pulex moved into the subsurface gravel sediments in response to drying, but their ability to remain submerged during water level reduction was impeded by fine sediment deposition. In particular deposition of the coarser sand fraction clogged the sediment surface, limiting vertical movements. Our results highlight the potential effect of sedimentation on G. pulex resistance to drying events in streams.

The major goals of this study were to determine stream bed sediment erosion/deposition rates, sediment age, percent ‘new’ sediment, and suspended sediment origin during two storm events of contrasting magnitudes (11.9 mm over 5 h and 58.9 mm over 39 h) using fallout radionuclides (excess lead 210 – 210Pbxs and beryllium 7 – 7Be) and link the nature and type of sediment source contributions to potential phosphorus (P) off‐site transport. The study was conducted in cropland‐dominated and mixed land use subwatersheds in the non‐glaciated Pleasant Valley watershed (50 km2) in South Central Wisconsin. Fine sediment deposition and erosion rates on stream beds varied from 0.76 to 119.29 mg cm−2 day−1 (at sites near the watershed outlet) and 1.72 to 7.72 mg cm−2 day−1 (at sites in the headwaters), respectively, during the two storm events. The suspended sediment age ranged from 123 ± 12 to 234 ± 33 days during the smaller storm event; however, older sediment was more prevalent (p = 0.037) in the streams during the larger event with suspended sediment age ranging from 226 ± 9 to 322 ± 114 days. During the small and large storm event, percent new sediment in suspended sediment ranged from 5.3 ± 2.1 to 21.0 ± 2.9% and 5.3 ± 2.7 to 6.7 ± 5.7%, respectively. In the cropland‐dominated subwatershed, upland soils were the major source of suspended sediment, whereas in the mixed land use subwatershed, both uplands and stream banks had relatively similar contributions to suspended sediment. In‐stream (suspended and bed) sediment P levels ranged from 703 ± 193 to 963 ± 84 mg kg−1 during the two storm events. The P concentrations in suspended and bed sediment were reflective of the dominant sediment source (upland or stream bank or mixed). Overall, sediment transport dynamics showed significant variability between subwatersheds of different land use characteristics during two contrasting storm events. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.