Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rivers are one of the earth's major readily available sources of fresh water. Abstractions from rivers are however not without problems. Firstly, river ow is variable and to deliver a constant yield is difficult. Secondly, rivers transport sediment which will be included in the diverted ow. Sediment control at diversion works have been studied for many years and this study attempts to gain further knowledge on certain sediment control features of diversion works. Sediment control at diversion works and abstraction works is crucial to prolong the life of the mechanical components like pumps and turbines. A Commonly used diversion works design is one with a low weir and a graveltrap. The weir dams water for abstraction, which is of importance in South Africa with its variable rainfall and river ow. The study focused on the following design features of diversion works: (1) the intake angle, which is the angle at which the structure is pushed into the river, (2) the intake opening height above a datum, (3) the river ow range where sediment is sufficiently scoured from the graveltrap and (4) the efficiency and river ow range of sediment ushing through a sluice gate at the graveltrap. A Physical model study was conducted in the laboratory of the University of Stellenbosch, which consisted of designing the diversion works that were to be tested. The designs were based on guidelines from previous studies, case studies and hydraulic principles. The above mentioned features (1-4) were studied at three structures with prototype weir sizes of 2.5 m, 3.5 m and 4.5 m. The river was modelled as a straight rectangular channel with a loose bed surface, which was simulated with crushed peach pips. Sediment was also fed into the system with a conveyor belt feed system. Pumps were used to abstract water and sediment through the intake opening, during the diverted sediment tests. Flow was diverted at a specific ow rate for each structure. The diverted sediment was caught and weighed. Each structure was designed to divert sediment through one of three intake opening heights, to determine whether a higher intake opening sufficiently reduces the amount of diverted sediment. The self-scour efficiency at the graveltrap was determined with a sediment level survey in the graveltrap. From the survey a clearance ow was determined, which is the minimum river ow that clears the intake opening of sediment along its complete length. It was also determined what intake angle induces secondary ow which results in the lowest clearance ow. The sediment ushing through the sluice gate was evaluated by recording the time it takes a full graveltrap to be ushed clean at various river ow rates. The maximum river ow at which the graveltrap still ushes efficiently was determined for each structure. It was found that between the 300, 450 and 600 intake angle that were tested, the 60 0 angle yields the lowest diverted sediment ratio (DSR) over the range of structures as well as river ows tested. The tests yielded a river ow at each structure where the DSR is at minimum. During the self-scour tests of the graveltrap, it was determined that a 450 intake angle promotes better self-scour at the graveltrap. To promote both features, a 450 intake angle is suggested, as it reduces diverted sediment and has a lower risk of issues due to too large ow constriction. The intake opening height was evaluated with analysis of diverted load and concentration. The conclusions on the intake opening vary between structure sizes. In the case of the smallest structure, with a 2.5 m weir height, the improvement observed for intake openings higher than the first (lowest) were variable. In the case of the 3.5 m weir structure, the results showed three consecutive intake openings could be feasible. In the case of the 4.5 m weir structure, less improvement was observed between the highest two intakes. Flood frequency should determine whether an intake opening with top-of-inlet of 1.6 m or 3.3 m above the minimum operating level should be designed. It was observed during the sediment ushing tests that submergence of either the graveltrap wall and/or the downstream water level affects the ushing efficiency. y3/y2, which is the downstream ow depth over the contracted ow depth under the sluice gate of the graveltrap, was evaluated as an indicator of efficient ushing. The study found that a good guideline would be to ush during river ows where y3/y2 < 1, while also ensuring the ow over the graveltrap wall entrains the sediment in the graveltrap. A figure which plots the downstream ow depth over sluice gate opening size was developed to serve as an operational guideline to efficient sediment ushing. The figure shows zones of efficient and non-efficient ushing. Further, the observed sediment ushing and self-scour ranges at each structure are also represented graphically. The fact that there was designed for a specific river scenario and also the lack of varied model sediment size, limits the applicability of the findings and conclusions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Riviere is van die aarde se hoof, maklik beskikbare bronne van vars water. Onttrekking uit riviere is wel nie sonder probleme nie. Eerstens is rivier vloei wisselvallig en om 'n konstante lewering te handhaaf is moeilik. Tweedens, vervoer riviere sediment wat ingesluit sal wees in die uitgekeerde vloei. Sediment beheer by uitkeerwerke word al vir baie jare bestudeer en hierdie studie poog om verdere kennis te verkry oor sekere sediment beheer funksies van uitkeerwerke. Sediment beheer by uitkeerwerke en onttrekkingswerke is noodsaaklik om die lewensduur van meganiese komponente soos pompe en turbines te verleng. 'n Algemeen toegepaste uitkeerwerke ontwerp is een met n lae keerwal en gruisvangkanaal. Die keerwal dam water op, wat nodig kan wees om die lewering te handhaaf, veral met Suid-Afrika se wisselvallige reënval en rivier vloei. Die studie het gefokus op die volgende ontwerp funksies van uitkeerwerke: (1) die inlaathoek, wat die hoek is waarteen die struktuur in die rivier ingedruk is, (2) die inlaatopening hoogte bo 'n datum, (3) die rivier vloei reeks waar sediment voldoende uitgeskuur word uit die gruisvangkanaal uit en (4) die effektiwiteit en rivier vloei reeks van 'n sediment spoel aksie deur 'n sluishek in die gruisvangkanaal. 'n Fisiese model studie was onderneem in die laboratorium van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, wat bestaan het uit die ontwerp van die uitkeerwerke wat getoets sou word. Die ontwerp is gebasseer op riglyne van vorige studies, gevallestudies en hirouliese beginsels. Die bogenoemde funksies (1-4) was bestudeer by drie strukture met prototipe keerwal hoogtes van 2.5 m, 3.5 m en 4.5 m. Die rivier was gemodelleer as 'n reguit, reghoekige kanaal met 'n los bed oppervlakte, wat gesimuleer is met fyngemaakte perske pitte. Sediment was ook in die sisteem ingevoer met 'n vervoerband voer sisteem. Pompe was gebruik om water en sediment te onttrek deur die inlaatopening tydens die uitgekeerde sediment toetse. Vloei was uitgekeer teen 'n spesifieke vloeitempo vir elke struktuur. Die uitgekeerde sediment was gevang en geweeg. Elke struktuur was ontwerp om sediment uit te keer deur een van drie inlaatopening hoogtes, om te bepaal of 'n hoër inlaatopening hoogte die hoeveelheid uitgekeerde sediment voldoende verminder. Die self-uitskuur effektiwiteit van die gruisvangkanaal was bepaal deur 'n sediment vlak opmeting in die gruisvangkanaal. Vanaf die opmeting was 'n skoonmaak vloei bepaal, wat die minimum rivier vloei is wat die inlaatopening skoon maak van sediment oor die totale lengte. Dit was ook bepaal watter inlaathoek veroorsaak sekondêre vloei wat die laagste skoonmaak vloei oplewer. Die sediment spoel aksie deur die sluishek was geëvalueer deur die tyd wat dit neem om 'n vol gruisvangkanaal skoon te spoel, teen verskeie rivier vloeitempos te bepaal. 'n Maksimum rivier vloei waarteen die guisvangkanaal steeds effektiewelik skoon spoel was bepaal vir elke struktuur. Dit was bevind dat tussen die 300, 450 en 600 inlaathoeke wat getoets is, lewer die 600 hoek die laagste uitgekeerde sediment verhouding (USV) oor die reeks van strukture, asook rivier vloeitempos wat getoets is. Die toetse het 'n rivier vloei opgelewer by elke struktuur, waar USV 'n minimum was. Gedurende die self-uitskuur toetse was dit bepaal dat 'n 450 inlaathoek beter uitskuur in die gruisvangkanaal bevorder. Om beide funksies te bevorder word 'n 450 inlaathoek voorgestel, omdat dit ook uitgekeerde sediment verminder en 'n laer risiko van probleme as gevolg van te groot vloei vernouing het. Die inlaatopening hoogte was geëvalueer met analise van die uitgekeerde sediment lading en konsentrasie. Die gevolgtrekkings oor die inlaatopening hoogte varieer tussen struktuur groottes. In die geval van die kleinste struktuur, met 'n 2.5 m keerwal hoogte, was die verbetering wat waargeneem was by inlaatopeninge hoër as die eerste (laagste) inlaat, wisselvallig. In die geval van 'n 3.5 m keerwal struktuur het die resultate getoon dat drie opeenvolgende inlaatopeninge kan uitvoerbaar wees. In die geval van 'n 4.5 m keerwal struktuur was minder verbetering waargeneem tussen die hoogste twee inlate. Vloed frekwensie moet bepaal of 'n inlaatopening hoogte met 'n bokant-van-inlaat vlak van 1.6 m of 3.3 m bo minimun bedryfvlak moet ontwerp word. Dit was waargeneem dat gedurende die sediment spoel toetse dat versuiping van die gruisvangkanaal muur en/of die stroomaf watervlak die spoel effektiwiteit beïnvloed. y3/y2, wat die stroomaf vloeidiepte oor die vernoude vloeidiepte onder die sluishek van die gruisvangkanaal is, was geëvalueer as 'n indikator van effektiewe spoel aksie. Die studie het bevind dat 'n goeie riglyn sal wees om te spoel tydens rivier vloeie waar y3/y2 < 1 is, terwyl dit ook verseker moet word dat vloei oor die gruisvang kanaal sediment meevoer in die gruisvangkanaal. 'n Figuur wat die stroomaf vloeidiepte teenoor die sluisopening grootte plot was ontwikkel om te dien as 'n bedryfsriglyn tot effektiewe spoel aksie. Die figuur toon zones van effektiewe en nie-effektiewe spoel aksie aan. Verder is die waargeneemde sediment spoel aksie en self-uitskuur reekse van elke struktuur ook grafies voorgestel. Die feit dat daar ontwerp is vir 'n spesifieke rivier scenario asook die gebrek aan variëerende model sediment grootte, beperk die toepasbaarheid van die bevindings en gevolgtrekkings.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Sediment delivery to a basin exerts a first-order control over sedimentation, and therefore study of sedimentary rocks can reveal information about the nature of sediment delivery in the past. This dissertation examines several aspects of this problem using experimental, outcrop, and subsurface data. Flume experiments were undertaken to test the combined effects of autogenic alluvial aggradation and forced regression on the development of fluviodeltaic stratigraphy. Alluvial aggradation occurred in response to steady relative sea-level fall, and eventually consumed the entire sediment budget as the river lengthened in response to forced regression. The Campanian Lower Castlegate Sandstone (Utah) was studied as a potential ancient analog resulting from similar autogenic behaviors as observed in the experiments. Extensive measurement of grain-size distributions and paleo-flow depths from outcrop were utilized to explore downstream changes in paleo-hydraulics of the ancient fluvial systems in the Lower Castlegate in response to extensive alluvial aggradation and consequent loss of sediment from transport. An interesting finding was the stratigraphic signature of backwater hydraulic conditions in the distal reaches of the Lower Castlegate paleo-rivers. Finally, a simple and novel inversion scheme was developed for estimating paleo-sediment flux from ancient shelf-margin successions. An advantage of the methodology is that it allows for both spatial and temporal reconstruction of paleo-sediment flux patterns. The inversion scheme was applied to shelf-margin successions in the Washakie-Sand Wash Basin of Wyoming, the New Jersey Atlantic margin, the North Slope of Alaska, and the Zambezi margin of East Africa using published subsurface datasets. The Neogene passive margins within the studied datasets were found to consistently deposit around one-third of their total sediment budget on the shelf-margin topset, and bypass two-thirds of their budget beyond the shelf edge. The implications of this finding on the flux of terrestrial-derived particulate organic carbon (POC) from rivers to the ocean were explored, and a long-term average flux of POC to deepwater storage was estimated. The sediment-flux inversion scheme was also applied to derive input parameters for stratigraphic modeling of the Ebro margin. The modeling results indicate that the autostratigraphic behavior of the margin may have been previously underestimated. / text

Turbulent structures are known to be important physical processes in gravel-bed rivers. A number of limitations exist that prohibit the advancement and prediction of turbulence structures for optimization of civil infrastructure, biological habitats and sediment transport in gravel-bed rivers. This includes measurement limitations that prohibit characterization of size and strength of turbulent structures in the riverine environment for different case studies as well as traditional numerical modeling limitations that prohibit modeling and prediction of turbulent structure for heterogeneous beds under high Reynolds number flows using the Navier-Stokes equations. While these limitations exist, researchers have developed various theories for the structure of turbulence in boundary layer flows including large eddies in gravel-bed rivers. While these theories have varied in details and applicable conditions, a common hypothesis has been a structural organization in the fluid which links eddies formed at the wall to coherent turbulent structures such as large eddies which may be observed vertically across the entire flow depth in an open channel. Recently physics has also seen the advancement of topological fluid mechanical ideas concerned with the study of vortex structures, braids, links and knots in velocity vector fields. In the present study the structural organization hypothesis is investigated with topological fluid mechanics and experimental results which are used to derive a vortex model for gravel-bed flows. Velocity field measurements in gravel-bed flow conditions in the laboratory were used to characterize temporal and spatial structures which may be attributed to vortex motions and reconnection phenomena. Turbulent velocity time series data were measured with ADV and decomposed using statistical decompositions to measure turbulent length scales. PIV was used to measure spatial velocity vector fields which were decomposed with filtering techniques for flow visualization. Under the specific conditions of a turbulent burst the fluid domain is organized as a braided flow of vortices connected by prime knot patterns of thin-cored flux tubes embedded on an abstract vortex surface itself having topology of a Klein bottle. This model explains observed streamline patterns in the vicinity of a strong turbulent burst in a gravel-bed river as a coherent structure in the turbulent velocity field.

Signal crayfish are an internationally widespread invasive species that can have important detrimental ecological impacts. This thesis aims to determine whether signal crayfish have the potential to also impact the physical environment in rivers. A series of experiments were undertaken in purpose-built still-water aquaria using a laser scanner to obtain Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) of narrowly-graded gravel surfaces before and after exposure to crayfish. The difference between DEMs was used to quantify volumetric changes in surface topography due to crayfish activity. Two distinct types of topographic change were identified. The first was the construction of pits and mounds which resulted in an increase in surface roughness and grain exposure. The second was the rearrangement of surface material caused by crayfish brushing past grains when walking and foraging, reorientating grains and altering friction angles. A series of 80 flume runs were undertaken to quantify alterations made by crayfish to water-worked, as well as loose, gravel substrates at low velocity flows. Crayfish significantly altered the structure of water-worked substrates, reversing the imbrication of surface grains to a more random arrangement. Surfaces were entrained at a relatively high velocity flow subsequent to crayfish activity in order to directly link topographic and structural alterations to substrate stability. Nearly twice as many grains were mobilised from surfaces which had been disturbed by crayfish in comparison to control surfaces that were not exposed to crayfish. A field investigation aimed to determine the potential significance of the geomorphic impact of crayfish in rivers. Signal crayfish were tracked through a 20 m reach of a small, lowland alluvial river for 150 days using a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) system. Crayfish were active throughout the channel, although their activity became limited as water temperature dropped and flow stage increased. Substrate was not an important determinant of crayfish activity at this scale. Instead, crayfish tended to be found along the inner bank of a meander bend where there was a substantial cover of macrophytes. Consequently, signal crayfish were active for extended periods on substrates of a similar size to those that they could disturb in flume experiments. These results suggest that signal crayfish could have important geomorphic effects in rivers, disturbing bed structures and increasing the mobility of coarse material. This may have important implications for both the management of some rivers and benthic organisms that reside on the river bed.

Flow variability plays an important role in structuring lotic communities, yet comparatively little is known about processes governing assemblage dynamics in stream ecosystems with stable environmental conditions, such as spring-fed rivers. Volcanic spring-fed rivers (hereafter spring-fed rivers) occur in geologically active landscapes of the western USA and around the globe. We sampled invertebrate assemblages and quantified primary productivity and habitat characteristics of spring-fed and runoff rivers in northern California over 4 seasons. We predicted that abiotic factors would be more stable and nutrient availability greater and that invertebrate density would be greater and diversity lower in spring-fed than in runoff rivers. Runoff rivers exhibited high variability in discharge and temperature, whereas spring-fed rivers were relatively stable with high naturally occurring nutrient levels. On average, NO3- and PO43- concentrations were 40x greater in spring-fed than in runoff rivers. Spring-fed rivers supported nearly 7 to 16x greater densities of invertebrates than runoff systems, depending on season. However, invertebrate species richness was greater in runoff rivers in all seasons. Spring-fed river invertebrate assemblages were strongly correlated with elevated nutrient concentrations and basal C sources, whereas runoff assemblages were associated with discharge variability and median substrate size. We suggest that strong differences in abiotic variability between spring-fed and runoff rivers play an important role in determining invertebrate assemblage structure. Because spring-fed rivers exhibit more stable temperatures throughout the year and lower temperatures during the summer than runoff rivers, they may provide essential refugia for coldwater taxa in a warming climate.

Nutrients are of critical concern in water quality assessment. The development of empirical models to estimate mean nutrient concentrations, based on satellite derived land use, could aid water resource managers. Models using land use acreages outperformed those using percentages, and discrete urban land uses were superior to lumped urban. Regressions of the combinations of two, three and four of the eight possible land use variables were investigated. Sensitivity analyses, with one stream deleted each series, identified robust combinations of variables at each level. Although uncertainty exists regarding the final regression coefficients, five of the six actual measured nitrate and total phosphorus mean concentrations were within the 95 percent confidence limits.

Aquatic bacteria respond to changing environmental conditions through a variety of mechanisms including changes in abundance, shifts in community composition and variable activity states. In the tidal-freshwater James River, variation in bacterial abundance was linked to nutrient availability and autochthonous production with highest bacterial densities associated with low-nutrient, high-chlorophyll a conditions. Laboratory experiments revealed that bacterial growth rates were nutrient limited at the low-nutrient site, while co-limitation (nutrients, glucose, light) was apparent at the high nutrient site. Despite large differences in abundance, community composition was similar based on TRFLP and 16S rDNA pyrosequencing. Community similarity was lower among rRNA libraries suggesting that variable activity states are prevalent in natural communities. Rare taxa were more likely to be metabolically active and were capable of dramatic growth under microcosm conditions.

I examined the abundance, composition, and distribution of fish communities in the lower Roanoke River, a hydropeaking system in North Carolina. Fishes were sampled at before and after peaking events over three years; 2007 to 2009. I evaluated trends in species richness, diversity, and assemblage composition. There were no significant differences in either richness or diversity suggesting consistent trends in richness and diversity throughout the study. I used non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to create a community composition model. Fish composition was noticeably greater post-peaking and changed minimally across time and event. There were no statistically significant differences in species composition among pre or post peaking samples, sites, or years (ANOSIM p < 0.05). I concluded that the small amount of fish community variation observed supports the possibility that the present assemblage has adapted to a regulated flow regime, however a direct relationship between peaking and community composition cannot be established. Additionally, fishes were sampled at three longitudinal sites during summer months of 2007 to 2009. I examined fish community composition to assess longitudinal gradients away from the source of peaking. Differences among fish species within each longitudinal site were examined by use of trophic and habitat/reproductive guilds. Statistically significant differences were detected between both trophic and reproductive guilds among sites and therefore aided in creating a pattern of longitudinal separation in community structure. The fish community of the Roanoke River between Roanoke Rapids and Hamilton does not appear to show signs of variation that may be attributed exclusively to hydropeaking. Changes in hydrology, river morphometry and topography, and habitat structure may account for the longitudinal variation observed in the community structure analyses. The Roanoke River has been regulated for over 50 years. It is possible that the existing fish community has adapted to fluctuating flows created by seasonal hydropeaking. I concluded that in order to develop an appropriate community model and evaluate the full extent of changes in fish community characteristics over time long-term monitoring is needed in the Roanoke River.

L'altération chimique de la croûte terrestre fournit à l'ensemble des cycles bio-géochimiques de la surface les éléments essentiels à leur fonctionnement. L'érosion de grands orogènes, comme la chaîne Himalayenne s'accompagne de flux d'érosion et d'altération significatifs, susceptibles d'avoir un impact à l'échelle globale. L'objectif de cette thèse est de comprendre comment les processus physiques et chimiques façonnent le signal sédimentaire afin de quantifier l'érosion et l'altération actuelle ainsi que leur variations passées. L'étude détaillée de la dynamique du transport sédimentaire et des caractéristiques physiques et géochimiques des sédiments dans le bassin du Gange montre qu'actuellement environ 10 % du flux sédimentaire érodé en Himalaya est séquestré dans la plaine alluviale du Gange. L'utilisation des isotopes cosmogéniques (10Be) dans les sédiments de rivières montrent des taux d'érosions stables entre 1.3 et 1.4 mm par an pour l'ensemble de la chaîne drainée par le Gange. De plus, le transfert de sédiments dans la plaine s'accompagne d'un appauvrissement en éléments mobiles marquant l'altération chimique de ceux-ci. Cette altération a été quantifié et suggère que la plaine du Gange joue un role dominant dans l'altération des sédiments Himalayens. Les échanges cationiques lors du passage des sédiments au domaine marin restent limités dans le cas du système Himalayen et ne permettent d'augmenter le bilan de stockage de carbone à long terme que de 20 % environ. Enfin, l'enregistrement de la Baie du Bengale, qui couvre les produits issus de l'érosion Himalayenne sur les derniers 20 000 ans, montre que les sédiments exportés au Dernier Maximum Glaciaire (DMG) étaient significativement moins altérés qu'à l'actuel. Le système Himalayen n'est donc pas tamponné vis-à-vis des forages climatiques à haute fréquence du Quaternaire et les taux d'altération actuels ne peuvent très extrapolés dans le passé. / Chemical weathering of the earth crust supplies the essential elements for numerous biogeochemical cycles. Physical erosion of large orogens, such as the Himalayan range, is accompanied by significant weathering fluxes possibly affecting the global environment. The objective of this PhD is to understand how surface processes affect river sediment properties in order to asses current erosion and weathering rates but also to decipher their past variations. To answer this question we studied the transport dynamics, the physical and the geochemical characteristics of the sediments in the Ganga basin. This study suggests that about 10 % of the flux eroded in the Himalayas is currently stored in the Ganga floodplain. Cosmogenic isotopes (10Be) measured in river sediments show stable erosion rates between 1.3 and 1.4 mm/yr for the entire Himalayan range drained by the Ganga. Furthermore, we show that River sediments are progressively depleted in the most mobile elements, as weathering proceeds during transfer in the floodplain. By comparing this flux to the weathering flux of the Himalayan range, we show that floodplain weathering is predominant in weathering Himalayan sediments. Cation exchange occurring when Ganga and Brahmaputra (G&B) sediments enter the marine environment are limited and enhances the long term carbon storage, linked to silicate weathering by only ca. 20 %. Finally, the Bay of Bengal sedimentary record, which documents the last 20 000 years of Himalayan erosion shows that the sediments exported during the last glacial maximum (LGM) were significantly less weathered compared to the sediments currently exported. The Himalayan system is thus not buffered towards the high frequency climate forcing changes of the Quaternary and modern weathering rates cannot easily be extrapolated over the past.