Geomorphological development of aquatic mesohabitats in shore channels along longitudinal training dams

Abstract

Longitudinal training dams (LTDs) are novel hydraulic engineering structures in the river Waal intended to facilitate intensive navigation and safe discharges in the main channel while providing sheltered habitats for aquatic biota in shore channels. Monitoring data collected using light detection and ranging, multibeam echosounder and aerial photography for the years during and after the construction of the LTDs were analysed in order to determine patterns of erosion and deposition, the retreat rate of steep eroding banks and shoreline length change through time. The LTD shore channels and two traditional groyne fields (references) were divided into nine mesohabitats based on physical attributes. Net erosion was estimated for eight out of the nine mesohabitats for the 2015-2020 period. Generally, there was a pattern of riverbed aggradation towards the LTDs and degradation or bank erosion towards the littoral zones of the LTD shore channels. This kind of continuous behaviour could be indicative of current or eminent channel and thus habitat stability. The bankline erosion in shore channels had mean retreat rates of 1.4-1.6 m/year. The shorelines were longer in sand-dominated mesohabitats, which could be key for habitat heterogeneity. The LTD shore channels offered more complex relatively natural continuous littoral zones than the traditional groyne fields while maintaining the multifunctionality of the river. Thus, the development of sandy shorelines in the LTD shore channels should be encouraged through management in order to enhance biodiversity. Geomorphological monitoring of the shore channels should continue in the future in order to detect any long-term changes in the sedimentary processes and ecological functions.