Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of floodplain gravel mining on landforms and processes: a study case in Orlat gravel pit (Romania)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Understanding gravel mining, a very common but aggressive activity, as a morphogenetic action is fundamental for analyzing and assessing the impact on floodplain morphology and the dynamic of riverbeds, on sediments budget and water balance assessment, but also for floodplain planning and resources management. Field observations and GIS analysis were performed in a gravel pit area from central Romania to assess the impact of gravel harvesting during the last decade (2005–2015) on floodplain landscape, landforms dynamic and fluvial processes. Field measurements, diachronic analysis on maps, channel sinuosity coefficient and braided coefficient were carried out to assess the riverbed pattern. The results indicate that the intensive harvesting of gravels and sands in floodplain area leads to doubling of pit and pit ponds surfaces, changes in floodplain morphology and landscape degradation and radical changes in land use/land cover. The channel analysis indicates that the natural conditions and gravel harvesting had an important role in riverbed mobility and reveals different patterns along the Cibin River: meandered, disentangling and sinuous. The main changes of the riverbed consist of meanders radius reduction, meander loops migration northward and downstream, increased sinuosity and decreased braided coefficient. This study facilitates a better understanding of the geomorphologic consequences of off-stream gravel harvesting, the fluvial processes variability linked to flow and bedload and point to human action as morphogenetic and morphodynamic factors. Moreover, this study may enhance the environmental significance in sustainable management of floodplain being a useful tool in applied ecology, river remediation studies and territorial planning.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brestolani F, Solari L, Rinaldi M, Lollino G (2015) On the morphological impacts of gravel mining: the case of the Orco River. Eng Geol Soc Territ 3:319–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt TP, Pinay G, Matheson FE, Haycock NE, Butturini A, Clement JC, Maitre V (2002) Water table fluctuations in the riparian zone: comparative results from a pan-European experiment. J Hydrol 265(1):129–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calle M, Alho P, Benito G (2017) Channel dynamics and geomorphic resilience in an ephemeral Mediterranean river affected by gravel mining. Geomorphology 285:333–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clilverd HM, Thompson JR, Heppell CM, Sayer CD, Axmacher JC (2013) River-floodplain hydrology of an embanked lowland Chalk river and initial response to embankment removal. Hydrol Sci J 58(3):627–650. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2013.774089

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins BD, Dunne T (1989) Gravel transport, gravel harvesting, and channel-bed degradation in rivers draining the southern Olympic Mountains, Washington, USA. Environ Geol Water Sci 13(3):213–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costea M (2010) Morphological evolution of riverbeds—case study: inferior sector of Cibin River upstream of Sibiu (Olt basin—Romania). In: Proceedings of 38th IAD conference, 22–25 June 2010, Dresden, Germany, pp 75–80

  • Erskine W (1990) Environmental impacts of sand and gravel extraction on river systems. In: Davie P, Stock E, Low Choy D (eds) The Brisbane River. A source-book for the future. The Australian Littoral Society Inc. in association with the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, pp 295–302

  • Gaillot S, Piégay H (1999) Impact of gravel-mining on stream channel and coastal sediment supply: example of the Calvi Bay in Corsica (France). J Coast Res 15(3):774–788

    Google Scholar 

  • Gharbi M, Soualmia A, Dartus D, Masbernat L (2016) Floods effects on rivers morphological changes application to the Medjerda River in Tunisia. J Hydrol Hydromech 64(1):56–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • http://sdtr.ro/

  • http://mdrap.ro/

  • http://www.minind.ro/resurse_minerale

  • http://www.rowater.ro/daolt/

  • Hooke JM (2008) Temporal variations in fluvial processes on an active meandering river over a 20-year period. Geomorphology 100:3–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hosu M, Sabo H (2012) The morphodynamics of the Someş River Channel, Northwestern Romania, as response to natural influences. APCBEE Procedia 1:210–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janes VJ, Nicholas AP, Collins AL, Quine TA (2017) Analysis of fundamental physical factors influencing channel bank erosion: results for contrasting catchments in England and Wales. Environ Earth Sci 76(7):307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6593-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knighton D (2014) Fluvial forms and processes: a new perspective. Routledge, Abingdon

    Google Scholar 

  • Kondolf GM (1994) Geomorphic and environmental effects of instream gravel minning. Landsc Urban Plan 28:225–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kondolf GM (1997) Hungry water: effects of dams and gravel minning on river channels. Environ Manag 21(4):533–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kondolf GM (1998) Environmental effects of aggregate extraction from river channels and floodplains. In: Boborwsky PO (ed) Aggregate resources: a global perspective. A A Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 113–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Kondolf GM, Piégay H, Landon N (2002) Channel response to increased and decreased bedload supply from land use change: contrasts between two catchments. Geomorphology 45(1):35–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ladson AR, Judd DA (2014) A review of the effect of floodplain gravel on river stability. In: Vietz G, Rutherfurd ID, Hughes R (eds) Proceedings of the 7th Australian stream management conference, Townsville, Queensland, pp 349–359

  • Leopold LB, Wolman MG, Miller JP (2012) Fluvial processes in geomorphology. Courier Corporation, North Chelmsford

    Google Scholar 

  • Madej MA, Ozaki V (1996) Channel response to sediment wave propagation and movement, Redwood Creek, California, USA. Earth Surf Proc Landf 21(10):911–927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magliulo P, Bozzi F, Pignone M (2016) Assessing the planform changes of the Tammaro River (southern Italy) from 1870 to 1955 using a GIS-aided historical map analysis. Environ Earth Sci 75(4):1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michalková M, Piégay H, Kondolf GM, Greco SE (2011) Lateral erosion of the Sacramento River, California (1942–1999), and responses of channel and floodplain lake to human influences. Earth Surf Proc Landf 36(2):257–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mossa J, Marks SR (2011) Pit avulsions and planform change on a mined river floodplain: Tangipahoa River, Louisiana. Phys Geogr 32(6):512–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman DK, Cederholm CJ, Lingley WS Jr (1998) Floodplains, salmon habitat and sand and gravel minning. Wash Geol 26(2–3):3–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Padmalal D, Maya K (2014) Sand mining. Environmental impacts and selected case studies. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Rădoane M, Rădoane N (2005) Dams, sediment sources and reservoir silting in Romania. Geomorphology 71(1):112–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rădoane M, Rădoane N (2007) Applied geomorphology (Geomorfologie aplicată). Universităţii Suceava, Suceava

    Google Scholar 

  • Rădoane M, Rădoane N, Cristea I, Gancevici-Oprea D (2008) Assessing the contemporary changes in the Prut riverbed on Romanian border. Rev Geomorfol 10:57–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid I, Frostick LE, Layman JT (1985) The incidence and nature of bedload transport during flood flows in coarse-grained alluvial channels. Earth Surf Proc Land 10(1):33–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rinaldi M, Wyżga B, Surian N (2005) Sediment mining in alluvial channels: physical effects and management perspectives. River Res Appl 21(7):805–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rovira A, Kondolf GM (2008) Bed mobility on the Deschutes River, Oregon: tracer gravel results. Geodin Acta 21(1–2):11–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salit F, Toroimac IG (2013) Actual in-stream mining in alluvial rivers: geomorphological impact and European legislation. In: Proceedings of the 3rd international geography symposium (GEOMED), pp 10–13

  • Sandu M (1998) Sibiu—Apold depressionary passageway. Geomorphological study (Culoarul depresionar Sibiu—Apold. Studiu geomorfologic). Academiei, Bucureşti

  • Skempton AW, Brogan JM (1994) Experiments on piping in sandy gravels. Geotechnique 44(3):449–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Surian N, Rinaldi M (2003) Morphological response to river engineering and management in alluvial channels in Italy. Geomorphology 50(4):307–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ta W, Jia X, Wang H (2013) Channel deposition induced by bank erosion in response to decreased flows in the sand-banked reach of the upstream Yellow River. CATENA 105:62–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uribelarrea D, Perez-Gonzalez A, Benito G (2003) Channel changes in the Jarama and Tagus rivers (central Spain) over the past 500 years. Quatern Sci Rev 22:2209–2221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Looy K, Tormos T, Souchon Y (2014) Disentangling dam impacts in river Networks. Ecol Indic 37:10–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.10.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walling DE, Collins AL (2005) Suspended sediment sources in British rivers. In: Sediment budgets 1 International Association of Hydrological Sciences Publication No. 291, Wallingford, pp 123–133

  • Wishart D, Warburton J, Bracken L (2008) Gravel extraction and planform change in a wandering gravel-bed river: The River Wear, Northern England. Geomorphology 94(1):131–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaharia L, Grecu F, Ioana-Toroimac G, Neculau G (2011) Sediment transport and river channel dynamics in Romania-variability and control factors. INTECH Open Access Publisher

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to the Sibiu Water Management System for hydrological data providing and to reviewers for their insightful and constructive suggestions. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not for profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Dr. Ion Raţiu Street No. 5-7, 550012, Sibiu, Romania

    Marioara Costea

Authors
  1. Marioara Costea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marioara Costea.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Costea, M. Impact of floodplain gravel mining on landforms and processes: a study case in Orlat gravel pit (Romania). Environ Earth Sci 77, 119 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7320-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7320-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation