Coarse Bedload Research Articles

Sounding out the river: Seismic and hydroacoustic monitoring of bedload transport

AbstractSeismological observations provide a non‐invasive and continuous means for indirectly measuring fluvial bedload transport. A significant challenge remains in independently characterising the seismic signature of bedload transport from other sources such as turbulence. We present a unique dataset from an alluvial Scottish river, combining seismic data and hydroacoustic measurements, to analyse bedload transport during three high‐flow events occurring within the same year. By studying three successive events, we assess the consistency of bedload transport thresholds in response to changing flow conditions and explore the presence of hysteresis in seismic data versus water level as an indicator of coarse bedload transport. Through the use of hydroacoustic data to independently characterise bedload transport, our findings reveal that bedload transport occurred during all three events but that the threshold for entrainment varied. These entrainment thresholds were influenced by antecedent events, with a drop of 15%–20% of the threshold flow depth following the largest of the three events. In agreement with recent studies, we also found that hysteresis in the seismic versus water level data is not sufficient for identifying and analysing bedload transport: Distinct hysteresis was only observed during the largest of the three events despite all events experiencing bedload transport as observed through the independent hydroacoustic data. Our work shows the value in combining independent datasets for long‐term monitoring of bedload transport to understand the evolution in the thresholds of bedload motion, providing crucial information for effective river and land‐use management in a changing climate with potentially impacted high‐flow events.

Hyperconcentrated floods cause extreme gravel transport through the sandy rivers of the Gangetic Plains

The Gangetic Plains comprise steep gravelly river channels that transition to low gradient sandy channels 10-40 km downstream of the mountain front. This “gravel-sand transition" is characterized by an abrupt greater-than-one-order-of-magnitude drop in both gradient and sediment grain size, suggesting a degree of long-term stability. However, the stratigraphic record of the gravel-sand transition in the Miocene Siwalik Group demonstrates intermittent transport of coarse gravels tens of kilometres downstream of the transition; such events in contemporary channels would drive channel avulsion(s) and increase flood risk, devastating communities across the plains. We combine sedimentological analysis of Siwalik deposits with entrainment calculations which demonstrate that hyperconcentration is required to transport coarse bedload over low-gradient plains. Transport conditions are attainable when intense monsoon precipitation (a 200- to 1000-year event) is combined with increased suspended sediment concentrations in channels. Predicted climate change and ongoing seismicity increase the likelihood of such extreme events within this century.

Impact of human intervention structures on the rivers: An investigation of the spatiotemporal variation of grain size in the Tista River, eastern Himalayas

AbstractIn order to investigate the effect of intervention structures like dams and barrage on the sediment grain size distribution, we examined a ~75 km stretch of the Tista River in the foothill alluvial plain of the eastern Himalayas. However, studies on the impact of dams on streamflow and sediment in the Himalayan rivers are constrained due to inadequate historical gauge data. Therefore, we employed a simple method to track the initial formation of some of the existing river landforms that formed before the dam/barrage operations from yearly satellite images (1987–2017) for in situ sediment sample collection. Hence, the collected sediment grain sizes analysis is used here as a proxy to comprehend the pre‐, syn‐ and post‐dam river sediment‐transport pattern. We have grouped 23 landforms into three temporal clusters: (i) those formed before 1997, earlier than the dams/barrage interventions (TOL); (ii) formed between 1998 and 2010 during the upstream dam construction (TML) and (iii) formed after 2010 (TNL) when upstream dams and the barrage were fully operational. A total of 116 sediment samples from these landforms indicate the overall grain size reduction for TML and TNL sediment due to reservoir sequestration of coarser grains. In comparison, the coarsest TOL sediment with downstream fining trend represents the pristine river condition. The coarsening trend with a poor correlation coefficient of TML is primarily assigned to partial trapping of the coarse bedload and massive sediment generation by the upstream under‐construction dams, resulting in the downstream erosion of the riverbed and transport of the coarser bedload further down. Similarly, post‐dam sediment trapping and controlled flow were responsible for the weaker trend with a distinctly finer size of TNL. The historical satellite images and data on streamflow and suspended sediment reveal that contemporary river behaviour is consistent with the earlier interpretation.

Kinematic Loggers-Development of Rugged Sensors and Recovery Systems for Field Measurements of Stone Rolling Dynamics and Impact Accelerations during Floods.

Discrete particle dynamics is one of the least understood aspects of river bedload transport, but in situ measurement of stone movement during floods poses a significant technical challenge. A promising approach to address this knowledge gap is to use sensors embedded within stones. Sensors must be waterproof and recoverable after being transported downstream and potentially buried by other sediment. To address this challenge rugged sensors (Kinematic Loggers) were developed for deployment inside stones (ranging in size from cobbles to boulders) during floods. The sensors feature a 9-axis inertial measurement unit, 3-axis high-g accelerometer, 128 MB flash memory, and a 433 MHz LoRa radio transmission module for sensor recovery. The sensors are enclosed in rugged waterproof housings for deployment in extreme conditions (i.e., bedload transport during floods). Novel relay units and drone-based recovery systems were also developed for finding the sensors after field deployments. Firmware to control the sensors and relay units was developed, as well as software for configuring the sensors and an android application for communicating with the sensors via the LoRa radio transmission module. This paper covers the technical development of the sensors, mounting them inside stones, and field recovery tests. Although designed for measurement of coarse bedload transport and particle dynamics during floods, the sensors are equally applicable for deployment in other harsh environments, such as to study landslide and rockfall dynamics.

The role of bedrock and climate for the Late Quaternary erosive-depositional behavior of an intraplate tropical river: The Tietê River case, southeastern Brazil

The evolution of fluvial systems has been related to tectonics and climate controls across various spatiotemporal scales. Despite the growing efforts to investigate the effects of those controls in the fluvial dynamics, there is a lack of studies in intraplate tropical regions. Here, we applied geomorphological, sedimentological, and optically stimulated luminescence dating (OSL) techniques to investigate the effects of climate and tectonic factors on the evolution of the Upper and Middle Tietê River during the late Quaternary, especially concerning alluvial aggradation and terraces formation. The Tietê River is one of the most important rivers of southeast Brazil, flowing from crystalline steep to sedimentary low-relief intraplate terrains, in an area with evidence of Cenozoic tectonics and under tropical monsoon climate. We recognized one fluvial terrace level in the Upper Tietê valley and a sequence of seven terraces, from 2 to 105 m above the channel level, in the Middle Tietê. These terraces are formed by thin deposits (<10 m), composed of sandy and gravelly sediments. The terraces of the Upper Tietê and the high and intermediate terrace levels of the Middle Tietê River are strath, while the low terraces of the middle reach are cut-and-fill. Lithological shifts and structural features of the watershed terrain play a strong control in the occurrence and distribution of these terrace levels. The Serra de Paranapiacaba, a regional knickzone, hinders the lowering of the base level and the river incision to upstream, limiting the formation and preservation of terraces in high topographic levels in the Upper Tietê. The formation of seven terrace levels in the Middle Tietê River was controlled by the combination of low erosion resistance of the lithological substrate and high stream power and coarse bedload that increased the erosion efficiency of the channels. Thus, the influence of intraplate tectonics on the fluvial landscape is restricted to passive controls by exhumated basement structures from older tectonic events. OSL dating of sedimentary deposits in different terrace levels indicate five periods of aggradation in the Middle Tietê valley since 18 ka: 17.7 ± 1.7 ka; 9.8 ± 1.0 to 8.6 ± 0.8 ka; 7.1 ± 0.7 to 5.8 ± 0.5 ka; 4.2 ± 0.4 to 3.1 ± 0.3 ka; and 0.6 ± 0.06 ka. The results indicate that changes in the activity of the South American Monsoon System induced changes in vegetation cover and water discharge in the river valleys of southeastern Brazil over the past 18 ka. The aggradation periods are correlated with drier environmental conditions and sparser vegetation. In contrast, valley incision occurred under transitions to wetter environmental conditions and was potencialized by vegetation recovery. Therefore, climate-induced changes in the water discharge were the main allogenic control on the late Quaternary landscape evolution.

Beyond Stationarity: Influence of Flow History and Sediment Supply on Coarse Bedload Transport

AbstractUnderstanding how river bedload responds to climate and land use changes and water resource management initiatives is critical in developing sustainable approaches to river management. Passive monitoring techniques permit investigation of interannual dependencies in bedload transport in high resolution, including sediment supply factors. Here, seismic impact plate records are processed using a probabilistic model BedLoad from Impact Plates model to derive a 5‐year bedload data set at 5‐min intervals for the lower River Avon, Devon, UK. For water years that range from very dry to very wet, annual coarse bedload yields are estimated to vary through two orders of magnitude with wide prediction intervals. The most effective discharge occurs consistently at about one‐third of bankfull flow, morphologically at “subbarfull” stage, the result of hysteretic trends and falling limb transport in this non‐threshold channel. A two‐phase sediment rating curve is revealed with a variable supply related “bulge” during in‐bank flows, giving way to a near‐linear trend during overbank flows. The supply related component is predicted well using a sensitivity style metric that combines the cumulative duration of competent flows with the magnitude‐duration product of near‐threshold flows, defining a field‐scale exemplar of “stress history.” Further, the relative proportion of supply related coarse bedload yield relates strongly to the relative wetness of the previous year. High resolution, multiyear data reveal that controls on bedload dynamics are unique to a site's hydrogeoclimatic context and position in the river basin. Passive monitoring holds promise for generating “type sites” of bedload behavior critical for use in improving aquatic biodiversity and the sustainability of river management.

Sediment flux‐driven channel geometry adjustment of bedrock and mixed gravel–bedrock rivers

AbstractSediment supply (Qs) is often overlooked in modelling studies of landscape evolution, despite sediment playing a key role in the physical processes that drive erosion and sedimentation in river channels. Here, we show the direct impact of the supply of coarse‐grained, hard sediment on the geometry of bedrock channels from the Rangitikei River, New Zealand. Channels receiving a coarse bedload sediment supply are systematically (up to an order of magnitude) wider than channels with no bedload sediment input for a given discharge. We also present physical model experiments of a bedrock river channel with a fixed water discharge (1.5 l min−1) under different Qs (between 0 and 20 g l−1) that allow the quantification of the role of sediment in setting the width and slope of channels and the distribution of shear stress within channels. The addition of bedload sediment increases the width, slope and width‐to‐depth ratio of the channels, and increasing sediment loads promote emerging complexity in channel morphology and shear stress distributions. Channels with low Qs are characterized by simple in‐channel morphologies with a uniform distribution of shear stress within the channel while channels with high Qs are characterized by dynamic channels with multiple active threads and a non‐uniform distribution of shear stress. We compare bedrock channel geometries from the Rangitikei and the experiments to alluvial channels and demonstrate that the behaviour is similar, with a transition from single‐thread and uniform channels to multiple threads occurring when bedload sediment is present. In the experimental bedrock channels, this threshold Qs is when the input sediment supply exceeds the transport capacity of the channel. Caution is required when using the channel geometry to reconstruct past environmental conditions or to invert for tectonic uplift rates, because multiple configurations of channel geometry can exist for a given discharge, solely due to input Qs. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley &amp; Sons Ltd

Disturbances in coarse bedload transport in a high-mountain stream channel system (Western Tatras, Poland)

Bedload transport measurements in the formerly glaciated Chochołowski catchment located in the Western Tatras in Poland were performed in the period 1975 to 2018. Measurement of bedload displacement allowed to determine the role of bedload transport disturbances in both system connectivity and sediment transfer. Bedload transport occurred as many as triggered up to several times a year. The longest distances were observed during rain-on-snow events: between 12 m in headwaters and over 100 m in the fluvial valley. Bedload became activated along the entire length of the channel system (10.5 km) every 2 to 5 years when the stream discharge exceeded 10 m3 s−1 (with an average of 1.25 m3 s−1). In such situations, bedload dynamics increased downstream, and stream power was sufficient to overcome local barriers (i.e. boulder and log steps). Downstream increases in bedload dynamics may become disturbed and inverted by sudden snowmelt and locally heavy rainfall. These types of events caused the dynamics of bedload transport to be 190% to 320% greater in the upper part of the studied catchment and to decline in the downstream direction over a distance of 7 km to yield an attenuation effect. The same pattern was observed in local tributaries where the dynamics of bedload transport were 200% higher in the upper part and attenuation was observed along a distance of 1.5 km in the downstream direction. All events of this type cause seasonal disturbances in bedload transport. However, the greatest effect on bedload dynamics was produced by natural deforestation. A 16% decrease in forest cover causes a fluvial system disequilibrium manifested in an intensification of hydro-geomorphologic processes and formation of new landforms.

Deep-water sand-fairway mapping as a tool for tectonic restoration: decoding Miocene central Mediterranean palaeogeography using the Numidian turbidites of southern Italy

As turbidity currents are sensitive to the geometry of the substrate across which they flow, the sedimentology of turbidites can chart the development of submarine structures and reveal regional palaeobathymetric connections. This rationale is applied to understand the tectonic evolution of the central Mediterranean in the early Miocene, using the African-sourced, hyper-mature Numidian sandstones and their immature, orogen-derived time-equivalents. In both Sicily and the southern Apennines, the Numidian sequence displays characteristics of confined–uncontained turbidites: grain-size breaks and coarse bedload indicative of ubiquitous flow bypass; short-range grain-size fractionation across flow; stacked sandy bed-sets in the flow axes. We reconstruct sand fairways for over 300 km across the region and propose that their causative flows, axially fed from north Africa, were confined along sinuous corridors created by active submarine thrusting. In contrast, orogen-derived turbidites (e.g. Reitano flysch, confined–contained turbidites) were ponded in mini-basins higher on the thrust wedge. The composite Apennine–Calabrian–Maghrebian orogen with its submarine thrust belt had occluded deep-water Tethyan connections through the central Mediterranean by early Miocene times. Palaeobathymetry across the submarine thrust belt increased northwards into the future Apennines. This study illustrates the utility of turbidite sedimentology, especially reconstructing sand fairways, in building palaeogeographical reconstructions of complex tectonic regimes.

Combining multi-physical measurements to quantify bedload transport and morphodynamics interactions in an Alpine braiding river reach

Understanding the interactions between bedload transport and morpholdynamics in braided streams has important applications in river management and restoration. Direct field measurements addressing this question are however scarce as they are often challenging to perform. Here, we report an extensive two-month field campaign in an Alpine braided reach (La Séveraisse river, French Alps) that experienced predictable daily peak discharge (48 events observed) generating significant bedload transport and morphological changes during the melting season. We monitored these processes using a wide range of direct and indirect techniques (bedload sampling, continuous seismic measurements, pebbles tracking, topographic surveys, remote sensing using ground control cameras and drone flights). Doing so, surrogate measurements allowed to extend temporally discrete manual bedload sampling, and to extend spatially local riverbed cross section measurements. These measurements provide unique complementary constraints on the targeted physics, at various spatial and temporal scales which enabled us to draw robust conclusions. Data showed a progressive decrease in bedload transport for a given flow rate along the two months period. Simultaneously, river morphology in the braided sections changed from an incised to a more distributed configuration which led to a decrease of local maxima in dimensionless shear stresses in the braided reach for similar flow conditions. This control of bedload transport by maximum local shear stresses was in line with tracked pebble surveys indicating that coarse bedload particles were mostly transported in the main active channel. At the reach scale, this transport was found to be more efficient in laterally confined sections than in braided ones which has important implications in terms of bedload estimation in alternative confined and braided (unconfined) rivers. Finally, this study highlight the interest to combine a large variety of traditional and innovative measurements techniques to better understand complex sediment transport processes in the field.

Drone Based Quantification of Channel Response to an Extreme Flood for a Piedmont Stream

The influence of extreme floods on the form and functioning of upland systems has concentrated on the erosive impact of these flows. They are seen to be highly competent with coarse sediment transport rates limited by upstream supply and moderated by the ‘blanketing’ effect of an armour layer. This study investigates the effect of extreme events on the upland sediment cascade subjected to a recent extreme rainfall-induced flood event. The drone-based survey generated orthophotography and a DEM surface, which was compared with historic LiDAR data. This allowed erosion and deposition to be quantified and the surface micro-variation used to characterise stable and mobile sediment. The idealised model of sediment residence time increasing downstream is questioned by the findings of this study as relatively little coarse bedload sediment appears to have been transferred downstream in favour of initial local channel erosion (moderated by legacy large sediment), mid-reach palaeo-channel reactivation, sub-channel infilling and downstream deposition of the majority of mobilised sediment across berm and bar surfaces within the active inset channel margins. Channel margin erosion was largely limited to fine sediment stripping moderated by the re-exposure of post-glacial sediment. Only a weak relationship was found between local channel slope and deposition, with storage linked more to the presence of inset berm and bar areas within the inset active channel. Downstream fining of sediment is apparent as is a strong contrast between coarser active sub-channels and finer bar and berm areas.

Development and calibration of an underwater acoustic data collection system for monitoring coarse bedload transport

Passive acoustic technology has potential as a surrogate method for monitoring coarse bedload transport in rivers and streams. This has been demonstrated by both laboratory experiments and field studies where it was found that acoustic energy generated by particle collisions was proportional to the amount of bedload in transport. One factor that has inhibited further development of the technique is that comparison of acoustic data is complicated by the wide variety of hardware used. A second factor is the need for each research group to assemble hardware, which is often expensive and designed for laboratory use. In addition, the hardware used in the field is rarely calibrated. In order to demonstrate how an entire acoustic data acquisition system should be calibrated for coarse bedload data collection, this manuscript presents the assembly and calibration of an inexpensive acoustic system comprised of readily available equipment. The following are presented here: assembly of the system, key operating parameters and suggested specifications, system calibration, and experiences from multiple deployments of the example system.

Glacier melt runoff controls bedload transport in Alpine catchments

Research on factors affecting sediment regime in glacierized catchments under warming climates is still scarce despite its societal relevance. In particular, coarse bedload transport has never been quantitatively related to water runoff origin (snowmelt vs glacier melt), which provides important information on the role of different sediment sources (glaciers vs hillslopes and channel bed). Drawing on data from multiple spatial and temporal scales in a paradigmatic Alpine glacierized catchment, we show that glacier melt flows play a key role in coarse sediment transport dynamics. Bedload concentration measured during glacier melt flows is up to 6 orders of magnitude larger than during snowmelt. At the catchment scale and within the channel, however, minimal aggradation and degradation was detected over almost a decade. In addition, sedimentation rates at a hydropower weir, inferred from flushing frequency during the last four decades, are tightly associated to summer air temperature and not to precipitation trends, and most of sediment export occurred in July-August. However, sediment flushing frequency has been decreasing since the late 1990s despite very warm summers in the following decades. Collectively, these findings indicate that sediment is dominantly sourced from within glacier-covered areas and that transport rates are thus dictated by seasonal and multi-annual glacial dynamics. As glacier melt flows decrease due to ice mass loss, our results suggest that, for similar basins, a progressive shift from supply-limited (driven by glacier activity) to transport-limited (during rainfall-induced events) sediment transport will occur, disrupting the current near-equilibrium channel conditions.

Natural conditions of coarse bedload transport in headwater catchments (Western Tatras, Poland)

ABSTRACTThe aim of the study was to examine the magnitude and frequency of bedload transport in 1st–3rd order headwater catchments (with an area <2 km2) in the Western Tatras. The study was carried out in 19 headwater catchments, divided into two groups: (1) alpine catchments, and (2) montane catchments. Bedload transport measurements were carried out at intervals over a period of 40 years using the painted stone method. During large floods observed in the main stream (Q > 5 m3 s−1), usually associated with prolonged rainfall or a combination of both snowmelt and rainfall, it can be expected that bedload will also be activated in its tributaries and headwater sections. Bedload transport may also occur during snowmelts, but this type of flood is of a completely local nature. During small local floods, the role of the local channel structure is quite important. Channel topography can slow down transported bedload, which is particularly visible within alluvial fans. During high-energy events, this effect disappears, and the distance of bedload transport increases downstream. In alpine channels, bedload transport occurs on a much smaller scale than is the case in montane channels and it occurs along the entire channel length. The distance of bedload transport, its size, and the frequency of occurrence of geomorphologically-active floods are smaller in alpine catchments than in montane ones. In alpine channels, the maximum distance of bedload transport was 18.2 m, and in montane channels, distances reached 165 m.

Determining the dynamics of coarse bedload transport using passive indirect monitoring: time-dependent variability at event to inter-annual scales

The dynamics of coarse bedload transport in rivers is governed by multiple hierarchical factors including catchment-scale controls on sediment production, annually variable hydroclimatic driving of segment-scale sediment supply, and reach-scale factors related to the interaction of hydraulic forces with channel morphology. Exploring hydroclimatic drivers can beneficially utilise passive sensors to record coarse bedload transport over extended time periods and in previously unattainable resolution. For the River Avon (Devon, UK), five-minute coarse bedload frequency data collected using seismic impact plates inherently records the instantaneous variability of bedload transport intensity, patterns of event-scale hysteresis and selective path transport, and the influence of inter-event supply variations. Converting a four-year record of impacts into loads via a probabilistic, data-driven model illustrates the combined influence of hydroclimate and sedimentology on bedload at the inter-annual scale. Despite highly variable water years, the results indicate that ‘bar-building flows’ consistently achieve the peak efficiency for coarse bedload transport whereas bankfull flows are relatively ineffective. Further, annual sediment rating curves combine both supply and transport limiting phases. Sediment transport forecasting is thus sensitive to both flow year type and antecedent controls on sediment supply, with implications for advancing sustainable solutions in river management.

Sediment recycling and indication of weathering proxies

As a result of recycling, the mineralogical and chemical compositions of riverine sediments may reflect the combined effects of the present-day weathering regime as well as previous weathering and diagenetic alteration history. River sediments can be interpreted as a mixture of non-weathered bedrock—of igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary origin—and solids formed by the modern weathering system. The correlation between the weathering proxies chemical index of alteration and weathering index of Parker offers an approach to distinguish fine suspended particles, coarse bedload sediments, and recycled sediments under the influence of quartz dilution. Recycling of cation-depleted source rocks formed during past geological weathering episodes may have great impacts on the weathering indices of sediments from the Changjiang (Yangzte) and Zhuoshui Rivers. Special caution is required when using chemical weathering indices to investigate the intensity of chemical weathering registered in fluvial sediments. To minimize the effect of hydrodynamic sorting or sediment recycling, we suggest that the fine sediments (e.g. suspended particles and <2 μm fractions of bedload sediments) in rivers better reflect the average of weathered crust in catchments and the terrigenous end-member in marginal seas.

Depositional processes of alluvial fans along the Hilina Pali fault scarp, Island of Hawaii

A series of previously unstudied alluvial fans are actively forming along the Hilina Pali escarpment on the south flank of Kīlauea volcano on the Island of Hawaii. These fans are characterized by their steep slopes, coarse grain sizes, and lobate surface morphology. Fans are fed by bedrock channels that drain from the Ka'ū Desert, but sediment is mostly sourced from deeply eroded alcoves carved into the Hilina Pali. Examination of recent deposits indicates that the fans are dominantly constructed from gravel and larger sized sediment. Flow discharges calculated using field measurements of channel geometries and the Manning equation indicate that events inducing sediment transport are of high magnitude and occur during high intensity precipitation events, including Kona storms. The fans along the Hilina Pali appear to be a rare example of fans formed predominately from sieve lobe deposition owing to the area's high slopes, high discharge, coarse bedload, and limited supply of fine-grained sediment. Given such conditions, sieve lobe deposition can form large lobes consisting of boulder-sized material, which may have implications for the identification of depositional processes when interpreting the stratigraphic record.

Boulder-Faced Log Dams as an Alternative for Gabion Check Dams in First-Order Ephemeral Streams with Coarse Bed Load in Ethiopia

Although thousands of gabion check dams have been installed to control gully erosion in Ethiopia, several challenges still remain, such as the issue of gabion failure in ephemeral streams with coarse bed load, which abrades at the chute step. As an alternative for gabion check dams in torrents with coarse bed load, boulder-faced log dams were conceived, installed transversally across torrents, and tested (n=30). For this, logs (22–35 cm across) were embedded in the banks of torrents, 0.5–1 m above the bed, and their upstream sides were faced with boulders (0.3–0.7 m across). Similar to gabion check dams, boulder-faced log dams lead to temporary ponding, spreading of peak flow over the entire channel width, and sediment deposition. The results of testing under extreme flow conditions (including two storms with return periods of 5.6 and 7 years) show that 18 dams resisted strong floods. Beyond certain flood thresholds (represented by proxies such as Strahler’s stream order, catchment area, D95, or channel width), 11 log dams were completely destroyed. Smallholder farmers see much potential in this type of structure to control first-order torrents with coarse bed load because the technique is cost-effective and can be easily installed.

Coarse bedload routing and dispersion through tributary confluences

Abstract. Sediment routing fundamentally influences channel morphology and the propagation of disturbances such as debris flows. The transport and storage of bedload particles across headwater channel confluences, which may be significant nodes of the channel network in terms of sediment routing, morphology, and habitat, are poorly understood, however. We investigated patterns and processes of sediment routing through headwater confluences by comparing them to published results from lower-gradient confluences and by comparing the dispersive behavior of coarse bedload particles between headwater confluence and non-confluence reaches. We addressed these questions with a field tracer experiment using passive-integrated transponder and radio-frequency identification technology in the East Fork Bitterroot River basin, Montana, USA. Within the confluence zone, tracers tended to be deposited towards scour-hole and channel margins, suggesting narrow, efficient transport corridors that mirror those observed in prior studies, many of which are from finer-grained systems. Coarse particles in some confluence reaches experienced reduced depositional probabilities within the confluence relative to upstream and downstream of the confluence. Analysis of particle transport data suggests that variation in the spatial distribution of coarse-sediment particles may be enhanced by passing through confluences, though further study is needed to evaluate confluence effects on dispersive regimes and sediment routing on broader spatial and temporal scales.

Geomorphic response to catastrophic flooding in north-central Pennsylvania from Tropical Storm Lee (September 2011): Intersection of fluvial disequilibrium and the legacy of logging

More than 25 cm of rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee (TS Lee) over 2 days in September 2011 resulted in catastrophic flooding (U.S. Geological Survey estimated recurrence interval >100 yr) on several Susquehanna River tributaries emanating from the Appalachian Plateau in north-central Pennsylvania (USA). Helicopter photography and field work were used to prepare a detailed geographic information system database of geomorphic response to the flood along ∼250 km of Loyalsock, Muncy, Lycoming, and Fishing Creeks. Unlike the response of many streams to previously described Appalachian floods, fluvial response to the TS Lee flood was extensive in these gravel bed streams, characterized by (1) large-scale avulsions and chute development on the insides of meanders, (2) erosion of gravel from channel margins and transport downstream in large pulses, (3) headwater landslides and alluvial fan activation, (4) major floodplain erosion and deposition, and (5) breaching of anthropogenic berms and reconnection of the main channel to prehistoric floodplain anabranches. Geomorphic work, expressed both as bedload sediment transport and landform change (geomorphic effectiveness) was significant: as much as 55,000 m 3 /km of gravel was transported within a single watershed. Landform changes included erosion of chutes (to 500 m long), gravel bars (point bars and mid-channel bars), channel widening (in places >100%), and reoccupation of former multithread channels previously cut off from the mainstem by historic channel straightening, berming, and dredging. Streams in this region appear to be in a phase of disequilibrium largely in response to major shifts in sediment delivery from their watersheds caused by historic logging and a series of floods ∼100 yr ago. Widespread clearcutting (A.D. 1850–1920) contributed large volumes of sediment to these streams. Dendrogeomorphic data bracket a period of aggradation of these logging legacy sediments between the 1870s and 1930s, creating a significant low terrace inset into Pleistocene outwash and glacial sediments. Recent floods in 1972, 1996, 2004, and especially TS Lee in 2011 initiated an enhanced phase of disequilibrium as a geomorphic threshold was crossed, resulting in widespread erosion of logging legacy sediments deposited nearly 100 yr ago. The change in sediment load (increased coarse bedload) as a result of widespread bed and bank erosion caused a change in channel pattern from single thread to multithread. Pattern change was facilitated by aggradation of gravel bars above floodplain elevations which promoted avulsion and chute formation. Based on preflood and postflood geomorphic mapping, >6,700,000 m 3 of gravel were mobilized during the flood across 4 watersheds. Mobilization of logging legacy sediment is occurring as pulses of gravel move downstream episodically. This paper demonstrates the important influences of drainage basin morphometry (e.g., ruggedness number) and fluvial history (land use and geomorphic) in understanding current channel dynamics and basin response to heavy precipitation and flooding. The findings presented herein have significant implications for watershed management and planning. Streams in this region are likely to remain in a protracted phase of readjustment for many decades as complex response to historical land-use change continues. In this disequilibrium phase most significant rainfall events will likely trigger additional readjustment and channel change.