Mobilising fine sediment in a highly regulated upland snowmelt river using hydrological scaled experimental floods
Daniel Coleman A B and Simon Williams A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A DPI Water, PO Box 53, Wollongong, NSW 2500, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: daniel.coleman@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 68(1) 146-158 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15231
Submitted: 16 June 2015 Accepted: 15 December 2015 Published: 9 March 2016
Abstract
Significant water diversion, flow variability, and the lack of high flow events can result in altered channel surfaces and morphology through the accumulation of fine sediments within the riverbed. Mitigation of this issue using environmental water often involves single large annual flushing floods as peak discharge is often regarded as the critical hydrological metric for river habitat recovery. We assess the performance of a hydrological scaled flow strategy of five intra-annual experimental floods to mobilise fine sediment below a large reservoir in the Snowy River, Australia. Suspended sediment was measured using a high frequency sampling regime; before, during and post-flood along a longitudinal gradient of 2.2, 24 and 92 km. Substantial sediment loads and high peak total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations were produced by the five experimental floods. The first (61.7 m3 s–1) and fourth (largest at 148.5 m3 s–1) experimental floods were by far the most effective, producing more than 70% of the total sediment load at each site. The effectiveness of each experimental flood was related to the peak discharge rate, time since flood, and the magnitude increase from the previous event. This study illustrates how a hydrological scaled flood regime can produce effective fine sediment mobilisation within the channel of a highly regulated lotic system.
Additional keywords: channel maintenance, environmental flood, flow magnitude, particle size, total suspended solids.
References
Beschta, R. L., Jackson, W. L., and Knoop, K. D. (1981). Sediment transport during a controlled reservoir release. Water Resources Bulletin 17, 635–641.| Sediment transport during a controlled reservoir release.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brooks, A. J. (1986). Response of aquatic vegetation to sedimentation downstream from a river channelization works in England and Wales. Biological Conservation 38, 352–367.
Brooks, A. J., Russell, M., Bevitt, R., and Dasey, M. (2011). Constraints on the recovery of invertebrate assemblages in a regulated snowmelt river during a tributary-sourced environmental flow regime. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 1407–1420.
| Constraints on the recovery of invertebrate assemblages in a regulated snowmelt river during a tributary-sourced environmental flow regime.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bull, L. J., Lawler, D. M., Leeks, G. J. L., and Marks, S. (1995). Downstream effects in suspended sediment fluxes in the River Severn, UK. In ‘Effects of Scale on Interpretation and Management of Sediment and Water Quality, Proceedings of a Symposium’, July 1995, Boulder, CO, USA. (Ed. W. R. Osterkamp.) IAHS Publication number 226, pp. 27–36. Available at http://hydrologie.org/redbooks/a226/iahs_226_0027.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
Carling, P. A. (1988). Channel change and sediment transport in regulated U.K. rivers. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 2, 369–387.
| Channel change and sediment transport in regulated U.K. rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cobb, G. C., Galloway, T. D., and Flannagan, J. F. (1992). Effects of discharge and substrate stability on density and species composition of stream insects. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 49, 1788–1795.
| Effects of discharge and substrate stability on density and species composition of stream insects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
De Sutter, R., Krein, A., and Verhoeven, R. (2001). Simulation of sediment transport during flood events: laboratory work and field experiments. Hydrological Sciences Journal 46, 599–610.
| Simulation of sediment transport during flood events: laboratory work and field experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Decker, A. S., Bradford, M. J., and Higgins, P. S. (2008). Rate of biotic colonization following flow restoration below a diversion dam in the Bridge River, British Columbia. River Research and Applications 24, 876–883.
| Rate of biotic colonization following flow restoration below a diversion dam in the Bridge River, British Columbia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Doeg, T. J., and Koehn, J. D. (1994). Effects of draining and desilting a small weir on downstream fish and macroinvertebrates. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 9, 263–277.
| Effects of draining and desilting a small weir on downstream fish and macroinvertebrates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Erskine, W. D., Terrazzolo, N., and Warner, R. F. (1999). River rehabilitation from the hydrogeomorphic impacts of a large hydro-electric power project: Snowy River, Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 15, 3–24.
| River rehabilitation from the hydrogeomorphic impacts of a large hydro-electric power project: Snowy River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Foulger, T. R., and Petts, G. E. (1984). Water-quality implications of artificial flow fluctuations in regulated rivers. The Science of the Total Environment 37, 177–185.
| Water-quality implications of artificial flow fluctuations in regulated rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXltlKmu70%3D&md5=4679270154dd08a96b8583a9cc2802b6CAS |
Gilvear, D. J., and Petts, G. E. (1985). Turbidity and suspended solids variations downstream of a regulating reservoir. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 10, 363–373.
| Turbidity and suspended solids variations downstream of a regulating reservoir.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gordon, N. D., McMahon, T. A., Finlayson, B. L., Gippel, C. J., and Nathan, R. J. (2004). Ecological implications. In ‘Stream Hydrology: an Introduction for Ecologists’, 2nd edn. pp. 172–174. (Wiley: Chichester, UK.)
Hall, A. A., Rood, S. B., and Higgins, P. S. (2011). Resizing a river: a downscaled, seasonal flow regime promotes riparian restoration. Restoration Ecology 19, 351–359.
| Resizing a river: a downscaled, seasonal flow regime promotes riparian restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Henson, S. S., Ahearn, D. S., Dahlgren, R. A., Nieuwenhuyse, E. V., Tate, K. W., and Fleenor, W. E. (2007). Water quality response to a pulsed-flow event on the Mokelumne River, California. River Research and Applications 23, 185–200.
| Water quality response to a pulsed-flow event on the Mokelumne River, California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hudson, P. F. (2003). Event sequence and sediment exhaustion in the lower Panuco Basin, Mexico. Catena 52, 57–76.
| Event sequence and sediment exhaustion in the lower Panuco Basin, Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jacobson, R. B., and Galat, D. L. (2008). Design of a naturalized flow regime – an example from the lower Missouri River, USA. Ecohydrology 1, 81–104.
| Design of a naturalized flow regime – an example from the lower Missouri River, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jakob, C., Robinson, C. T., and Uehlinger, U. (2003). Longitudinal effects of experimental floods on stream benthos downstream from a large dam. Aquatic Sciences 65, 223–231.
| Longitudinal effects of experimental floods on stream benthos downstream from a large dam.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kennard, M. J., Pusey, B. J., Olden, J. D., Mackay, S. J., Stein, J. L., and Marsh, N. (2010). Classification of natural flow regimes in Australia to support environmental flow management. Freshwater Biology 55, 171–193.
| Classification of natural flow regimes in Australia to support environmental flow management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Konrad, C. P., Olden, J. D., Lytle, D. A., Melis, T. S., Schmidt, J. C., Bray, E. N., Freeman, M. C., Gido, K. B., Hemphill, N. P., Kennard, M. J., McMullen, L. E., Mims, M. C., Pyron, M., Robinson, C. T., and Williams, J. G. (2011). Large-scale flow experiments for managing river systems. Bioscience 61, 948–959.
| Large-scale flow experiments for managing river systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ligon, F. K., Dietrich, W. E., and Trush, W. J. (1995). Downstream ecological effects of dams. Bioscience 45, 183–192.
| Downstream ecological effects of dams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morton, S., Green, D., and Williams, S. (2010). Snowy River Recovery: Snowy flow response monitoring and modelling. Hydrological changes attributed to environmental flow release to the Snowy River, 2002–2005. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water, Sydney. Available at http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/555498/monitor_snowy_water_environment_hydrological_changes_of_environ_flow_release_2002_05_report.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
Mosley, M. P. (1982). Analysis of the effects of changing discharge on channel morphology and instream uses in a braided river, Ohau River, New Zealand. Water Resources Research 18, 800–812.
| Analysis of the effects of changing discharge on channel morphology and instream uses in a braided river, Ohau River, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Olley, J. M., and Wasson, R. J. (2003). Changes in the flux of sediment in the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment, Southeastern Australia, since European settlement. Hydrological Processes 17, 3307–3320.
| Changes in the flux of sediment in the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment, Southeastern Australia, since European settlement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Petts, G. E. (1984a). ‘Impounded Rivers: Perspectives for Ecological Management.’ (Wiley: Chichester, UK.)
Petts, G. E. (1984). Sedimentation within a regulated river. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 9, 125–134.
| Sedimentation within a regulated river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Petts, G. E., Foulger, T. R., Gilvear, D. J., Pratts, J. D., and Thorns, M. C. (1985). Wave-movement and water-quality variations during a controlled release from Kielder Reservoir, North Tyne River, UK. Journal of Hydrology 80, 371–389.
| Wave-movement and water-quality variations during a controlled release from Kielder Reservoir, North Tyne River, UK.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL28XlsF2itg%3D%3D&md5=98b028f6e96595951cf05b9a979aa5f7CAS |
Poff, N. L., Allan, J. D., Bain, M. B., Karr, J. R., Prestegaard, K. L., and Richter, B. D. (1997). The natural flow regime: a paradigm for river conservations and restoration. Bioscience 47, 769–784.
| The natural flow regime: a paradigm for river conservations and restoration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Poff, N. L., Richter, B. D., Arthington, A. H., Bunn, S. E., Naiman, R. J., Kendy, E., Acreman, M., Apse, C., Bledsoe, B. P., Freeman, M. C., Henriksen, J., Jacobson, R. B., Kennen, J. G., Merrit, D. M., O’Keeffe, J. H., Olden, J. D., Rogers, K., Tharme, R. E., and Warner, A. (2010). The ecological limits of hydrologic alteration (ELOHA): a new framework for developing regional environmental flow standards. Freshwater Biology 55, 147–170.
| The ecological limits of hydrologic alteration (ELOHA): a new framework for developing regional environmental flow standards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reinfelds, I., Williams, S., Russell, M., and Haeusler, T. (2013). Snowy Flow Response Monitoring and Modelling Program. Scaling environmental flow releases in the Snowy River to unregulated snowmelt rivers of the Snowy Mountains. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water, Sydney. Available at http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/555499/recovery_snowy_scaling_environmental_flows_snowy_river_to_unregulated_snowmelt_rivers.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
Reiser, D. W., Ramey, M. P., and Lampert, T. R. (1985). ‘Review of Flushing Flow Requirements in Regulated Streams.’ (Bechtel Group: San Francisco, CA.)
Richter, B. D., and Thomas, G. A. (2007). Restoring environmental flows by modifying dam operations. Ecology and Society 12, art 12.
Robinson, C. T., and Uehlinger, U. (2003). Using artificial floods for restoring river integrity. Aquatic Sciences 65, 181–182.
| Using artificial floods for restoring river integrity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson, C. T., and Uehlinger, U. (2008). Experimental floods cause ecosystem regime shift in a regulated river. Ecological Applications 18, 511–526.
| Experimental floods cause ecosystem regime shift in a regulated river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18488612PubMed |
Robinson, C. T., Uehlinger, U., and Monaghan, M. T. (2004). Stream ecosystem response to multiple experimental floods from a reservoir. River Research and Applications 20, 359–377.
| Stream ecosystem response to multiple experimental floods from a reservoir.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rohlfs, A.-M., Mitrovic, S. M., Williams, S., and Coleman, D. (2016). Can tributary in-flows improve DOC regime recovery in a snowmelt river regulated by a large reservoir? Marine and Freshwater Research 67, 1338–1345.
| Can tributary in-flows improve DOC regime recovery in a snowmelt river regulated by a large reservoir?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Russell, M., Brooks, A., and Williams, S. (2012). The effect of Mowamba River and Jindabyne Dam environmental flow releases on macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Snowy River, 2000–2008. Snowy Flow Response Monitoring and Modelling program. NSW Office of Water, Sydney. Available at http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/water-management/monitoring/snowy-river [Verified 5 January 2016].
Scheurer, T., and Molinari, P. (2003). Experimental floods in the River Spöl, Swiss National Park: framework, objectives and design. Aquatic Sciences 65, 183–190.
| Experimental floods in the River Spöl, Swiss National Park: framework, objectives and design.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shannon, J. P., Blinn, D. W., McKinney, T., Benenati, E. P., Wilson, K. P., and O’Brien, C. (2001). Aquatic food base response to the 1996 test flood below Glen Canyon Dam, Colorado River, Arizona. Ecological Applications 11, 672–685.
| Aquatic food base response to the 1996 test flood below Glen Canyon Dam, Colorado River, Arizona.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Snowy Water Inquiry (1998). Snowy Water Inquiry Final Report. Snowy Water Inquiry, Sydney. Available at http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/93ff46746ed75cfbca2571a3001a7967/$FILE/1998%20Snowy%20Water%20Inquriy%20extract%20pp1-40.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
Southwell, M., and Thoms, M. (2012). Double trouble: the influence of wildfire and flow regulations of fine sediment accumulation in the Cotter River, Australia. In ‘Wildfire and Water Quality: Processes, Impacts and Challenges’. (Eds M. Stone, A. Collins, and M. Thoms.) IAHS Publication 354, pp. 90–98. (IAHS Press.) Available at http://e-publications.une.edu.au/1959.11/12671 [Verified 24 February 2016].
Thoms, M. C. (2012). The issue below the surface: wildfire, riverbed sediments and flow regulation. In ‘Wildfire and Water Quality: Processes, Impacts and Challenges’. (Eds M. Stone, A. Collins, and M. Thoms.) IAHS Publication 354, 99–107. Available at http://e-publications.une.edu.au/1959.11/12670 [Verified 24 February 2016].
Walling, D. E. (1990). Linking the field to the river: sediment delivery from agricultural land. In ‘Soil Erosion on Agricultural Land’. (Eds J. Boardman, I. D. L. Foster, and J. A. Dearing.) pp. 129–152. (Wiley: Chichester, UK.)
Ward, J. V., and Stanford, J. A. 1983. The serial discontinuity concept of lotic ecosystems. In ‘Dynamics of Lotic Ecosystems’. (Eds T. D. Fontaine and S. M. Bartell.) pp. 29–42. (Ann Arbor Science Publishers: Ann Arbor, MI.)
Wilcock, P. R., Kondolf, G. M., Matthews, W. V. G., and Barta, A. F. (1996). Specification of sediment maintenance flows for a large gravel-bed river. Water Resources Research 32, 2911–2921.
| Specification of sediment maintenance flows for a large gravel-bed river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams, S. (2014). Snowy River Recovery: Snowy Flow Response Monitoring and Modelling Program. Revised strategy for the Snowy River increased flows 2014–15. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water, Sydney. Available at http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/547795/recovery_snowy_strategy-for-snowy-river-increased-flows-2014-15.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
Williams, S. (2015). Snowy Flow Response Monitoring and Modelling program. Strategy for the Snowy River montane rivers increased flows 2015–16. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water, Sydney. Available at http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/571538/Strategy-for-Snowy-Montane-Rivers-Increased-Flows-2015-16_fact-sheet_July-2015_final.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
Williams, S., and Reinfelds, I. (2013). Snowy River Recovery: Snowy Flow Response Monitoring and Modelling Program. Proposed flow release strategy for the Snowy River increased flows: 2013/14. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water, Sydney. Available at http://www.water.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/548458/recovery_snowy_flow_release_strategy.pdf [Verified 24 February 2016].
Wood, P. J., and Armitage, P. D. (1997). Biological effects of fine sediment in the lotic environment. Environmental Management 21, 203–217.
| Biological effects of fine sediment in the lotic environment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 9008071PubMed |
