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Active versus potential floodplains–the effect of small flood events on nutrient retention along the river Elbe corridor (Germany)

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Abstract

Riparian floodplains are known to retain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The main processes are denitrification (for nitrogen) and sedimentation (for phosphorus), which depend on the nutrient load and the flow velocity or residence time, respectively. Both are related to floodplain size and the current discharge conditions. However, it is not yet known, to which extent, how long and how often during a year riparian floodplains are inundated at the catchment scale. Small floods are not relevant for flood risk management, but they are important for the nutrient cycle. This study examined the flooding frequency, the extent and nutrient retention capacity of inundated riparian floodplains between Wittenberg and Wittenberge along the river Elbe in Germany, based on freely available data. The calculation of inundated areas was produced by the Software FLYS 2.1.3. On the basis of these results, we developed an empirical approach to predict the average yearly active floodplain as a share of the inundated floodplain on the potential floodplain depending on hydro-morphology. This hydrology dependent approach was applied to calculate the active floodplain as an average inundated floodplain area and coupled with a proxy-based nutrient retention calculation. Due to morphologic characteristics, riparian floodplains upstream and downstream from Magdeburg show significant differences in flooding frequencies, average inundated floodplain extent and floodplain widths. Assuming this average inundated floodplain as relevant for nutrient retention, we calculated an eight-fold higher retention for the downstream river section, despite a smaller potential floodplain, indicating how important regularly flooded areas are. The presented Q/MQ approach offers new options for modeling nutrient retention in floodplains even on a monthly basis and for other river systems. However, there is a strong need to consider the inflowing nutrient load for retention calculation instead of proxy values.

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Acknowledgments

The authors greatly thank the FLYS team J. Graf, M. Hammer, M. Hatz, N. Busch and D. Meißner from the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG) who provided the Software FLYS 2.1.3 and their continuous support. We also thank A. Kämpfer for improving the language. Comments by three anonymous reviewers helped to improve the manuscript.

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  1. Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany

    S. Natho & M. Venohr

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  1. S. Natho
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  2. M. Venohr
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Correspondence to S. Natho.

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Natho, S., Venohr, M. Active versus potential floodplains–the effect of small flood events on nutrient retention along the river Elbe corridor (Germany). Aquat Sci 76, 633–642 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-014-0360-9

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