Sedimentation and sustainability of western American reservoirs

Graf, William L.; Wohl, Ellen; Sinha, Tushar; Sabo, John L.

doi:10.1029/2009wr008836

Cited by 82 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(44 reference statements)

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“…Erosion and sediment transport in rivers affect human river management (e.g., Graf et al, 2010), landscape mass balance (Armitage et al, 2011), and global biogeochemical cycling (e.g., Hilton, 2017). Interest in the effects of river erosion on landscape change over all spatial and temporal scales has led to the widespread proliferation of numerical models for channel evolution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The SPACE 1.0 model: a Landlab component for 2-D calculation of sediment transport, bedrock erosion, and landscape evolution

2017

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Abstract. Models of landscape evolution by river erosion are often either transport-limited (sediment is always available but may or may not be transportable) or detachmentlimited (sediment must be detached from the bed but is then always transportable). While several models incorporate elements of, or transition between, transport-limited and detachment-limited behavior, most require that either sediment or bedrock, but not both, are eroded at any given time. Modeling landscape evolution over large spatial and temporal scales requires a model that can (1) transition freely between transport-limited and detachment-limited behavior, (2) simultaneously treat sediment transport and bedrock erosion, and (3) run in 2-D over large grids and be coupled with other surface process models. We present SPACE (stream power with alluvium conservation and entrainment) 1.0, a new model for simultaneous evolution of an alluvium layer and a bedrock bed based on conservation of sediment mass both on the bed and in the water column. The model treats sediment transport and bedrock erosion simultaneously, embracing the reality that many rivers (even those commonly defined as "bedrock" rivers) flow over a partially alluviated bed. SPACE improves on previous models of bedrockalluvial rivers by explicitly calculating sediment erosion and deposition rather than relying on a flux-divergence (Exner) approach. The SPACE model is a component of the Landlab modeling toolkit, a Python-language library used to create models of Earth surface processes. Landlab allows efficient coupling between the SPACE model and components simulating basin hydrology, hillslope evolution, weathering, lithospheric flexure, and other surface processes. Here, we first derive the governing equations of the SPACE model from existing sediment transport and bedrock erosion formulations and explore the behavior of local analytical solutions for sediment flux and alluvium thickness. We derive steadystate analytical solutions for channel slope, alluvium thickness, and sediment flux, and show that SPACE matches predicted behavior in detachment-limited, transport-limited, and mixed conditions. We provide an example of landscape evolution modeling in which SPACE is coupled with hillslope diffusion, and demonstrate that SPACE provides an effective framework for simultaneously modeling 2-D sediment transport and bedrock erosion.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The SPACE 1.0 model: a Landlab component for 2-D calculation of sediment transport, bedrock erosion, and landscape evolution

2017

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“…RiverÀfloodplain connectivity is especially important in impounded rivers, where sediment imbalances associated with dam operation and tributary inputs cause sedimentary deltas to form (Graf et al 2010). Deltas are among the most biologically productive, ecologically diverse ecosystems in the world (Long & Pavelsky 2013), yet they remain understudied (Volke et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of historic flooding on fishes and aquatic habitats in a Missouri River delta

Carlson

Fincel²,

Longhenry³

et al. 2016

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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Understanding the effects of disturbances on aquatic biota is important for management of the world's rivers. Riverine deltas are among the most biologically productive ecosystems, yet the ecological effects of floods in deltas are poorly understood. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine impacts of an historic flood in the Missouri River basin in 2011 on fishes and aquatic habitats in the Lewis and Clark Delta, located in South Dakota and Nebraska, USA. Fish community structural indices declined in the six years preceding the flood, with species richness and diversity (Fisher's a) decreasing from 25 to 22 and 4.56 to 3.48, respectively. However, the fish community exhibited short-term resistance to the flood as both metrics were similar to pre-flood levels after the disturbance in 2012. Evenness (J 0 ) declined from 0.88 to 0.73 before the flood but increased to 0.84 after the disturbance. The majority of species exhibited greater relative abundance after the flood regardless of age class (i.e., juvenile, adult), morphology (i.e., small-bodied, large-bodied), introduction history (i.e., introduced, native), or recreational importance (i.e., sport fish, non-recreational). However, the flood reduced relative abundance of juvenile freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) and did not affect the three small-bodied species that were studied, including emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides), red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis), and spotfin shiner (Cyprinella spiloptera). The flood decreased side channel and backwater frequency and width/area but increased sandbar abundance. Physical alterations evidently had minimal effects on structural indices of the fish community. However, an overall increase in relative abundance across species suggests that interspersed fluvial and slackwater habitats in the delta provided refuge from floodwaters during the disturbance. Maintaining habitat connectivity in deltas during and after floods is particularly important for fisheries conservation. Illustrating the ecological effects and implications of a major flood, this study contributes to the nascent field of delta ecology.

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“…The reduction of sediment flux has implications for coastal retreat and the export of minerals and nutrients from the continents to the oceans [Syvitski et al, 2005]. Sedimentation within reservoirs has many ecological and engineering effects [Morris and Fan, 1998], including accelerated eutrophication and loss of habitat [Hargrove et al, 2010], morphological changes [De Araujo et al, 2006], and interference with the outlet works or hydropower intakes [Graf et al, 2010].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond peak reservoir storage? A global estimate of declining water storage capacity in large reservoirs

et al. 2013

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[1] Water storage is an important way to cope with temporal variation in water supply and demand. The storage capacity and the lifetime of water storage reservoirs can be significantly reduced by the inflow of sediments. A global, spatially explicit assessment of reservoir storage loss in conjunction with vulnerability to storage loss has not been done. We estimated the loss in reservoir capacity for a global data set of large reservoirs from 1901 to 2010, using modeled sediment flux data. We use spatially explicit population data sets as a proxy for storage demand and calculate storage capacity for all river basins globally. Simulations suggest that the net reservoir capacity is declining as a result of sedimentation ($5% compared to the installed capacity). Combined with increasing need for storage, these losses challenge the sustainable management of reservoir operation and water resources management in many regions. River basins that are most vulnerable include those with a strong seasonal flow pattern and high population growth rates such as the major river basins in India and China. Decreasing storage capacity globally suggests that the role of reservoir water storage in offsetting sea-level rise is likely weakening and may be changing sign.Citation: Wisser, D., S. Frolking, S. Hagen, and M. F. P. Bierkens (2013), Beyond peak reservoir storage? A global estimate of declining water storage capacity in large reservoirs, Water Resour. Res., 49, 5732-5739,

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Sedimentation and sustainability of western American reservoirs

Cited by 82 publications

References 45 publications

The SPACE 1.0 model: a Landlab component for 2-D calculation of sediment transport, bedrock erosion, and landscape evolution

The SPACE 1.0 model: a Landlab component for 2-D calculation of sediment transport, bedrock erosion, and landscape evolution

Effects of historic flooding on fishes and aquatic habitats in a Missouri River delta

Beyond peak reservoir storage? A global estimate of declining water storage capacity in large reservoirs

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