No description available.

Hobble Creek is one of several inflowing streams and rivers into Utah Lake, Utah, USA. Historically, June sucker (Chasmistes liorus), a federally listed endemic fish, spawned up all the major inflowing streams and rivers but is now limited to just the Provo River. The State of Utah has recently proposed restoring the lower reaches of Hobble Creek for additional spawning and rearing needs. This restoration effort will likely involve removal of migration barriers, re-aligning the stream, and removing existing levees that prevent floodplain access. These changes have raised several questions that this study aims to answer. First, what are the sediment transport rates under current flow conditions in Hobble Creek, and how well do various predictive models match the actual rates? Secondly, assuming a successful introduction of adult June sucker into the Hobble Creek system, will the existing flow regime be capable of transporting the fry to an area adequate for successful population growth? Four bedload predictive models were used to create sediment rating curves for flows typically found in Hobble Creek: the Meyer-Peter, Muller equation (MPM), Wilcock's two parameter model, Rosgen's Pagosa reference curve, and Bathurst's Phase 2 equation. Each were used and compared to data obtained on Hobble Creek during the spring 2006 snowmelt runoff season. Results show that the uncalibrated MPM formula over predicted bedload rates by several orders of magnitude, while the Wilcock model sometimes performed more accurately, but was also prone to inaccuracies greater than an order of magnitude. The Rosgen and Bathurst predicted rates were consistently within an order of magnitude of observed rates. Areas of optimal rearing potential were determined by separating the stream-lake interface into four zones: dense vegetation, sparse vegetation, open lake, and within the creek. These four zones were analyzed for rearing potential based on food resources, temperature patterns and existing small fish densities. Larval drift modeling was performed to characterize the ability of the stream to transport larvae to the zones studied. We found that highest food density occurs in the open lake; small fish were most abundant in the open lake as well. The open lake is also better for rearing habitat in terms of temperatures between zones. Furthermore, larval drift studies show that the current geometry and flow regime is incapable of transporting larvae to zones in the lake where food and warm water are both available, and that larvae are likely to die before reaching those areas.

No / A discrete particle model is described which simulates bedload transport over a flat bed of a unimodal mixed-sized distribution of particles. Simple physical rules are applied to large numbers of discrete sediment grains moving within a unidirectional flow. The modelling assumptions and main algorithms of the bedload transport model are presented and discussed. Sediment particles are represented by smooth spheres, which move under the drag forces of a simulated fluid flow. Bedload mass-transport rates calculated by the model exhibit a low sensitivity to chosen model parameters. Comparisons of the calculated mass-transport rates with well-established empirical relationships are good, strongly suggesting that the discrete particle model has captured the essential elements of the system physics. This performance provides strong justification for future interrogation of the model to investigate details of the small-scale constituent processes which have hitherto been outside the reach of previous experimental and modelling investigations.

Vegetation has been identified to play a significant role in river environments by providing a wide range of ecosystem services. For this reason, the use of plants has become relevant in river restoration projects. However, the presence of plants in channel beds increases the flow resistance and, thus, the water levels during flood conditions. Additionally, river vegetation, whether instream or riparian, influences the morphological evolution of rivers. Observations show that instream vegetation has a strong impact on bedload transport. Yet, there is a scarcity of sediment transport predictors that directly account for the effects of plants, and existing methods, based on re-calculation of roughness coefficients, may present some inconsistencies. Therefore, an approach that extends Einstein’s (1950) parameters to include the effects of vegetation geometry and spatial density on sediment transport is herein proposed. The new formulations of the dimensionless transport parameter Φ and the flow intensity parameter Ψ were derived for their implementation in existing bedload predictors of the form Φ = (Ψ). The applicability of this new approach considers the presence of submerged and emergent vegetation, but reduces to the original Einstein’s model if vegetation is absent. The research methodology was carried out in four phases. First, a comprehensive literature review for the identification of, mainly, the different effects of vegetation on river morphodynamics, the state-of-the-art knowledge on the flow-sediment-vegetation interactions, and the current approaches to bedload estimation in channels with vegetated beds. Second, the derivation of the extended Einstein’s parameters, starting from a momentum balance for a control volume of a generic channel with instream submerged vegetation (as proposed by Petryk and Bosmajian, 1975). Third, an extensive experimental program carried out on a tilting flume with a mobile bed and with plants being represented by series of aluminum cylinders. Different scenarios of vegetation spatial density were tested while measurements of bedload rate, water level, bed level and flow velocity were periodically performed in order to assess conditions of stationarity and morphodynamic equilibrium. Last, a deep analysis of experimental results allowed for the calibration of the new approach, whereas external datasets from the literature were used to assess its performance in a wide variety of conditions. A study based on four statistical measures showed that the extended Einstein’s parameters are significantly more suitable for bedload rate estimation when compared to the original ones, since predicted and measured values have, on average, the same order of magnitude. Additionally, the new approach outperformed the widely-adopted method of Baptist (2005), which consists of the re-calculation of bed roughness in vegetated settings. Finally, the experimental observations suggest that the submergence ratio and the stem spatial density are the most important traits of river plants to display influence on bedload transport, channel bed stability, and bed form dimensions and patterns. A better understanding of these traits might lead to better prediction capabilities of river evolution. / La vegetazione svolge un ruolo fondamentale negli ambienti fluviali, poiché fornisce un ampio spettro di servizi ecosistemici; per questo essa è una componente rilevante dei progetti di riqualificazione fluviale. Tuttavia, la presenza di piante in alveo aumenta la resistenza al moto e di conseguenza anche il tirante idrico durante gli eventi di piena. Inoltre, la copertura vegetale in alveo e nelle zone riparie influenza l'evoluzione morfologica dei corsi d'acqua. Nonostante le evidenze sperimentali mostrino che la vegetazione in alveo ha un forte impatto sul trasporto dei sedimenti, sono poche le formule di trasporto che tengono conto in modo esplicito dell'effetto della vegetazione e i metodi esistenti, basati sulla determinazione di un coefficiente di scabrezza, possono dare luogo a incongruenze. Per questa ragione, in questa tesi si propone un approccio che estende la formulazione di Einstein (1950) e include l'effetto della geometria e della densità spaziale della vegetazione sul trasporto solido. Sono state derivate nuove espressioni per il parametro di trasporto adimensionale Φ e il parametro di intensità del trasporto Ψ, che possono essere introdotte in modelli di trasporto esistenti del tipo Φ = f(Ψ). Questo nuovo approccio consente di considerare l'effetto della presenza di vegetazione sommersa ed emergente e si riduce al modello originale di Einstein in assenza di vegetazione. L'attività di ricerca si è svolta in quattro fasi. Nella prima fase si è svolta un'analisi approfondita della letteratura mirata soprattutto a identificare gli effetti della vegetazione sulla morfodinamica fluviale, definire lo stato dell'arte relativo alle interazioni fra flusso liquido, sedimenti e vegetazione, ed analizzare gli approcci esistenti per la stima del trasporto di fondo in alvei vegetati. Nella seconda fase si sono derivati i parametri della formulazione di Einstein estesa a partire dal bilancio di quantità di moto per un volume di controllo di un canale generico con vegetazione sommersa (come proposto da Petryk e Bosmajian, 1975). Nella terza fase è stato condotto un esteso set di esperimenti, utilizzando un modello fisico costituito da una canaletta di laboratorio a pendenza variabile e fondo mobile, in cui le piante sono state simulate tramite cilindri in alluminio. Sono stati riprodotti diversi scenari di densità spaziale della vegetazione e sono stati misurati periodicamente la portata solida, la quota della superficie libera e del fondo e la velocità della corrente per valutare le condizioni di stazionarietà ed equilibrio morfodinamico. Infine, il nuovo approccio è stato calibrato sulla base di un'analisi approfondita dei risultati sperimentali e quindi applicato a set di dati di letteratura per valutarne l'accuratezza in un ampio intervallo di condizioni. Un'analisi statistica basata su quattro indicatori ha mostrato che i parametri della formulazione di Einstein estesa producono stime di trasporto solido sensibilmente più accurate rispetto ai parametri originali, in quanto i valori calcolati sono, in generale, dello stesso ordine di grandezza dei valori misurati. Inoltre, il nuovo approccio dà risultati migliori rispetto al metodo di Baptist (2005), ampiamente adottato, che consiste nel ricalcolo della scabrezza per gli alvei vegetati. Infine, le osservazioni sperimentali suggeriscono che il rapporto di sommergenza e la densità spaziale delle piante sono i parametri che influenzano in modo più significativo il trasporto solido, la stabilità del fondo dell'alveo, la scala delle forme di fondo e la loro organizzazione spaziale. Una conoscenza più approfondita di questi aspetti può contribuire a una maggiore capacità di prevedere l'evoluzione dei corsi d'acqua. / Se ha identificado a la vegetación como un actor importante en ambientes fluviales al proporcionar una amplia gama de servicios ecosistémicos. Por esta razón, el uso de plantas se ha vuelto cada vez más relevante en proyectos de restauración de ríos. Sin embargo, su presencia en lechos fluviales impacta la resistencia al flujo, aumentando los niveles del agua en condiciones de inundación. Además, este tipo de vegetación, ya sea que esté en el lecho o en las márgenes, influye en la evolución morfológica de los ríos. Diversas observaciones han mostrado que la vegetación fluvial tiene un fuerte impacto en las tasas de transporte sólido de fondo. A pesar de ello, hay una escasez de métodos confiables para la estimación de este tipo de sedimentos que tome en consideración el efecto de las plantas y, aquéllos que existen, los cuales se basan en la corrección del coeficiente de rugosidad del canal, suelen presentar resultados inconsistentes. Por tanto, se propone aquí un método que extiende las definiciones fundamentales de Einstein (1950) en modo que se incluyan los efectos de la geometría y la densidad espacial de las plantas sobre el transporte sólido. Las nuevas ecuaciones del parámtero de transporte, Φ, y el parámetro de movilidad, Ψ, fueron obtenidas para su implementación en métodos predictores de transporte de fondo de la forma Φ = (Ψ). La aplicabilidad de este nuevo enfoque considera la posibilidad de vegtación fluvial tanto emergente como sumergida, y se reduce a las ecuaciones originales de Einstein si ésta fuera inexistente. La metodología de investigación se llevó a cabo en cuatro fases. Primero, una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura para la identificación, principalmente, de los diferentes efectos de la vegetación en la morfodinámica de ríos, los avances más recientes en el conocimiento sobre las interacciones flujo-sedimento-vegetación, y los métodos actualmente existentes para la estimación del transporte sólido de fondo en canales naturales vegetados. En segundo lugar, la obtención de los parámetros de Einstein extendidos a partir de un balance de momentum para el volumen de control de un canal genérico con vegetación sumergida (según lo propuesto por Petryk y Bosmajian, 1975). En tercer lugar, un extenso programa experimental realizado en un canal de fondo móvil y pendiente variable, con las plantas siendo representadas por series de cilindros metálicos. Se probaron diferentes escenarios de densidad espacial de vegetación, mientras que periódicamente se realizaron mediciones transporte sólido, niveles del agua, topografía del fondo y velocidad del flujo con el objeto de evaluar las condiciones de flujo uniforme y equilibrio morfodinámico. Por último, un análisis profundo de los resultados experimentales permitió la calibración del nuevo método, mientras que se utilizaron datos externos disponibles en la literatura para evaluar su desempeño bajo diversas condiciones. Un estudio basado en cuatro medidas estadísticas mostró que los parámetros extendidos de Einstein son mucho más adecuados para la estimación del transporte de fondo en comparación con los originales, ya que los valores estimados y los medidos muestran, en promedio, el mismo orden de magnitud. Además, el nuevo método superó al propuesto por Baptist (2005), ampliamente utilizado, el cual consiste en la corrección de la rugosidad del canal en presencia de vegetación. Finalmente, las observaciones experimentales sugieren que la sumergencia de las plantas y la densidad espacial de los tallos son las variables más influyentes en el transporte sedimentos de fondo, la estabilidad del lecho, y las dimensiones y patrones de la forma de fondo. Una mejor comprensión de estas variables puede significar una mejor capacidad para predecir la evolución de un río.

No description available.

During the summers of 1973 anrd 1974 processes and related responses operating on a small High Arctic sandur (basin area 91 km²) were studied. Several aspects related to the sandur were investigated, including the hydrologic regime of surface runoff, channel hydraulic conditions, sediment transport, and the morphology of the channels and sandur surface. Summer climatic conditions strongly affected surface runoff due to their influence on snowmelt, qlacial melt, and summer precipitation, There was a noticeable diurnal rhythm in streamflow in response to snowmelt and glacial melt. The influences of ice blockcage effects on streamflow were also observable. A shallow active layer resulted in a rapid response of surface runoff to snowmelt, glacial melt, and rainfall sources. These aspects of the hydrologic regime strongly affected the hydraulic conditions of the streams. The main hydraulic adjustment was produced by changes in velocity which led to rapid changes in flow resistance and resulted in large variations in the rates of sediment transport. Estimates of the stream load in the 1974 summer confirmed that the bulk of the sediment was carried as bedload. Channel bar forms which reflected hydraulic conditions changed considerably over a summer period. On a long term basis, the form of the channel longitudinal profile indicated an adjustment to downstream hydraulic conditions while the surface morphology and sediment distribution over the sandur revealerl the two-dimensional variations in channel processes. / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Thesis. 1976. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Bibliography: leaves 55-58. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science, 1981. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND LINDGREN. / Bibliography: leaves 176-181. / by William Charles Corea. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science, 1981. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. Film reel in Science Library. / Bibliography: leaves 79-80. / by Peter John Vrolijk. / M.S.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) sediment is a leading cause of water quality impairment (US EPA, 2002). The annual costs of sediment pollution in North America alone are estimated to range between $20 and $50 billion (Pimentel et al., 1995; Osterkamp et al, 1998, 2004). Due to the large spatial and temporal variations inherent in sediment transport, suspended sediment measurement is challenging. The overall goal of this research was to develop and test an inexpensive sensor for continuous suspended sediment monitoring in streams. This study was designed to determine if the gain and phase components of permittivity could be used to predict suspended sediment concentrations (SSC). A bench-scale suspension system was designed and tested to guarantee that there were no significant differences in the sediment suspension vertically or horizontally within the system. This study developed prediction models for SSC with input variables of temperature, specific conductivity, and gain and/or phase at multiple frequencies. The permittivity sensor is comprised of an electrode, power source, and a control box or frequency generator. Fixed and mixed effect, multiple, linear regression models were created and compared for target frequencies. However, it was not possible to meet the normality requirements for prediction accuracy. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression techniques were also applied to gain and phase data for 127 of the 635 frequencies. The three models with the lowest error between predicted and actual values of SSC for validation were further tested with nine levels of independent validation data. The largest model error (error>50%) occurred for the top three models at 0 and 500 mg/L. At the higher concentrations error varied from 1-40%. Once the treatment levels, of the independent validation data set, were near 1000 mg/L the prediction accuracy increased for the top three models. Model 3A, a phase based model, preformed the best. Model 3A was able to predict six of the nine independent validation treatment levels within 300 mg/L. Future research will provide additional laboratory and field testing of the prototype sensor. / Ph. D.