Influence of dams on sediment continuity: A study case of a natural metallic contamination

Frémion, Franck; Bordas, François; Mourier, Brice; Lenain, Jean-François; Kestens, Tim; Courtin-Nomade, Alexandra

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.023

Cited by 97 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Samples were 2 mm sieved and analyzed for determination of trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn), organics (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAHs, Polychlorinated Biphenyls PCBs and C > 12 hydrocarbons) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) following standard protocols used for official monitoring programs (e.g., UNI EN ISO and US-EPA protocols). Analyses were carried out on the finest sediment fractions (<2 mm), which are responsible for the accumulation of micropollutants in lakes and reservoirs [16,37]. Concentrations are expressed …”

Section: Sediment Sampling and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the presence of anthropogenic activities in the reservoir catchments, in most cases the analyzed elements are supposed to derive from natural weathering. Indeed, fine sediments accumulated into reservoirs may concentrate pollutants, preventing their transport downstream [3,16].…”

Section: Contamination Of Reservoir Sediments and Toxicity Riskmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Grain size is one of main physical characteristics determining the accumulation of micropollutants in sediments [3,37,[79][80][81]. In addition, TOC plays a fundamental role in the retention of contaminants in sediments [3,16,51,[82][83][84]. Therefore, the inverse relation between some micropollutant concentrations (e.g., Cd, Pb and Hg) and sedimentation highlighted in the PCA analyses can be explained considering the dilution factor determined by increasing coarse sediments at lower altitudes.…”

Section: Relations Between Sediment Quality and Physical-chemical Drimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this reason, stakeholders need to cope with the reduction of storage capacity due to siltation and have to find solutions for a sustainable management of reservoir sediments in accordance with Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), with the aim of preserving both water quality and aquatic ecosystem functioning [15,16]. Our analysis shows that sediment quality in reservoirs is a key issue to be addressed, since they act as a sink for micropollutants, preventing their transport downstream.…”

Section: Management Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, preliminary results showed that reservoir sediments are characterized by high concentrations of trace elements deriving from natural weathering, such as arsenic, with resulting ecotoxicological effects on aquatic organisms [15]. Thus, sediments potentially act as source of contamination which is transferred to the downstream river ecosystems with increased bioavailability and potential toxicity [16]. For these reasons, in Northern Italy, studies on reservoir sediment quality are being carried out, in order to adopt proper management strategies aiming at minimizing the impact of flushing operations on the water bodies downstream the dams and protect aquatic life, as required by the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate Change Impacts on Sediment Quality of Subalpine Reservoirs: Implications on Management

Marziali

Tartari

Salerno

et al. 2017

Water

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Abstract:Reservoirs are characterized by accumulation of sediments where micropollutants may concentrate, with potential toxic effects on downstream river ecosystems. However, sediment management such as flushing is needed to maintain storage capacity. Climate change is expected to increase sediment loads, but potential effects on their quality are scarcely known. In this context, sediment contamination by trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and organics (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAHs, Polychlorinated Biphenyls PCBs and C > 12 hydrocarbons) was analyzed in 20 reservoirs located in Italian Central Alps. A strong As and a moderate Cd, Hg and Pb enrichment was emphasized by I geo , with potential ecotoxicological risk according to Probable Effect Concentration quotients. Sedimentation rate, granulometry, total organic carbon (TOC) and altitude resulted as the main drivers governing pollutant concentrations in sediments. According to climate change models, expected increase of rainfall erosivity will enhance soil erosion and consequently the sediment flow to reservoirs, potentially increasing coarse grain fractions and thus potentially diluting pollutants. Conversely, increased weathering may enhance metal fluxes to reservoirs. Increased vegetation cover will potentially result in higher TOC concentrations, which may contrast contaminant bioavailability and thus toxicity. Our results may provide elements for a proper management of contaminated sediments in a climate change scenario aiming at preserving water quality and ecosystem functioning.

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Section: Sediment Sampling and Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Contamination Of Reservoir Sediments and Toxicity Riskmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Relations Between Sediment Quality and Physical-chemical Drimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Management Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Climate Change Impacts on Sediment Quality of Subalpine Reservoirs: Implications on Management

Marziali

Tartari

Salerno

et al. 2017

Water

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Toxicity studies on sediments near hydropower plants on the Ślęza and Bystrzyca rivers, Poland, to establish their potential for use for soil enrichment

et al. 2022

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The aim of this study is to analyze the toxicity of the sediments accumulated in the vicinity of hydropower plants (HPs) on the Ślęza and Bystrzyca rivers in Poland and the possibility of using these sediments for soil enrichment purposes. Thus far, there has been little comprehensive research related to the analysis of the impact of HPs on the properties of sediments. The analysis of the granulometric composition, physicochemical properties, heavy metals (HMs) content in sediments, and the growth of three plant species was carried out, including toxicity (HMs) and germination indices (plants). Most parameters were significant between the points upstream and downstream of the analyzed HPs. It has been shown that the most dangerous toxic factor is the high concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Zn in the sediments upstream of the HP on the Ślęza. In most cases, the HMs content was observed to decrease downstream of the HPs (e.g., Cu in Ślęza River: average of 13.44-times), a result of changes in the particle size composition and accumulation of sediments at the site of the dam wall.Typically, the sediments tested stimulated growth in the plant species studied in comparison with the control groups (e.g., germination index for Sorghum saccharatum, Bystrzyca: 273.5% downstream of HPs). The C:N ratio increased downstream of the HPs by an average of 37.11% for the Ślęza River and 10.88% for the Bystrzyca River.The requirements for composting material were not met; however, the sediment could be used to enrich soils with an excessively wide C:N ratio.

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Process‐based assessment of success and failure in a constructed riffle‐pool river restoration project

Papangelakis

MacVicar

2020

River Research & Apps

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Although there is increasing consensus that river restoration should focus on restoring processes rather than form, proven techniques to design and monitor projects for sediment transport processes are lacking. This study monitors bedload transport and channel morphology in a rural, an urban unrestored, and an urban restored reach. Objectives are to compare bedload transport regimes, assess the stability and self‐maintenance of constructed riffle‐pool sequences, and evaluate the impact of the project on coarse sediment continuity in the creek. Sediment tracking is done using radio frequency identification tracers and morphologic change is assessed from repeated cross‐section surveys. Mean annual velocity is used to quantify the average downstream velocity of tracers, defined as the mean overall tracer travel length divided by the total study duration. The channel reconstruction slows down the downstream velocity of particles in the D75 and D90 size classes, but does not significantly change the velocity of particles in the D50 size class or smaller. Surveys show that riffle features remain stable and that pool depths are maintained or deepened, while tracer paths match with what has been observed in natural riffle‐pools. However, the slowdown of coarse sediment and increase in channel slope may lead to future failures related to over‐steepening of the banks and a disruption in the continuity of sediment transport in the creek. This study demonstrates how bedload tracking and morphological surveys can be used to assess river restoration projects, and highlights the importance of incorporating coarse sediment connectivity into restoration design and monitoring.

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Influence of dams on sediment continuity: A study case of a natural metallic contamination

Cited by 97 publications

References 58 publications

Climate Change Impacts on Sediment Quality of Subalpine Reservoirs: Implications on Management

Climate Change Impacts on Sediment Quality of Subalpine Reservoirs: Implications on Management

Toxicity studies on sediments near hydropower plants on the Ślęza and Bystrzyca rivers, Poland, to establish their potential for use for soil enrichment

Process‐based assessment of success and failure in a constructed riffle‐pool river restoration project

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