The evolution of gravel bed channels after dam removal: Case study of the Anaconda and Union City Dam removals

Wildman, Laura; MacBroom, James G.

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2004.08.018

Cited by 45 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…In contrast to expectations based on Simon (1989), Wildman and MacBroom (2005) observed that bank failure occurred for a lower critical height and with less sediment mass due to beds with coarse-grain sediment. Additionally, channel transport exceeded sediment supply and all but the coarsest material was moved resulting in little or no bed aggradation.…”

Section: Channel Formationcontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Applying the TEL/PEL classification system, Ashley et al (2006) likewise found removal of the Manatawny Creek Dam did not significantly redistribute sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PCBs, and heavy metals. In contrast, sediment analysis of the Naugatuck River revealed contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PARH); the sediment was removed to a landfill prior to the Union City Dam removal (Wildman and MacBroom 2005). Cantwell et al (2014) demonstrated that passive samplers are effective for measuring dissolved organic contaminants, which was established in comparison to observations from sediment traps.…”

Section: Discharge: Modeling Tools and Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Undocumented infrastructure is likely to cause unexpected sediment erosion and transport dynamics when historic small dams breach or are removed. See references for study details: Burroughs et al (2009, Chaplin et al (2005), Cheng and Granata (2007), Doyle et al (2005), Rumschlag and Peck (2007), Wildman and MacBroom (2005) Tools for predicting channel evolution Predicting channel evolution is a critical step in understanding the risk from dam removal. Estimating sediment volume movement is important for understanding how post-dam hydrology will influence sediment transport potential, which determines contamination potential, changes to stream habitat, and sediment buildup near stream infrastructure such as water intakes.…”

Section: Channel Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In their study of Naugatuck River, Connecticut Wildman and MacBroom (2005) found that classic CEMs do not accurately model sediment transport in a system with steep gravel beds. In contrast to expectations based on Simon (1989), Wildman and MacBroom (2005) observed that bank failure occurred for a lower critical height and with less sediment mass due to beds with coarse-grain sediment.…”

Section: Channel Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Planning and implementing small dam removals: lessons learned from dam removals across the eastern United States

Tonitto

Riha

2016

Sustain. Water Resour. Manag.

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We review and build on a growing literature assessing small dam removal outcomes to inform future dam removal planning. Small dams that have exceeded their expected duration of operation and are no longer being maintained are at risk of breach. The past two decades have seen a number of small dam removals, though many removals remain unstudied and poorly documented. We summarize socio-economic and biophysical lessons learned during the past two decades of accelerated activity regarding small dam removals throughout the United States. We present frameworks for planning and implementing removals developed by interdisciplinary engagement. Toward the goal of achieving thorough dam removal planning, we present outcomes from well-documented small dam removals covering ecological, chemical, and physical change in rivers post-dam removal, including field observation and modeling methodologies. Guiding principles of a dam removal process should include: (1) stakeholder engagement to navigate the complexity of watershed landuse, (2) an impacts assessment to inform the planning process, (3) pre-and post-dam removal observations of ecological, chemical and physical properties, (4) the expectation that there are short-and long-term ecological dynamics with population recovery depending on whether dam impacts were largely related to dispersion or to habitat destruction, (5) an expectation that changes in watershed chemistry are dependent on sediment type, sediment transport and watershed landuse, and 6) rigorous assessment of physical changes resulting from dam removal, understanding that alteration in hydrologic flows, sediment transport, and channel evolution will shape ecological and chemical dynamics, and shape how stakeholders engage with the watershed.

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Section: Channel Formationcontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discharge: Modeling Tools and Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Channel Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Channel Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Planning and implementing small dam removals: lessons learned from dam removals across the eastern United States

Tonitto

Riha

2016

Sustain. Water Resour. Manag.

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“…Despite an emerging conceptual basis for the effects of dam removals, this field continues to lack the empirical information that is needed to verify these hypotheses, calibrate preexisting models for use with dam removal, and generate novel insights into the effects of dam removal (Bushaw-Newton et al, 2002;Doyle et al, 2002;Graf, 2003;Hart et al, 2003). Qualitative observations on the effects of dam removal exist for several dam removal case studies (American Rivers et al, 1999;Smith et al, 2000), and several quantitative studies exist on the effects of dam removal on fluvial geomorphology (Evans et al, 2000;Wohl and Cenderelli, 2000;Bushaw-Newton et al, 2002;Chaplin, 2003;Wildman and MacBroom, 2005), aquatic insects (Bushaw-Newton et al, 2002;, and fish (Hill et al, 1994;Kanehl et al, 1997;Bushaw-Newton et al, 2002). While these studies provide unique insights into the outcomes of dam removals, many were relatively short in time duration (i.e., 1-2 years post-dam removal), and the empirical information on the effects of dam removal is still very limited (e.g., Graf, 2003;Doyle et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Stronach Dam removal on fluvial geomorphology in the Pine River, Michigan, United States

et al. 2009

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Rapid reservoir erosion, hyperconcentrated flow, and downstream deposition triggered by breaching of 38 m tall Condit Dam, White Salmon River, Washington

Wilcox

O'Connor

Major

2014

J. Geophys. Res. Earth Surf.

131

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Condit Dam on the White Salmon River, Washington, a 38 m high dam impounding a large volume (1.8 million m 3 ) of fine-grained sediment (60% sand, 35% silt and clay, and 5% gravel), was rapidly breached in October 2011. This unique dam decommissioning produced dramatic upstream and downstream geomorphic responses in the hours and weeks following breaching. Blasting a 5 m wide hole into the base of the dam resulted in rapid reservoir drawdown, abruptly releasing~1.6 million m 3 of reservoir water, exposing reservoir sediment to erosion, and triggering mass failures of the thickly accumulated reservoir sediment. Within 90 min of breaching, the reservoir's water and~10% of its sediment had evacuated. At a gauging station 2.3 km downstream, flow increased briefly by 400 m 3 s À1 during passage of the initial pulse of released reservoir water, followed by a highly concentrated flow phase-up to 32% sediment by volume-as landslide-generated slurries from the reservoir moved downstream. This hyperconcentrated flow, analogous to those following volcanic eruptions or large landslides, draped the downstream river with predominantly fine sand. During the ensuing weeks, suspended-sediment concentration declined and sand and gravel bed load derived from continued reservoir erosion aggraded the channel by >1 m at the gauging station, after which the river incised back to near its initial elevation at this site. Within 15 weeks after breaching, over 1 million m 3 of suspended load is estimated to have passed the gauging station, consistent with estimates that >60% of the reservoir's sediment had eroded. This dam removal highlights the influence of interactions among reservoir erosion processes, sediment composition, and style of decommissioning on rate of reservoir erosion and consequent downstream behavior of released sediment.

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The evolution of gravel bed channels after dam removal: Case study of the Anaconda and Union City Dam removals

Cited by 45 publications

References 7 publications

Planning and implementing small dam removals: lessons learned from dam removals across the eastern United States

Planning and implementing small dam removals: lessons learned from dam removals across the eastern United States

Effects of Stronach Dam removal on fluvial geomorphology in the Pine River, Michigan, United States

Rapid reservoir erosion, hyperconcentrated flow, and downstream deposition triggered by breaching of 38 m tall Condit Dam, White Salmon River, Washington

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