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Modeling of hydrophobic cohesive sediment transport in the Ells River Alberta, Canada

Journal of Soils and Sediments volume 16, pages 2753–2765 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

In this paper, a novel modeling approach is applied to assess the unique transport characteristics of hydrophobic (bitumen containing) cohesive sediment for the Ells River, AB, Canada. The modeling offers a new way of treating the transport and fate of fine sediment in rivers and points to the importance of including a sediment entrapment process in the modeling of the Ells River sediment dynamics.

Materials and methods

The modeling approach involves combining two existing models (RIVFLOC and MOBED). Using fine sediment transport parameters derived from laboratory flume experiments (e.g., settling velocity of sediment as a function of floc size and the critical shear stresses for deposition) and the calculated flow field from the MOBED model (using field survey data such as, cross-sectional geometry, river slope, grain size of bed material, and discharge), the RIVFLOC model is used to predict the transport characteristics (including entrapment) of the hydrophobic Ells River sediment.

Results and discussion

The application of the connected RIVFLOC and MOBED models, demonstrated the unique hydrophobic sediment dynamics of the Ells River. The model showed no deposition (in the classical sense) of the hydrophobic sediment as the bed shear stresses, even at base flow, are well above the critical bed shear for deposition (flocculation is shown to occur, but its impact on settling is negligible given the high shear stresses). However, the model showed the possibility of fine sediment ingression into the river bed (interstitial voids) due to the entrapment process which is known to occur at bed shear stresses well above the critical shear stress for deposition.

Conclusions

The salient features of RIVFLOC and MOBED models and their applications for understanding the transport and fate of unique hydrophobic fine sediments are presented. The models are shown to be useful for the understanding and projection of flow characteristics and sediment dynamics (including entrapment), and will be of benefit for the adaptive management of riverine monitoring programs given various flow scenarios including extreme events and climate change.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the technical support provided for the study by Ross Neureuther, Charles Talbot, Chris Jaskot and Elisha Pursaud.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON, L7R 4A6, Canada

    Ian G. Droppo & Bommanna G. Krishnappan

Authors
  1. Ian G. Droppo
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  2. Bommanna G. Krishnappan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ian G. Droppo.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Sabine Ulrike Gerbersdorf

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Fig. S1

Locations of cross-section surveys within modeled reach between RAMP hydrometric sites (S45 and S14A) (JPEG 24 kb)

Fig. S2

Variation of flow rate as a function of time for station S45 in Ells River (Source—RAMP http://www.ramp-alberta.org/data/ClimateHydrology/hydrology/Hydrograph.aspx?s=S45) (JPEG 57 kb)

Fig. S3

a Surveyed cross-section, water level and lateral velocity distribution a 2 km and b 40 km downstream from hydrometric RAMP station S45 (JPEG 793 kb)

Fig. S4

Sectional view of the rotating circular flume used in the present study (JPEG 73 kb)

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Droppo, I.G., Krishnappan, B.G. Modeling of hydrophobic cohesive sediment transport in the Ells River Alberta, Canada. J Soils Sediments 16, 2753–2765 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1501-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1501-7

Keywords

  • Erosion
  • Flocculation
  • MOBED
  • Modeling
  • Pollutants
  • RIVFLOC
  • Sediment deposition
  • Transport