Suspended Sediment Transport Dynamics In River Musa, Niger State - Nigeria

Abstract

Energy circumstances frequently affect how suspended sediment behaves in rivers; for example, sediment is retained during low flow and transferred at high discharge. However, the mixing and directing of water and sediment from various sources can also have an impact on the timing of the maximum sediment movement. In this study, the movement of suspended sediment, river bed material, and flow characteristics of the Musa River were examined. Besides, the study is aimed at studying the suspended sediment laden water transported by the River Musa, as there is no consistent, reliable data collection of sediment inflow into Nigerian rivers to aid water resources planning and management. Several techniques adopted for estimating the rates of sedimentation are highly laborious, expensive, and time-consuming, although these challenges are made easier by the availability of some sediment and flow rating curves. The rate of sediment carried by the River Musa during this study was estimated using the direct sediment sampling data approach.The average sediment concentration estimates conveyed by River Musa during the study period was 0.1337 mg/l which is low and may increase if the catchment area's upstream is subjected to more urbanization, agricultural, and animal grazing activities. Besides, discharge rates were measured, and the riverbed material transported classified.