[1] Cross-stream velocity was measured in a large river bend at high spatial resolution over three separate survey episodes. A suite of methods for resolving cross-stream velocity distributions was tested on data collected using acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) in the sand-bedded Sacramento River, California. The bend was surveyed with repeated ADCP crossings at eight cross sections during a rising limb of high discharge in February 2004 and twice on recession in March 2004. By translating and interpolating repeated ADCP crossings to planar grids, velocity ensembles at similar positions along irregular boat paths could be averaged. The averaging minimized turbulent fluctuations in streamwise velocities over 1 m/s, enabling the resolution of weaker cross-stream velocities ($15-30 cm/s). Secondary-flow influence on suspended sediment was inferred from a lateral region of acoustic backscatter intensity aligned with outward flow over the point bar. A near-bed decrease in backscatter intensity across the pool corresponded with inward cross-stream flow. These suspension indicators were used to orient averaged velocity grids for unambiguously defining the cross-stream velocity magnitudes. Additional field investigations could test whether the correlation between cross-stream velocity and backscatter intensity patterns results from helical recirculation of suspended sediment to the inside of the bend. These river measurements, consistent with classic and recent laboratory studies, show that ADCP surveys can provide refined views of secondary flow and sediment movement in large rivers.
Field measurements to investigate the origin and growth of mesoscale gravel bed forms in deep flows were made in the North Fork Toutle River, Washington. Sonar observations of the gravel streambed at a stationary point were recorded during two storm flows in December 1989 and January 1990 with concurrent bed load sampling and continuous velocity measurements. Mean diameter of bed load was about 3 cm, flow depths were 1.4–2.4 m, and bed shear stresses were 2–5 times the critical stress of mean bed load diameter, as computed from the depth‐slope product. These records document the hydrodynamic conditions under which dunelike coarse gravel bed forms were observed. Coarse gravel dunes (height, 20 cm; length, 6–15 m) evolved more than 24 hours after peak stage, primarily by accretion, as inferred from bed form changes revealed in dual sonar records. Dune heights increased to 40 cm as mean trough elevation rose about 50 cm over several hours. Smaller dunes (wavelength, 1–3 m), transitional from bed load sheets, migrated on the backs of the large dunes. The superposed dunes finally became indistinguishable from the large dunes, which diminished in height by increasing the mean level of troughs. Gravel deposition occurred at the observation point in conjunction with migration of gravel dunes. The direct comparison of known bed form regimes and gravel bar facies provides alternative interpretations of gravelly deposits.
In 1994, the Kootenai River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) was listed as an Endangered Species as a direct result of two related observations. First, biologists observed that the white sturgeon population in the Kootenai River was declining. Second, they observed a decline in recruitment of juvenile sturgeon beginning in the 1950s with an almost total absence of recruitment since 1974, following the closure of Libby Dam in 1972. This second observation was attributed to changes in spawning and (or) rearing habitat resulting from alterations in the physical habitat, including flow regime, sediment-transport regime, and bed morphology of the river. The Kootenai River White Sturgeon Recovery Team was established to find and implement ways to improve spawning and rearing habitat used by white sturgeon. They identified the need to develop and apply a multidimensional flow model to certain reaches of the river to quantify physical habitat in a spatially distributed manner. The U.S. Geological Survey has addressed these needs by developing, calibrating, and validating a multidimensional flow model used to simulate streamflow and sediment mobility in the white sturgeon critical-habitat reach of the Kootenai River. This report describes the model and limitations, presents the results of a few simple simulations, and demonstrates how the model can be used to link physical characteristics of streamflow to biological or other habitat data. This study was conducted in cooperation with the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho along a 23-kilometer reach of the Kootenai River, including the white sturgeon spawning reach near Bonners Ferry, Idaho that is about 108 to 131 kilometers below Libby Dam. U.S. Geological Survey's MultiDimensional Surface-Water Modeling System was used to construct a flow model for the critical-habitat reach of the Kootenai River white sturgeon, between river kilometers 228.4 and 245.9. Given streamflow, bed roughness, and downstream water-surface elevation, the model computes the velocity field, water-surface elevations, and boundary shear stress throughout the modeled reach. The 17.5 kilometer model reach was subdivided into two segments on the basis of predominant grain size: a straight reach with a sand, gravel, and cobble substrate located between the upstream model boundary at river kilometer 245.9 number of spawning events per unit of effort during 1994-2001, to demonstrate how the model can be used to relate observed spawning or other observed habitat-related behavior to local physical characteristics of the river. With further applications focused on specific spawning or rearing habitat questions, the model potentially is a useful tool for relating river flows to quantitative assessments of habitat quality and quantity.
During 1986 and 1987, migrating bed forms composed of coarse sand and fine gravel (d5o = 1.8 to 9.1 mm) were documented in the North Fork Toutle River at Kid Valley, Washington, at flow velocities ranging from 1.6 to 3.4 m s-• and depths of 0.8 to 2.2 m. The bed forms (predominantly lower regime dunes) were studied with a sonic depth sounder transducer suspended in the river at a stationary point. Twelve temporal depth-sounding records were collected during storm runoff and nearly steady, average streamflow, with record durations ranging from 37 to 261 min. Waveform height was defined by dune front heights, which ranged from 12 to 70 cm. A weak correlation between flow depth and the standard deviation of bed elevation was noted. Dune front counts and spectral analyses of the temporal records showed that dune crests passed the observation point every 2 to 5 min. Dunes were often superposed on larger bed forms with wave periods between 10 and 30 min. Gradual changes in waveform height and periodicity occurred over several hours during storm runoff. The processes of dune growth and decay were both time-dependent and affected by changes in streamflow. Rates of migration for typical dunes were estimated to be 3 cm s-•, and dune wavelengths were estimated to be 6 to 7 m. INTRODUCTIONOn May 18, 1980, the North Fork Toutle River was inundated with volcanic debris and mudflow deposits resulting from the eruption and partial collapse of Mount St. Helens in Washington State. Continued erosion of the unconsolidated avalanche deposits in the upper watershed has maintained relatively high rates of sediment transport through the river system. The North Fork Toutle River transported 7.26 million Mg of suspended sediment past the gaging station at Kid Valley, Washington (Figure la), during water year 1986 [U.S. Geological Survey, 1988]; the annual sediment yield was 9900 Mg km -2. Vertical profile measurements of sediment concentration and flow velocity in the Toutle River basin [Dinehart, 1987] revealed continuous, substantial variations in depth, concentration, and velocity. The streambed material consisted of poorly sorted coarse sand, gravel, and cobbles, and the mean water-surface slope was 0.004. The high turbidity of streamflow prevented direct observation of any bed forms, but flow depths sounded with stream-gaging weights varied as much as 0.6 m in a few minutes. Although dunes in coarse-bedded streams are not commonly observed [Parker and Peterson, 1980], these conditions, together with the occurrence of sediment boils and surface gravity waves, indicated the presence of rapidly moving, lower regime bed forms, such as dunes. In order to examine the streambed character in more detail, sonic depth soundings were made during 1986 and 1987 at the gaging station on the North Fork Toutle River at Kid Valley (Figure lb). Continuous sonic depth sounding was used to measure variations of streambed elevation at a stationary point in the channel. Migrating, well-developed dunes were documented at flow velocities ranging from 1.6 t...
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