Degradation of multi-thread gravel-bed rivers in medium-high mountain settings: Quantitave analysis and possible solutions

Škarpich, Václav; Macurová, Tereza; Galia, Tomáš; Ruman, Stanislav; Hrádecký, Jan

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.105795

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, during this period (2015–2022), another 60 583 tons of fine‐grained claystone sediment entered the channel system from the undercut cliff in the middle of the DEG section (Rusnák et al, 2020). This eroded amount, approximately 23 000 m 3 from a 1.6 km long reach of the Belá River, is comparable with other Flysch Carpathians river Morávka, where the volume of 39 000 m 3 (850m long reach) in the period 2010–2014 was eroded as the effect of hungry water below the dam (Škarpich et al, 2020). In Poland, Hajdukiewicz et al (2019) calculated an amount of 11 780 m 3 of sediments eroded from the 3 km long reach of the Czarny Dunajec River from 1964 to 2009.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…Generally, studies of long‐term channel incision are primarily focused on the analyses of historical geodetic profiles from topographic or hydrometric surveys (Table 1). Channel bed elevation lowering is detected by contrasting historical longitudinal and cross‐sectional profiles with present channel conditions (Arnaud et al, 2015; Dufour & Piégay, 2010; Ferrer‐Boix et al, 2023; James, 1991; Kondolf et al, 2002; Škarpich et al, 2013, 2020; Surian et al, 2009; Wyżga, 2001). As indirect approaches, are used informations from lowering the annual minimum water level, following condition that the channel width remains constant over time (Chiriloaei et al, 2012; Hajdukiewicz et al, 2017; Rădoane et al, 2013; Wyżga, 1991, 1993, 2001) or historical photographs of undercutting bridges are compared (Galay, 1983; Kondolf & Swanson, 1993; Ferrer‐Boix et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Inferring channel incision in gravel‐bed rivers: Integrating LiDAR data, historical aerial photographs and drone‐based SfM topo‐bathymetry

Rusnák,

Kaňuk,

Kidová

et al. 2024

Earth Surf Processes Landf

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Channel incision is an evident trend for river evolution in many European rivers and notably the Western Carpathians, whose former braided and multichannel wandering river system is transforming into a single‐thread channel, but it is often difficult to separate drivers and determine if incision is finished or is still ongoing. To overpass these research gaps, this paper presents an innovative approach to assess the multidecadal incision of the Belá River in the Western Carpathians since 1949 by LiDAR‐based analyses of floodplain surfaces above the river channel dated from historical aerial images. Detailed analyses of ongoing incision were also calculated based on DEM of differences (DoD) using Structure‐from‐Motion (SfM) photogrammetry‐derived topo‐bathymetric models. The study applied the BACI (Before‐After‐Control‐Impact) approach that compared pre‐state (Before), post‐state (After) and reach (Control) that is not affected by potential external effects with degraded (impacted) reach to be able to distinguish the driver effects. Floodplain channel surface analyses indicate the maximum incision up to 4 m and incision rate of 5.7 cm/year that occurred in the most degraded reach. Moreover, cross‐section profiles point to accelerated incision of 24.5 cm/year in the last 10 years (2011–2021) by the propagation of incision upstream. Overall, the net changes from the UAV survey pointed to 22 759 m3 of gravel sediments, constituting outwash from the 1.6 km long channel system (2015–2022) by incision, whereas analyses of historical channel surfaces estimated erosion of 573 303 m3 from impacted reaches between 1949 and 2020. Incision evidence is only observed in the downstream part below the control section due to local drivers (channel regulation, comprising embankment and gravel mining that activated a backward erosion of the system with knickpoint migration upstream). This analysis shows the benefits of combining different sources of data to separate long‐term and ongoing channel responses and the BACI‐approach to better target cause–effect relationships in space and time.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inferring channel incision in gravel‐bed rivers: Integrating LiDAR data, historical aerial photographs and drone‐based SfM topo‐bathymetry

Rusnák,

Kaňuk,

Kidová

et al. 2024

Earth Surf Processes Landf

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While there are multiple studies describing channel changes (e.g., Choi, Yoon, & Woo, 2005; Comiti et al, 2011; Scorpio et al, 2018; Ziliani & Surian, 2012), there are only few publications that quantitatively addressed the changes in riparian habitats of Alpine rivers (but see Driscoll & Hauer, 2019; Heckmann, Haas, Abel, Rimböck, & Becht, 2017; Rollet, Piégay, Dufour, Bornette, & Persat, 2014; Škarpich, Macurová, Galia, Ruman, & Hradecký, 2020 for instance), and even fewer studies investigated the hydromorphological patterns after restoration aiming at widening the active river corridors of Alpine rivers. Therefore, we carried out an analysis of historical and recent aerial images along rivers of the European northern Alps to address the following questions: How has the extent of gravel bar area in Alpine rivers changed since the 19th century? Which structural alterations within the active river corridor are related to these changes? How did recent restoration influence recovery of the gravel bars? …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio‐temporal patterns in degradation and restoration of gravel bars along Alpine rivers

Woellner

Wagner

Crabot

et al. 2022

River Research & Apps

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Braided reaches were common along near‐natural Alpine rivers, and the associated habitat dynamics supported plant and animal species specialized on early‐successional stages. The extensive riparian zones could mitigate climate change by absorbing floods and by retaining water during droughts. Human impacts largely reduced active river corridors through altered discharge and construction of dykes, while recent restoration projects aim at increasing river dynamics. The causes and consequences of Alpine river degradation are well understood, but there are only few quantitative studies on floodplain degradation and restoration. Thus, we have reconstructed historical changes of gravel bars along five Alpine rivers (Iller, Inn, Isar, Lech, and Wertach) in Southern Germany in the period 1808–2009, based on historical maps and aerial images. We found losses of >90% in gravel bar area along these rivers since the mid‐19th century. The decline was caused by a reduction of the active river corridor and by ongoing succession of the remaining open habitats. Within the past 30 years, at the Isar River, restoration measures were realized with the aim to widen the active river corridor and to recreate gravel bars. In four restored reaches, we found that 5% of the historical gravel bar area recovered, and that the proportion of restored gravel bar area was highest after intermediate flooding. We conclude that the active river corridors of German Alpine rivers are almost completely lost, and that more extensive restoration needs to be done to preserve the habitat dynamics and biodiversity of these systems, and to adapt Alpine rivers to climate change.

show abstract

Impact of check dam series on coarse sediment connectivity

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Degradation of multi-thread gravel-bed rivers in medium-high mountain settings: Quantitave analysis and possible solutions

Cited by 10 publications

References 45 publications

Inferring channel incision in gravel‐bed rivers: Integrating LiDAR data, historical aerial photographs and drone‐based SfM topo‐bathymetry

Inferring channel incision in gravel‐bed rivers: Integrating LiDAR data, historical aerial photographs and drone‐based SfM topo‐bathymetry

Spatio‐temporal patterns in degradation and restoration of gravel bars along Alpine rivers

Impact of check dam series on coarse sediment connectivity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About