At Crabby Creek, an urbanized watershed in northeast Chester County, Pennsylvania, an NaCl tracer test was conducted in 2010 to assess changes in hyporheic flow from a 2009 tracer test around the same stream restoration J-Hook. This project compares the 2009 and 2010 tracer test breakthrough curves and geophysical time-lapse resistivity surveys. This project also compares elevation cross sections and tile probing from 2009 and 2010, both measured upstream and downstream from the J-Hook. To confirm areas of lingering tracer seen in the time-lapse resistivity profiles, sediment cores using the freeze core method were taken to measure pore water for tracer. This project also measured diurnal temperature flux through the streambed at several locations along the sample site to model vertical water and heat flux. The breakthrough graphs constructed from the conductivity of the well water samples shows similar hyporheic flow characteristics from 2009 to 2010. The time-lapse resistivity profiles show an area of lingering tracer upstream from the J-Hook in 2010 that is similar in shape and location to an area upstream from the J-Hook in the 2009 profiles. However, an area of lingering tracer downstream from the J-Hook present in 2009 as a round feature on the profile is now a thin linear feature. The freeze cores show tracer present in the pore water after the end of the tracer injection in the stream sediment, confirming areas of lingering tracer seen in the time-lapse resistivity profiles. The grain size analysis of the freeze cores and the comparison to the 2009 cores taken at Crabby Creek show similar grain size distribution upstream from the J-Hook. Downstream from the J-Hook the grain size analysis shows a redistribution of sediment. Upstream from the J-Hook the tile probe shows both shallower and deeper bedrock, a redistribution of sediment but no net erosion. Downstream from the restoration structure, however, the tile probe data show a sediment loss of 20 cm. Elevation cross section surveys from 2009 and 2010 confirm what the tile probing found, a loss of sediment downstream but not upstream from the J-Hook. Temperature modeling of heat flux through the sediment shows that the diurnal temperature distribution can be accounted for without vertical flux. Thus, the immobile regions upstream and downstream from the J-Hook seem to be related to sediment distribution rather than hydrologic gradient differences. The significance of this study shows the need to use multiple techniques to characterize the immobile zone as a part of hyporheic flow. The immobile zone is an important area of chemical reactions in the streambed. At Crabby Creek the central J-Hook inhibits net erosion patterns upstream from the structure, allowing for the continued presence of an immobile zone. Downstream from the central J-Hook the erosion of the streambed sediment led to a decrease in size and location of the immobile zone. The disturbance of sediment around restoration structures influences the development of a healthy hyporheic flow and needs to be studied for future restoration of impaired streams and riparian corridors. / Geology

Physical based modeling was conducted to improve channel restoration efforts through direct comparison of submerged structures of various design and orientations. In-stream structure technologies studied are used to provide bank stabilization, flow control, scour and sediment control, as well as ecological enhancement through turbulent dispersion and vertical mass transport. Quantitative analysis evaluates flow effects induced by common channel restoration structures in their ability to provide mixing in our streams and rivers without significant impacts on flooding through excessive energy loss and backwater effect. Physical, fixed-bed flume experiments were performed under high-Reynolds number subcritical steady-state flow conditions. Theoretical energy loss relationships were developed, compared, and evaluated experimentally for stream barbs, spurs, submerged vanes, blocks and boulders. Extensive surface dye-trace experiments were performed to determine centerline mixing and vertical mass transport produced by stream barbs, vanes and boulders. The research presented in this thesis illustrates that the use of dispersion relationships to assess length of vertical mass transport based on the change in energy slope, and estimated shear velocity, of the channel does not properly correct for boundary layer formation and advection or angular motion produced by channel restoration structures. Submerged vanes were found to provide efficient vertical mixing with minimal energy loss or flood risk, as compared to stream barbs, spurs, blocks, and boulders. The deterioration of water quality and the need to provide bank stabilization with limited flood risk require updated NRCS and ASCE design standards and selection tools for vertical mass transport and energy loss relationships of channel restoration structures. The research conducted in these two studies have provided data for a select number of such structures.