Regional Sediment Analysis of Mississippi River Sediment Transport and Hydrographic Survey Data

摘要

The cumulative impacts of human occupation and development of watersheds, combined with engineering works on river channels have significantly disrupted the dynamic equilibrium of many stream systems and ecosystems. Sediments generated through channel instability are carried downstream to cause sedimentation problems in flood control channels, destroy wetlands and lakes, adversely impact fish and wildlife habitats, degrade water quality, adversely impact infrastructure. In extreme cases, sedimentation itself may initiate further accelerated stream instabilities. The Corps of Engineers attempt to design channel systems on a regional basis, particularly with respect to sediment management. Progress is hampered because there is little published guidance for accomplishing effective regional sediment management and a shortage of reliable and comprehensive data sets with which to investigate and understand sediment dynamics at the regional scale. Compilation of historical and contemporary data on sediment transport rates, sediment load and bed material particles sizes, channel morphology and engineering interventions along the Lower Mississippi River provides a data set of unparalleled value in Regional Sediment Analysis. In this report, the potential of the data to support regional analysis of sediment transfer, morphological response and the identification of causal links between engineering and sediment problems at a variety of scales is examined.