Summary of suspended-sediment concentration data, San Francisco Bay, California, Water Year 2003

Buchanan, Paul A.; Ganju, Neil K.

doi:10.3133/ds113

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…Although observations of SSC within Bay tidal marshes are limited, several deepwater (major channel and open bay) data sources helped inform this range. The first four values are representative of observed SSC along the deepwater channel [66] . SSC at the bay-marsh boundary is thought to be higher because of wave resuspension over nearby mudflats [67] .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Tidal Marsh Sustainability in the Face of Sea-Level Rise: A Hybrid Modeling Approach Applied to San Francisco Bay

Brennan²,

et al. 2011

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BackgroundTidal marshes will be threatened by increasing rates of sea-level rise (SLR) over the next century. Managers seek guidance on whether existing and restored marshes will be resilient under a range of potential future conditions, and on prioritizing marsh restoration and conservation activities.MethodologyBuilding upon established models, we developed a hybrid approach that involves a mechanistic treatment of marsh accretion dynamics and incorporates spatial variation at a scale relevant for conservation and restoration decision-making. We applied this model to San Francisco Bay, using best-available elevation data and estimates of sediment supply and organic matter accumulation developed for 15 Bay subregions. Accretion models were run over 100 years for 70 combinations of starting elevation, mineral sediment, organic matter, and SLR assumptions. Results were applied spatially to evaluate eight Bay-wide climate change scenarios.Principal FindingsModel results indicated that under a high rate of SLR (1.65 m/century), short-term restoration of diked subtidal baylands to mid marsh elevations (−0.2 m MHHW) could be achieved over the next century with sediment concentrations greater than 200 mg/L. However, suspended sediment concentrations greater than 300 mg/L would be required for 100-year mid marsh sustainability (i.e., no elevation loss). Organic matter accumulation had minimal impacts on this threshold. Bay-wide projections of marsh habitat area varied substantially, depending primarily on SLR and sediment assumptions. Across all scenarios, however, the model projected a shift in the mix of intertidal habitats, with a loss of high marsh and gains in low marsh and mudflats.Conclusions/SignificanceResults suggest a bleak prognosis for long-term natural tidal marsh sustainability under a high-SLR scenario. To minimize marsh loss, we recommend conserving adjacent uplands for marsh migration, redistributing dredged sediment to raise elevations, and concentrating restoration efforts in sediment-rich areas. To assist land managers, we developed a web-based decision support tool (www.prbo.org/sfbayslr).

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Tidal Marsh Sustainability in the Face of Sea-Level Rise: A Hybrid Modeling Approach Applied to San Francisco Bay

Brennan²,

et al. 2011

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“…Automatic turbidity measurements were taken at 15‐min intervals with a self‐cleaning optical sensor managed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). All data were retrieved using an automated data processing system and edited utilizing MATLAB® software (The Math Works) [15]. Turbidity data were converted to SSC using simple linear regression, as described elsewhere [15].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All data were retrieved using an automated data processing system and edited utilizing MATLAB® software (The Math Works) [15]. Turbidity data were converted to SSC using simple linear regression, as described elsewhere [15]. These data form an ideal basis for estimating Hg loads and were previously reported and used to develop new estimates of suspended sediment loads entering San Francisco Bay for WY 1995 to 2003 [8].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury concentrations and loads in a large river system tributary to San Francisco Bay, California, USA

David

McKee

Black

et al. 2009

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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In order to estimate total mercury (HgT) loads entering San Francisco Bay, U.S.A., via the Sacramento-San Joaquin River system, unfiltered water samples were collected between January 2002 and January 2006 during high flow events and analyzed for HgT. Unfiltered HgT concentrations ranged from 3.2 to 75 ng/L and showed a strong correlation (r2 = 0.8, p < 0.001, n=78) to suspended sediment concentrations (SSC). During infrequent large floods, HgT concentrations relative to SSC were approximately twice as high as observed during smaller floods. This difference indicates the transport of more Hg-contaminated particles during high discharge events. Daily HgT loads in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River at Mallard Island ranged from below the limit of detection to 35 kg. Annual HgT loads varied from 61 +/- 22 kg (n=5) in water year (WY) 2002 to 470 +/- 170 kg (n=25) in WY 2006. The data collected will assist in understanding the long-term recovery of San Francisco Bay from Hg contamination and in implementing the Hg total maximum daily load, the long-term cleanup plan for Hg in the Bay.

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“… Ganju and Schoellhamer [2009] developed a synthetic SSC boundary condition based on measured flood tide SSC at Carquinez Strait landward of the Napa River [ Buchanan and Ganju , 2005]. The following three signals were superimposed to recreate a synthetic time series of SSC: a freshwater flow signal, a seasonal wind wave signal, and a spring neap signal that is a function of tidal energy (obtained from tidal harmonics).…”

Section: Hindcast Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a measure of tidal energy, we used u rms , the root‐mean‐square value of velocity at the seaward end of Carquinez Strait, obtained from the tidal predictions mentioned above. SSC CAR is the yearly mean SSC at Carquinez Strait [ Buchanan and Ganju , 2005], and was regressed against total sediment load from the delta (for the period 1998–2004), yielding: where Q s is the total sediment load from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers in millions of tons (Mt). This function represents sediment delivered seaward past Suisun Bay to San Pablo Bay during the high‐flow season, and then transported landward to Suisun Bay via gravitational circulation during the low‐flow season [ Ganju and Schoellhamer , 2006].…”

Section: Hindcast Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hindcasting of decadal‐timescale estuarine bathymetric change with a tidal‐timescale model

Ganju¹,

Schoellhamer²,

Jaffe³

2009

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] Hindcasting decadal-timescale bathymetric change in estuaries is prone to error due to limited data for initial conditions, boundary forcing, and calibration; computational limitations further hinder efforts. We developed and calibrated a tidal-timescale model to bathymetric change in Suisun Bay, California, over the 1867-1887 period. A general, multiple-timescale calibration ensured robustness over all timescales; two input reduction methods, the morphological hydrograph and the morphological acceleration factor, were applied at the decadal timescale. The model was calibrated to net bathymetric change in the entire basin; average error for bathymetric change over individual depth ranges was 37%. On a model cell-by-cell basis, performance for spatial amplitude correlation was poor over the majority of the domain, though spatial phase correlation was better, with 61% of the domain correctly indicated as erosional or depositional. Poor agreement was likely caused by the specification of initial bed composition, which was unknown during the 1867-1887 period. Cross-sectional bathymetric change between channels and flats, driven primarily by wind wave resuspension, was modeled with higher skill than longitudinal change, which is driven in part by gravitational circulation. The accelerated response of depth may have prevented gravitational circulation from being represented properly. As performance criteria became more stringent in a spatial sense, the error of the model increased. While these methods are useful for estimating basin-scale sedimentation changes, they may not be suitable for predicting specific locations of erosion or deposition. They do, however, provide a foundation for realistic estuarine geomorphic modeling applications.

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Summary of suspended-sediment concentration data, San Francisco Bay, California, Water Year 2003

Cited by 13 publications

References 34 publications

Evaluating Tidal Marsh Sustainability in the Face of Sea-Level Rise: A Hybrid Modeling Approach Applied to San Francisco Bay

Evaluating Tidal Marsh Sustainability in the Face of Sea-Level Rise: A Hybrid Modeling Approach Applied to San Francisco Bay

Mercury concentrations and loads in a large river system tributary to San Francisco Bay, California, USA

Hindcasting of decadal‐timescale estuarine bathymetric change with a tidal‐timescale model

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