Flow Sediment Research Articles

Impact of fine-grained sediment on mountain stream macroinvertebrate communities: Forestry activities and beaver-induced sediment management

Fine-grained sediments are a natural component of river systems. Human activities generate additional sources of fine sediment. In mountainous areas, the anthropogenic inputs of fine sediments are associated with forestry. The aim of this study was to analyse the differences in the macroinvertebrate communities between the reference and caused by forest harvesting activities increased influx of fine-sediment to mountain streams. The tested hypothesis was that the macroinvertebrate communities will differ depending on the intensity of forest harvesting practices in the stream catchment that causes excessive influx of fine sediment into the stream. The reintroduction of beavers in the study area, and the formation of in-stream beaver dams, contribute the accumulation of sediments in stream sections with slower water. Thus, it was also assumed that by capturing and storing fine sediments, may contribute to the restoration of the natural structure of the benthic communities downstream of the ponds. The study was carried out in a mountain stream catchment area (Carpathians, Poland), in which inflow of fine sediments in the stream sections varied in intensity. The study was conducted over three years (2018–2020). The extensive use of forest roads, timber skidding trails, and timber storage areas produced fine sediments that clogged the interstitial spaces between the stones in the riffles, limiting the presence of rheophilic taxa associated with coarse-grained substrates. The reduction of the number of scrapers and shredders (i.e. primary consumers) associated with the influx of fine sediments may significantly affect the entire food-web structure in stream ecosystems. The capture and deposition of fine sediments in beaver ponds may accelerate the revitalisation of the flowing sections of the stream. Beaver-induced sediment management is strongly recommended as a beneficial practice that could contribute to ecological preservation and the potential of streams, particularly in mountain areas.

The Elephant Marsh, Malawi – Part 3: the application of an eco-social model to assess options for managing ecological status

In 2016, an application was prepared by the Malawian government for the Elephant Marsh on the Shire River to be granted RAMSAR status. As part of the support for that application and to help guide the resulting management plan, the eco-social holistic environmental flow assessment model DRIFT was set up for the Marsh. The aim was to predict the response of the Marsh to scenarios of changing water and sediment inflows, and to different levels of harvesting of its natural resources, in order to identify threats to and viable options for sustaining its biodiversity. The results of the DRIFT assessment provided three main points of guidance for the RAMSAR application and the subsequent development of a management plan. First, it was shown the Marsh has been fairly resilient to short-term changes in the inflows of water and sediments, having endured significant fluctuations in both in its history, and was able to recover in terms of biodiversity from extreme dry periods. Second, it was revealed that conservation efforts to protect biodiversity should concentrate on the central, eastern and southern areas, as they were less vulnerable to decreases in water flows than the other areas of the Marsh. Third, restricting access to some parts of the Marsh, in particular the core eastern, central and southern areas, could markedly improve its overall condition, increase many of its resources and improve its resilience to Climate Change. Of the access restrictions assessed, the greatest benefit to the ecological integrity of the Marsh would be achieved if all access to the central area was stopped, and if access to the eastern and southern areas was reduced to 50% of the 2014 baseline levels.

Sedimentation in small-scale irrigation schemes in Ethiopia: Its sources and management

Numerous irrigation schemes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) exhibit excessive sedimentation, resulting in underperformance and high maintenance costs. In the current study, a participatory monitoring program was used to investigate sediment causes and sources, measure the annual sediment load, and monitor desilting campaigns in two small scale irrigation schemes in Ethiopia, Arata-Chufa (100 ha) and Ketar (430 ha), for three years (2016–2018). Sedimentation quantities were huge, where the annual river sediment influx ranged from 220 m3 for the Arata-Chufa scheme to 1,741 m3 for the Ketar scheme. On average 0.3 m3/m of sediment were removed from the main canal for Arata-Chufa costing 794 days of labor per year. In Ketar, sediment quantities were even greater: 1.1 m3/m was removed requiring 3,118 days of labor per year. The sediment influx from the river source amounts to up to 95% for Arata-Chufa and moderately reaches 46% for Ketar, with the remainder of the sediment entering with overland erosion flows. Farmers reported increased sedimentation over time and difficulty paying operation and maintenance fees instead preferring to contribute labor for the desilting campaigns. Sedimentation management is fragile and mainly involves frequent desilting campaigns and unharmonized efforts to reduce overland sediment inflows. Factors contributing to sediment deposition include mild longitudinal bed slopes, the location of the intake, canal layout, and lack of canal banks for protection against surface water inflow in addition to sub-optimal canal operations. Excessive sedimentation is a major challenge resulting in underperformance of numerous irrigation schemes in SSA, and the stakeholders’ lack of awareness of the sources of sedimentation is an underlying factor aggravating sedimentation problems. It is concluded that investigating the sources, extent, and types of sedimentation entering a small-scale irrigation scheme is the basis for reducing maintenance costs and for effective management of sedimentation problems.

Multi-objective water-sediment optimal operation of cascade reservoirs in the Yellow River Basin

Sediment deposition in sediment-laden rivers seriously restricts the normal operation of reservoirs and the socioeconomic development of the basin. Studying the water–sediment joint operation of cascade reservoirs is important for extending the life of reservoirs. The objective of this paper is to provide a sound scientific approach to optimize the water–sediment operation of cascade reservoirs considering multiple objectives. An innovative time-dependent objective function was proposed, in which the sediment release efficiency equations suitable for different sediment inflow scenarios were introduced for sediment flushing calculation. The Sanmenxia (SMX) and Xiaolangdi (XLD) Reservoirs on the Yellow River were selected as case studies to test the proposed method. First, two typical data sets, including high and low flow magnitudes, were taken as model input scenarios. Second, the multiple-objective joint optimal operation model was established. Discrete differential dynamic programming (DDDP) was used to solve the operation model. Finally, the operation results based on different weights were discussed. Results indicate that, for sediment-laden rivers, such as the Yellow River, the proposed model can achieve the maximization of the hydropower generation and sediment flushing benefits for the high flow and low flow series. And the proposed model can guarantee the flood control, ice flood control, water supply, and ecological objectives. For the SMX-XLD cascade reservoirs, when the water resources are abundant, the hydropower generation reservoirs increase significantly. And in flood season, the weight for sediment flushing can be increased appropriately to improve the comprehensive benefits of the reservoir in sediment-laden rivers. In addition, the time-dependent objective function can provide a reference for the multi-objective optimal operation of cascade reservoirs. The optimal operation model provides a model basis for the water–sediment-energy joint operation of large-scale reservoir group in the sediment-laden basins.

CFD Analysis to Predict Flow Behavior for Design and Operation of Tarbela Dam Reservoir for Different Environmental Conditions

Tarbela Dam is one of the world largest filled dams with a capacity of 13.69 km³. It is the backbone of Pakistan, and it is used for both power generation and irrigation. Like all dam reservoirs, sedimentation decreases the life of the Tarbela dam reservoir and affects the power generating unit and tunnel equipment’s and instruments. The Finite Volume Method was used to conduct a CFD analysis to investigate different parameters that influence sedimentation. The analysis was carried out using multiphase flow (air and water) considering the summer season for maximum reservoir inflow and discharge water through spillways and tunnels. Boundary conditions were applied to a 3D geometric model that had been meshed. The spillway outlet was found to have the highest velocity. Near the spillways outlet and tunnel inlets, strong vortex motion was observed. WAPDA were suggested to redesign tunnels 3 and 4 in order to reduce sediment inflow, as well as to improve the design of the spillways.

Demonstration of the impacts of anti-sedimentation techniques on Japanese reservoir siltation via mass data ANN analysis

Abstract Reservoirs have been installed as long-term assets to guarantee water and energy security for decades, if not centuries. However, the effect of siltation undermines reservoirs' sustainability because it significantly reduces the reservoirs' original capacity. Extreme events such as typhoons, floods and droughts are posited to have extreme impacts on sediment inflow and deposition in reservoirs. The same holds true for ISMTs (implemented sediment management technologies), such as dredging, spilling and bypassing. However, the large-scale analysis of their effects on reservoir sedimentation progression, recovery and development was not feasible due to data scarcity and technological restrictions. The present paper closes this information gap by conducting a GRU (gated recurrent unit) neural network analysis of 1,224 Japanese reservoirs, for which the sedimentation, local precipitation, extreme events and ISMTs were monitored between 2000 and 2017. The network reveals the beneficial impacts of dredging, spilling and bypassing. The results also demonstrate the potential of smart management and improved monitoring for sedimentation threat abatement. Thus, foresighted engineering and dedicated governance action in flood and drought scenarios can significantly strengthen the sustainable behavior of key infrastructure elements such as reservoirs.

Seagrass restoration trials in tropical seagrass meadows of Kenya

The degradation of seagrasses is becoming prevalent in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region due to anchor damage, sea urchin herbivory, extreme events such as cyclones and floods and anthropogenic factors such as pollution and sediment inflows. Consequently, there have been numerous efforts to advance the restoration of degraded seagrass beds in several countries in the region. In Kenya, experimental restoration efforts were started in 2007 in response to seagrass habitat degradation due to sea urchin herbivory. Although the initial efforts experienced challenges, there were lessons learned which provided insights into subsequent restoration work using different techniques. In this paper, insights are provided into three types of restoration techniques; the sod technique, the seagrass mimic technique, and the Hessian bag technique. In the case of the sod technique, Thalassodendron ciliatum showed a decline from 20 ± 1.7 shoots sod-1 in the first three weeks to 7 ± 4.4 shoots sod-1 at the end of the experimental period of the study, while Thalassia hemprichii sods showed an increase from 28 ± 3.4 shoots sod-1 to 32 ± 2.7 shoots sod-1 over the same period. For the Hessian bag method, the expectation was that the pilot site would be filled with the transplanted seagrass species, Thalassia hemprichii, but the findings showed that different species including Halodule uninervis, Syringodium isoetifolium, Halophila stipulacea, Cymodocea rotundata, and Cymodocea serrulata colonized the area. This indicated that it was not possible to restore the area to its original status, but that the area could be rehabilitated. The costs of restoration have also been assessed as well as community participation in such initiatives. These findings provide insights for restoration efforts in Kenya and provide a baseline for future work.

Advancements in Shoreline Variation Prediction Considering Mixed Grain Sizes

Shoreline variations occurring in sea areas are caused by the combined effect of sediment transport due to the inflow and outflow of sediment caused by waves at the left and right boundaries of the sea area and the depth of movement limit. Although many studies have been conducted to understand the characteristics of sediment transport, assessment on valid sediment run-off supplied to the sea area from mountains and rivers in sea areas with river inflow and research on the sediment budget analysis considering the topographical characteristics of South Korean sea areas are insufficient. Therefore, the establishing mitigation measures considering comprehensive viewpoints is necessary to systematically respond to various natural and anthropogenic causes. Moreover, further research related to the setting and analysis of major parameters must be conducted for improving the prediction performance as well as the evaluation system for analyzing the sediment budget, which is a quantitative evaluation index for coastline management optimized for domestic waters. This study aimed to establish a comprehensive analysis system for analyzing the sediment run-off generated in domestic sea areas and develop a shoreline model (In-MPaS model) considering mixed grain sizes for advancing sediment run-off analysis. With the observation data, the parameters necessary for the numerical analysis were set, the sensitivity of the In-MPaS model according to the particle size distribution of the sediment constituting the sea area was evaluated, and the major parameters for improving the prediction performance were analyzed. Consequently, it was found that the prediction performance of the In-MPaS model improved in terms of valid sediment run-off as well as the sediments constituting the sea area (which was assumed to have mixed grain sizes rather than a single grain size(<i>D</i><sub>50</sub>). In particular, considering the topographical properties that regulate sediment transport due to the island (Deokbong Mountain) at the foreside of the river mouth bar, the shoreline prediction performance was significantly improved with the application of groins, which exhibit structurally similar performance.

Numerical model of local scour considering the unsteady sediment inflow and sediment sorting: Application to scour upstream of slit weir

The current study proposes a novel framework for the numerical model for estimating the temporal scour considering unsteady sediment inflow and the sediment sorting process. The framework was applied to local scour upstream of a slit weir. The scour model is based on an ordinary nonlinear differential equation derived from sediment continuity and scour rate equations. A one-dimensional (1-D) Boussinesq-type model coupled with nonequilibrium sediment transport was incorporated in the scour model to consider unsteady sediment inflow. In addition, a mixing layer approach was incorporated to determine temporal variations in particle size in the scour hole. The proposed framework was validated using scour experiments conducted under conditions that include non-uniform sediment, live-bed scour, and unsteady flow rate. The simulation results showed satisfactory agreement with experimental results for the scour upstream of a slit weir. The proposed model appropriately explained the hysteresis process for flow unsteadiness, refilling process for live-bed scour, and armoring process for non-uniform sediments. In addition, the model framework proposed in the current study is applicable to local scour around other hydraulic structures (e.g., bridge piers) upon establishing the scour rate equation. Therefore, the current study provides a novel approach for modeling temporal scour that is required to consider unsteady sediment inflow and sediment sorting.

Study on the Koshibu Dam sediment bypass tunnel operation based on sediment transport monitoring in upstream reaches

SBTs (sediment bypass tunnels) are a leading technique to mitigate reservoir sedimentation. SBTs consist of a tunnel connecting the upstream and downstream reaches of a dam and diverts sediment-laden flood directly during flood events. A difficulty in operating SBTs is to reduce sediment inflow into the reservoir effectively, and simultaneously sustaining dam functions such as flood mitigation and hydropower generation. To optimize the problem in controlling the timings required in opening and closing the gates in the SBTs, which are governed by the hydrograph and inflow sediment data. Despite many studies on SBT operations considering hydrograph, there are few of those on the temporal change of sediment inflow. Ultimately, this study aims at improving SBT operations by understanding sediment inflow from upstream reaches using an indirect bedload monitoring system called an impact sensor. For this study, the Koshibu River basin was chosen because impact sensors are already placed in several locations around the basin including inside of the SBT. This observation has revealed the amount of transported sediment during each season in a year, are shown with relations between hydrograph and sediment inflow, and the spatial transient of sediment transport peak levels. According to these observations, desirable rules for SBT operations are suggested.

Differential impacts of a wildfire and post-fire sedimentation event on platypus and fish populations in a Victorian upland river

Context Wildfire can affect freshwater ecosystems in many ways, notably when post-fire rainfall washes ash and sediment into waterways. Aims We investigated species-specific effects of bushfire and subsequent channel sedimentation on the abundance of platypus and fish populations in the upper Buffalo River, Australia. Methods Pre- and post-fire population surveys were conducted using fyke nets. Key results There was no evidence that fish numbers declined because of direct fire effects. However, native two-spined blackfish and Macquarie perch numbers dropped dramatically following post-fire sedimentation, whereas non-native redfin perch increased, most likely as a result of migration from a nearby lake. Platypus captures were consistently recorded at all survey sites both before and after the fire and sediment inflows occurred, with many juveniles being recorded in the first post-fire breeding season. Conclusions The platypus’s greater resilience to post-fire sediment inflows than that of native fish presumably reflects its reliance on lungs rather than gills and its ability to take refuge in burrows. It also has a broad diet, flexible foraging behaviour, is highly vagile and typically stores enough fat to support fasting for up to 2–3 weeks. Implications Management of fire-affected aquatic ecosystems must consider species-specific responses of freshwater vertebrates to fire.

Evaluation of Pollution Status and Detection of the Reason for the Death of Fish in Chamo Lake, Ethiopia.

Chamo Lake is the third largest rift valley lake and one of the major economic sources for the communities in the Southern region, Ethiopia. The lake's quality is deteriorating due to the untreated wastewater, and sediment inflow resulting in the death of fish was observed during the dry season. The research aims to determine the water quality status using water quality indices, in addition to identifying the reason for the death of fish in the dry season in Chamo Lake. The water samples were drawn from 5 sampling points by composite sampling method during the dry and wet seasons of the year, and we analyzed 22 water quality parameters. Ammonia (14–23.6 mg/l), phosphates (0.30–1.10 mg/l), BOD (25.32–60 mg/l), COD (40–160 mg/l), and chlorophyll (19.64–31.87 μg/L) concentrations were above the permissible limits, and DO (5.20–6.70 mg/l) was below the acceptable limit in the lake as per EPA standards concerning temperature. The values of both the water quality indices of CCMEWQI (13.90–18.40) and NSFWQI (38.59–49.63) indicated that the water quality was “poor” and “bad,” respectively. The death of fish might be due to high concentrations of ammonia and nutrients in the dry season.

발전플랜트 냉각수 계통 취수시스템의 해양생물 및 해저퇴적물 유입에 대한 수치해석 사례연구

Coal thermal power plants traditionally require huge volumes of water to condense steam from the turbine exhaust. Coastal power plants may simply run a large amount of seawater through condensers in a single pass and discharge it back into the sea. However, marine organisms and submarine sediment could enter the cooling water intakes of such once-through systems. In this case study, CFD analysis for the impact of inflow of marine organisms and submarine sediment in a seawater intake system of a power plant was performed. The hydraulic model test method was followed. An objective numerical analysis model for practical impact evaluation was derived by selecting target marine organisms and sediments based on results of investigating surrounding marine environment. This technical paper investigated common challenges and solutions such as the protection of a seawater intake system from jellyfish, possibilities of a safe cooling water intake, coping with large sand quantities, and optimization of pump stations.

KAJIAN PENEMPATAN LOKASI BANGUNAN PENGENDALI SEDIMEN (CHECK DAM) DAS TAPIN

<p>Sediment is material that is carried away and moves in the direction from flow of river water and settle downstream of a watershed. Changes in land use in the upstream watershed have the potential to increase sediment. Then, the increase in population will be proportional to the increasing need for land both for settlement and agriculture so that forest land will be looted and increase sedimentation. To overcome these problems, it is necessary to study the placement of sediment control buildings or check dams. Sedimentation is influenced by the amount of erosion. Erosion and sedimentation analysis were analyzed using Arc SWAT and from the results of the erosion analysis in the Tapin watershed, the average heavy class is less than 180 tons. Changes in sedimentation value from the dam plan to the present are 1.6 mm/yr until 1.8 mm/yr. Analysis used for selection of check dam locations is AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) Expert Choice. From the analysis of the selection of priority check dam locations Sub Watershed 1. The design flood discharge analysis for Q 50 years that uses ITB-2 method is 41.34 m<sup>3</sup>/second. The hydraulic aspect of the check dam in Sub watershed 1 is adjusted to the existing cross section of the river and prevous analysis, the results of analysis of sediment inflow are 6.592,05 m<sup>3</sup>/year and storage capacity is 49.132,00 m<sup>3</sup>, namely the building height is 3.75 meters.</p>

Response Relationship between the Upward or Downward Moving Distance of Main Stream Zone and Water and Sediment Conditions in Wandering Channels

The change of water and sediment conditions in wandering channels has a great impact on the stability of river regime. The quantitative relationship between them is still unclear. The qualitative influence of water and sediment conditions on the river regime stability was analyzed by a model test. The response relationship between the upward or downward moving distance of the main stream zone and water and sediment conditions was quantitatively studied by using the measured water and sediment data and large-section data over the years. The results showed that when the upstream water and sediment inflow conditions change, the stability of a wandering channel with relatively stable river regime under the control of finite boundary will still change. When the river channel is at 1000 m3/s under the action of long-term small water, or silting thickness is about 0.53 m, the main stream next to the project moves upwards about 1170 m along the way. In the case of a large flood, such as 8000 m3/s, or scouring depth is about 0.39 m, the main stream next to the project moves downwards about 870 m along the way. The study provides a certain scientific basis for river regime stability and river flood control early warning, and provides a certain method reference for quantitative study of river regime evolution of other rivers at home and abroad.

The Development of Closure Dike as Countermeasure of Sedimentation in the Wonogiri Reservoir, Indonesia

The problem of reservoir sedimentation occurs worldwide, including in the Wonogiri reservoir, Indonesia. The reservoir was built from 1977 to 1980, but the dam faces a severe problem of sedimentation. Sediment inflow in the Wonogiri Reservoir comes from several sources, especially from Keduang River, a tributary from Mount Lawu. The sediment management problems are generally complicated and different in every place. In some conditions, it will be possible to prevent sediment from entering the reservoir by adding an internal barrier as applied in the Wonogiri Reservoir. The reservoir is divided into two reservoirs by a closure dike equipped with an overflow dike and a new spillway. This paper will describe the development of closure dike based on field observation and data obtained from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. Moreover, this paper will also describe the sedimentation status of the Wonogiri reservoir based on the recent bathymetric data. The development of closure dike already completed, which consists of Closure Dike A (700 m), B (700 m), C (302 m), and Overflow Dike (298 m). The recent bathymetric survey revealed that the capacity of effective storage of the main reservoir is 322.84 MCM.

Numerical simulation of the effects of sandy water on regulator labyrinth channel in micro-sprinkler systems

Abstract The effects of sandy water on the W-shaped labyrinth channel of micro-sprinkler irrigation systems with large flowrate were investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Using ANSYS FLUENT software and different inflow conditions (e.g., pressure, velocity, sediment concentration, and sand particle diameter), internal turbulent multiphase flow and sand deposition were simulated by the Eulerian multiphase flow model. Particle erosion in the labyrinth channel was calculated by the Discrete Phase Model (DPM). The results show that vortex movements and shear actions at the boundary layer cause self-flushing in the channel. The location of sand particle deposits and the turbulent dissipation rate are related to the operating pressure, which is optimal at 300 kPa. The erosion rate of the channel wall is proportional to the inflow sediment concentration but has no obvious relationship with inflow velocity. Based on the movement regulation of sand particles in the labyrinth channel, recommendations on filtration requirements and operating pressure of irrigation systems are proposed.

Morphological Significance and Relation of Ecosystems of Submarine Canyons off SW Taiwan

There are four shelf-incising submarine canyons off SW Taiwan. They are distributed along the active continental margin, which is periodically flushed by gravity flows. Shelf-incising canyons, such as Kaoping Canyon, may not only be affected by oceanographic conditions but also by extreme climate change due to the direct input of river sediment. In the canyons along the SW margin of Taiwan, strong sedimentary flows are reflected in highly abundant nutrient input and physical disturbances. The Kaoping Canyon possesses habitats that promote biodiversity but that are sensitive to environmental change. The aims of this study are to review the canyons along the SW margin of Taiwan and to present their geomorphological features and associated ecosystems.

Artificial bifurcation effect on downstream channel dynamics of a large lowland river, the Atchafalaya

AbstractArtificial river bifurcations have been widely created for different purposes. Yet, long‐term dynamics in the bifurcated channels and natural channels downstream of the artificial bifurcation nodes are not well investigated. Herein, we employed an approach combining three decades (1977–2006) of bathymetric survey records, geographic information system (GIS) application, and bed material transport modeling to investigate riverbed dynamics in an artificially bifurcated channel and the downstream natural channel of the Atchafalaya River, the largest distributary of the Mississippi River. Decadal changes in the riverbed volume were determined, and erosion/deposition patterns in these channels were assessed. Hydraulic properties under low, medium, and high flow conditions were quantified to analyze main factors affecting the long‐term trend of channel dynamics. Our study found that flow from the Atchafalaya River into the artificially bifurcated Wax Lake outlet channel (WLOC) steadily increased. Hydraulic gradient, stream power, and shear stress under all flow conditions of the WLOC were greater than those of the Atchafalaya River natural mainstem channel (ARMC) downstream of the artificial bifurcation. On average, 52% of the total bed material loads (BMLs) from the Atchafalaya entered the steeper and straight WLOC with 41% of the river's flow from 1977 to 2006. Despite the higher sediment inflow, the WLOC degraded with an average rate of −0.12 × 105 m3 km−1 yr−1, while the ARMC downstream of the bifurcation aggraded substantially with an average rate of 0.38 × 105 m3 km−1 yr−1 over the three decades. The disproportional flow–sediment ratio and channel erosion‐aggradation patterns below the artificial bifurcation were apparently a reflection of the difference in the river hydraulic properties. These findings imply that lowland alluvial river diversions for introducing sediment to build new land in world's sinking deltas need to develop sustainable solutions in order to avoid causing severe bed scouring in one but excessive deposition in the other channel downstream of the bifurcation.

Architecture and depositional processes of sublacustrine fan systems in structurally active settings: An example from Weixinan Depression, northern South China Sea

Sublacustrine fans developed in structurally active settings are commonly characterized by complicated depositional characteristics, which create great challenges to hydrocarbon exploration. To advance understanding their sedimentary architecture and depositional processes, a large-scale sublacustrine fan system in the Eocene Weixinan Depression, northern South China Sea has been identified and investigated through the comprehensive analysis of 3-D seismic, well-logging, and core data. This fan was deposited during a lake-level falling stage, covering an area of 55 Km2. It can be divided into two sections in the vertical direction by the sedimentary characteristics. The lower section mainly consists of thin layers of well-sorted fine sandstones with parallel bedding, which are interpreted as deposits of turbidity currents. By contrast, the upper section comprises thick layers of gravelly coarse sandstones with various deformation structures and widespread floating clasts, which should be the deposits of cohesive debris flows. Provenance analysis suggests that the development of complicated sedimentary characteristics has a close relationship with the occurrence of multiple sediment supply directions. The lower section was sourced by the western delta with long-distance transported well-sorted sediments, while the northern fan delta sourced the upper section with short-distance transported coarse-grained sediments. Its depositional process was mainly controlled by paleo-geomorphology, sediment supply, and relative lake level changes. The lower section, controlled by the flexure slope belt, is a typical sand-rich sublacustrine fan characterized by the low gradient (<1°–1.5°), while the upper section, controlled by the steep slope fault belt, is a gravel-rich sublacustrine fan dominated by intense faulting and high gradient (3.2°–4.5°). In addition, during the depositional period of the upper section, the relay ramps between en-echelon faults provided major entry points for coarse-grained sedimentary flows into the depression. Therefore, a deep-lacustrine model is proposed for the sublacustrine fan system, showing the detailed “triggering-transportation-deposition” process. This study outlines the complexity of the sedimentary architecture of sublacustrine fans in structurally active settings, and the proposed model may be applicable in other lacustrine basins.