The relative contribution of near-bed vs. intragravel horizontal transport to fine sediment accumulation processes in river gravel beds

Casas‐Mulet, Roser; Lakhanpal, Garima; Stewardson, Michael J.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.12.013

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Such pressure gradients are induced by bedforms (Elliott & Brooks, 1997;Packman, Salehin, & Zaramella, 2004), local heterogeneity or roughness and permeability changes in the river bed (Cardenas, Wilson, & Zlotnik, 2004), including those created by biotic activity. Fines infiltrating into the river bed may settle within the pore spaces of the sediment matrix (Stewardson et al, 2016), or be transported laterally and longitudinally through the river bed (Casas-Mulet, Lakhanpal, & Stewardson, 2018). In the upper bed layers, such horizontal transport ("Brinkman load" in Figure 2) may result from turbulent mixing promoted by shear instability above the bed (Boano et al, 2011;Casas-Mulet et al, 2017;Manes, Pokrajac, McEwan, & Nikora, 2009).…”

Section: Controls On Fine Sediment: Hydraulics and Geomorphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical and biological controls on fine sediment transport and storage in rivers

et al. 2018

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Excess fine sediment, comprising particles <2 mm in diameter, is a major cause of ecological degradation in rivers. The erosion of fine sediment from terrestrial or aquatic sources, its delivery to the river, and its storage and transport in the fluvial environment are controlled by a complex interplay of physical, biological, and anthropogenic factors. While the physical controls exerted on fine sediment dynamics are relatively well‐documented, the role of biological processes and their interactions with hydraulic and physicochemical phenomena has been largely overlooked. The activities of biota, from primary producers to predators, exert strong controls on fine sediment deposition, infiltration, and resuspension. For example, extracellular polymeric substances associated with biofilms increase deposition and decrease resuspension. In lower energy rivers, aquatic macrophyte growth and senescence are intimately linked to sediment retention and loss, whereas riparian trees are dominant ecosystem engineers in high energy systems. Fish and invertebrates also have profound effects on fine sediment dynamics through activities that drive both particle deposition and erosion depending on species composition and abiotic conditions. The functional traits of species present will determine not only these biotic effects but also the responses of river ecosystems to excess fine sediment. We discuss which traits are involved and put them into context with spatial processes that occur throughout the river network. While strides towards better understanding of the impacts of excess fine sediment have been made, further progress to identify the most effective management approaches is urgently required through close communication between authorities and scientists. This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems Water and Life > Stresses and Pressures on Ecosystems Science of Water > Water Quality

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Section: Controls On Fine Sediment: Hydraulics and Geomorphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical and biological controls on fine sediment transport and storage in rivers

et al. 2018

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“…Higher sediment inputs were found in the vertical HESTs and top compartments, compared to horizontal (longitudinal and lateral) HESTs and bottom compartments, respectively. Although these differences may potentially demonstrate that surface hydraulic processes dominate sediment accumulation via gravitational deposition (Casas‐Mulet et al, 2017, 2018), the results were not statistically significant in neither of the cases. Although the first hypothesis cannot be confirmed for our experimental site, the HESTs design and approach can provide valuable information on hyporheic exchange in sites with high groundwater inputs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The HESTs differentiate from the most traditional sediment trap designs focused on top‐down or vertical infiltration (e.g., Hoess & Geist, 2020; Lachance & Dubé, 2004; Sear, 1993; Soulsby et al, 2001; Zimmermann & Lapointe, 2005) and provide an opportunity to differentiate it from horizontal (lateral and longitudinal) infiltration, which has recently been recognised as an important component contributing to fine sediment deposition (Casas‐Mulet et al, 2017; Harper et al, 2017; Mathers & Wood, 2016). In addition, the inclusion of top and bottom compartments in the HEST design provides an additional insight to experimentally test the importance of near‐bed versus depth infiltration and deposition processes (Casas‐Mulet et al, 2017, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending on the surface hydraulic conditions, such deposited fines can be settled, stored, infiltrated into the streambed or resuspended back to the water column (Casas‐Mulet, Alfredsen, McCluskey, & Stewardson, 2017; Stewardson et al, 2016; Wharton, Mohajeri, & Righetti, 2017). Pressure gradients at the sediment–water interface may promote vertical and horizontal (lateral and longitudinal) interstitial hydrological exchange and transport along and across the upper and lower sediment layers of the streambed (Boudreau & Jorgensen, 2001; Brunke, 1999; Casas‐Mulet, Lakhanpal, & Stewardson, 2018; Hassan, Tonina, Beckie, & Kinnear, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, despite the growing evidence that lateral transport is an important component contributing to fine sediment deposition, few trap designs differentiate between vertical and horizontal (lateral and longitudinal) infiltration pathways (Casas‐Mulet et al, 2017; Harper et al, 2017; Mathers & Wood, 2016). The depth at which interstitial processes occur along the sediment column (e.g., upper or lower sediment layers) has also shown to be very relevant for vital ecological processes (e.g., Casas‐Mulet et al, 2018; Casas‐Mulet, Alfredsen, Brabrand, & Saltveit, 2015; Casas‐Mulet, Saltveit, & Alfredsen, 2015). Still, it is not usually taken into account in field assessments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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TheHydroEcoSedimentarytool: An integrated approach to characterise interstitial hydro‐sedimentary and associated ecological processes

Casas‐Mulet

Pander

Prietzel

et al. 2021

River Research & Apps

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Increased deposition of fine sediments in rivers and streams affects a range of key ecosystem processes across the sediment-water interface, and it is a critical aspect of river habitat degradation and restoration. Understanding the mechanisms leading to fine sediment accumulation along and across streambeds and their effect on ecological processes is essential for comprehending human impacts on river ecosystems and informing river restoration. Here, we introduce the HydroEcoSedimentary tool (HEST) as an integrated approach to assess hydro-sedimentary and ecologically relevant processes together. The HEST integrates the estimation of sedimentary processes in the interstitial zone, as well as hydraulic, geochemical and ecological assessments, with a focus on brown trout early life stages. Compared to other methods, the HEST expands the possibilities to monitor and quantify fine sediment deposition in streambeds by differentiating between vertical, lateral and longitudinal infiltration pathways, and distinguishing between the depth (upper vs. lower layers) at which interstitial processes occur within the sediment column. By testing the method in two rivers with different degrees of morphological degradation, we detail the possible measurements and uses of the HEST, demonstrate its feasibility and discuss its reliability.

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Hydropeaking impairs upstream salmonid spawning habitats in a restored Danube tributary

Pander

Casas‐Mulet

Geist

2022

River Research & Apps

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Hydropower is considered an important form of renewable energy, often involving hydropeaking. While the effects of hydropeaking on aquatic communities in areas downstream the dam are well understood, there is a lack of studies investigating potential impacts on tributaries located further upstream. In this study, we tested the effects of hydropeaking operations on upstream tributaries in a restored area of the Danube River, with a focus on the periods of backlog and release of water (upramping and down-ramping, respectively) during the filling and release of the reservoir. We used brown trout egg and larval mortality, linked to hydraulic, sedimentary and physiochemical changes in spawning grounds as an indicator. We compared hydropeaking-affected versus non-affected sites in upstream tributaries using HydroEcoSedimentary Tools (HESTs) loaded with clean gravels and brown trout eggs.Egg and larval mortalities were significantly higher in the hydropeaking-affected site with more than 80% egg mortality and almost 100% larval mortality compared to values of 55-63% and 80-85%, respectively, in non-affected sites. Spawning ground quality was significantly altered in the hydropeaking-affected site, where the highest mortalities were observed. Overall, duration of time periods with flow velocities close to zero were a key variable, potentially decreasing oxygen supply for eggs and larvae. Such periods of close to zero flow velocities were driven by backlog periods during the filling of the reservoir, revealing that such events can severely impair ecological integrity of spawning sites in tributaries upstream of dams by slowing the flows in upstream tributaries. Such altered processes can reduce fish population recruitment and need to be considered in future restoration projects.

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The relative contribution of near-bed vs. intragravel horizontal transport to fine sediment accumulation processes in river gravel beds

Cited by 11 publications

References 35 publications

Physical and biological controls on fine sediment transport and storage in rivers

Physical and biological controls on fine sediment transport and storage in rivers

TheHydroEcoSedimentarytool: An integrated approach to characterise interstitial hydro‐sedimentary and associated ecological processes

Hydropeaking impairs upstream salmonid spawning habitats in a restored Danube tributary

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