Sediment characteristics at river confluences: a case study of the Mula-Kas confluence, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

River bed and floodplain sediments are a direct reflection of river channel processes. This paper examines sediment transfer processes at river junctions, using as a case study the River Kas, a tributary of the River Mula, Godavari basin, Maharashtra, India. The study uses four cross-sections, two from upstream tributaries, one in the main confluence zone, and one downstream. Sediment samples are collected from each cross-section and adjacent banks. To understand the tributary impact on the main channel, variations in sand, silt and clay percentages and variations in the shape of sediment particles were recorded. Data suggest that the percentage of silt and clay increased away from the active channel towards banks along a cross-section, except for the mid-channel bar and the downstream segment of the confluence. The `a axis' and `c axis' lengths of particles increased for the samples on the confluence compared to upstream and downstream samples. Sediment characteristics between tributary and the main stream reflect both downstream distance from sediment source and the characteristics of the respective transport processes. The distribution of fine material at the tributary mouth suggests that there have been instances in the past where the mainstream flow has dominated the confluence and has led to slack water deposits on the tributary mouth. Construction of a weir for local flow regulation also affects the pattern and character of sediments. In this large, seasonal river, confluence sedimentology is a joint product of flow variation, confluence morphology and the additional effects of human activity. The study thus provides insights into confluence dynamics and characteristics which may not be revealed in the more intensively researched temperate confluences of smaller scale.