Bed-load measurements on large, sand-bed rivers in the United States

Abstract

The movement of bed forms (sand dunes) in large sand-bed rivers is being used to determine the transport rate of bed load. The ISSDOTv2 (Integrated Section Surface Difference Over Time version 2) methodology uses time sequenced differences of measured bathymetric surfaces to compute the bed-load transport rate. The method was verified using flume studies [1]. In general, the method provides very consistent and repeatable results, and also shows very good fidelity with most other measurement techniques. Over the last 7 years we have measured, computed and compiled what we believe to be the most extensive data set anywhere of bed-load measurements on large, sand bed rivers. Most of the measurements have been taken on the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Snake Rivers in the United States. For cases where multiple measurements were made at varying flow rates, bed-load rating curves have been produced. This paper will provide references for the methodology, but is intended more to discuss the measurements, the resulting data sets, and current and potential uses for the bed-load data.

Bed-load transport measurements on the Chippewa River using the ISSDOTv2 method

“…It was for these reasons that MVP contracted with the USGS for real-time monitoring of suspended-sediment concentrations, suspended sand load, and bed-load sediment on the lower Chippewa River. The measured bed-load values provided by the ISSDOTv2 method have been shown to be very consistent and repeatable in numerous other studies (Abraham et al 2018); thus, they can be used with confidence as mentioned above for comparison to other methods and/or for the development of a bed-load rating curve. The bed-load rating curve along with hydrograph predictions could provide the timing and quantity of bed-load sediments moving into the Mississippi River at its confluence with the Chippewa.…”

“…The data were collected as described above and properly processed. They were then analyzed with the ISSDOTv2 method (Abraham et al 2011;Shelley et al 2013;Abraham 2018) to obtain a bed-load transport value for the surveyed section of river.…”

Testing Bed Load Transport Formulas: A Case Study Of The Lower Amur Using Bed Load Yield Data Obtained With Multi-Beam Echo-Sounders (Mbes)

“…Baranya and Muste (Muste et al 2016;Kim et al 2016) have developed the AMV-method (acoustic mapping velocimetry) that allows to get bed forms characteristics across the width of the river covered by echosounder. Abraham with colleagues (Abraham et al 2015;Baranya et al 2016;Abraham et al 2018) have developed the ISSDOT-method (integrated section surface difference over time) which calculates bed load by comparing threedimensional bed surfaces over consecutive timelines of echo-sounding bypassing the determination of height and velocity of dunes and operating directly with the volume of degradation/aggradation between the surveys.…”