FROM YELLOW RIVER MODELS TO MODELING OF RIVERS

1INTRODUCTIONTheYellowRiverisadreamtoserioushydraulicengineerswholovechallenge.Historically,theriveristhe"sorrowofChina."Itisalsooneofthefirstriverssubjecttoscientificmodelingattheearlystageofdevelopmentofphysicalscalemodels.ThecontroversyearlythiscenturybetweenthemodelresultsofHubertEngels(1854-1945)andthoseofOt-toFranzius(1878-1936)effectivelydelayedtheChinesegovernment'sdecisiononhowtheriverwastoberegUlatedwithlevees.ChinahasalonghistoryofobservingandregulatingtheYellowRiver.There…     

Conceptualization and Calibration of Anisotropic Alluvial Systems: Pitfalls and Biases

Physical properties of alluvial environments typically feature a high degree of anisotropy and are characterized by dynamic interactions between the surface and the subsurface. Hydrogeological models are often calibrated under the assumptions of isotropic hydraulic conductivity fields and steady-state conditions. We aim at understanding how these simplifications affect predictions of the water table using physically based models and advanced calibration and uncertainty analysis approaches based on singular value decomposition and Bayesian analysis. Specifically, we present an analysis of the information content provided by steady-state hydraulic data compared to transient data with respect to the estimation of aquifer and riverbed hydraulic properties. We show that assuming isotropy or fixed anisotropy may generate biases both in the estimation of aquifer and riverbed parameters as well as in the predictive uncertainty of the water table. We further demonstrate that the information content provided by steady-state hydraulic heads is insufficient to jointly estimate the aquifer anisotropy together with the aquifer and riverbed hydraulic conductivities and that transient data can help to reduce the predictive uncertainty to a greater extent. The outcomes of the synthetic analysis are applied to the calibration of a dynamic and anisotropic alluvial aquifer in Switzerland (The Rhône River). The results of the synthetic and real world modeling and calibration exercises documented herein provide insight on future data acquisition as well as modeling and calibration strategies for these environments. They also provide an incentive for evaluation and estimation of commonly made simplifying assumptions in order to prevent underestimation of the predictive uncertainty.     

A probabilistic framework for floodplain mapping using hydrological modeling and unsteady hydraulic modeling

ABSTRACT

Prediction of design hydrographs is key in floodplain mapping using hydraulic models, which are either steady state or unsteady. The former, which require only an input peak, substantially overestimate the volume of water entering the floodplain compared to the more realistic dynamic case simulated by the unsteady models that require the full hydrograph. Past efforts to account for the uncertainty of boundary conditions using unsteady hydraulic modeling have been based largely on a joint flood frequency–shape analysis, with only a very limited number of studies using hydrological modeling to produce the design hydrographs. This study therefore presents a generic probabilistic framework that couples a hydrological model with an unsteady hydraulic model to estimate the uncertainty of flood characteristics. The framework is demonstrated on the Swannanoa River watershed in North Carolina, USA. Given its flexibility, the framework can be applied to study other sources of uncertainty in other hydrological models and watersheds.     

Flow‐Through Stream Modeling with MODFLOW and MT3D: Certainties and Limitations

This paper aims to assess MODFLOW and MT3D capabilities for simulating the spread of contaminants from a river exhibiting an unusual relationship with an alluvial aquifer, with the groundwater head higher than the river head on one side and lower on the other (flow‐through stream). A series of simulation tests is conducted using a simple hypothetical model so as to characterize and quantify these limitations. Simulation results show that the expected contaminant spread could be achieved with a specific configuration composed of two sets of parameters: (1) modeled object parameters (hydraulic groundwater gradient, hydraulic conductivity values of aquifer and streambed), and (2) modeling parameters (vertical discretization of aquifer, horizontal refinement of stream modeled with River [RIV] package). The influence of these various parameters on simulation results is investigated, and potential complications and errors are identified. Contaminant spread from stream to aquifer is not always reproduced by MT3D due to the RIV package's inability to simulate lateral exchange fluxes between stream and aquifer. This paper identifies the need for a MODFLOW streamflow package allowing lateral stream‐aquifer interactions and streamflow routine calculations. Such developments could be of particular interest for modeling contaminated flow‐through streams.     

A patch hierarchy approach to modeling surface and subsurface hydrology in complex flood‐plain environments

Geomorphology interacts with surface‐ and ground‐water hydrology across multiple spatial scales. Nonetheless, hydrologic and hydrogeologic models are most commonly implemented at a single spatial scale. Using an existing hydrogeologic computer model, we implemented a simple hierarchical approach to modeling surface‐ and ground‐water hydrology in a complex geomorphic setting. We parameterized the model to simulate ground‐ and surface‐water ?ow patterns through a hierarchical, three‐dimensional, quantitative representation of an anabranched montane alluvial ?ood plain (the Nyack Flood Plain, Middle Fork Flathead River, Montana, USA). Comparison of model results to ?eld data showed that the model provided reasonable representations of spatial patterns of aquifer recharge and discharge, temporal patterns of ?ood‐water storage on the ?ood plain, and rates of ground‐water movement from the main river channel into a large lateral spring channel on the ?ood plain, and water table elevation in the alluvial aquifer. These results suggest that a hierarchical approach to modeling ground‐ and surface‐water hydrology can reproduce realistic patterns of surface‐ and ground‐water ?ux on alluvial ?ood plains, and therefore should provide an excellent ‘quantitative laboratory’ for studying complex interactions between geomorphology and hydrology at and across multiple spatial scales. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

From Grain to Floodplain: Evaluating heterogeneity of floodplain hydrostatigraphy using sedimentology,geophysics, and remote sensing

Stratigraphy is a fundamental component of floodplain heterogeneity and hydraulic conductivity and connectivity of alluvial aquifers, which affect hydrologic processes such as groundwater flow and hyporheic exchange. Watershed-scale hydrological models commonly simplify the sedimentology and stratigraphy of floodplains, neglecting natural floodplain heterogeneity and anisotropy. This study, conducted in the upper reach of the East River in the East River Basin, Colorado, USA, combines point-, meander-, and floodplain-scale data to determine key features of alluvial aquifers important for estimating hydrologic processes. We compare stratigraphy of two meanders with disparate geometries to explore floodplain heterogeneity and connectivity controls on flow and transport. Meander shape, orientation, and internal stratigraphy affected residence time estimates of laterally exchanged hyporheic water. Although the two meanders share a sediment source, vegetation, and climate, their divergent river migration histories resulted in contrasting meander hydrofacies. In turn, the extent and orientation of these elements controlled the effective hydraulic conductivity and, ultimately, estimates of groundwater transport and hyporheic residence times. Additionally, the meanders’ orientation relative to the valley gradient impacted the hydraulic gradient across the meanders—a key control of groundwater velocity. Lastly, we combine our field data with remotely sensed data and introduce a potential approach to estimate key hydrostratigraphic packages across floodplains. Prospective applications include contaminant transport studies, hyporheic models, and watershed models. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anthropic aggradation of the Waiho River,Westland, New Zealand: microscale modelling

Long‐term aggradation of the Waiho River, South Westland, New Zealand, has now raised the head of its alluvial fan to unprecedented elevations. In its natural state the river would, like all other major rivers in the area, be somewhat incised into its fanhead. The only relevant factor able to account for the aggradation is the presence of control banks (‘stopbanks’ in local parlance) that restrict the ability of the river to move over the whole of its natural fanhead. A 1 : 3333 scale physical hydraulic model (a ‘microscale’ model) was used to study this situation. An alluvial fan was generated in the model and allowed to develop to equilibrium with steady inputs of water and sediment within boundaries geometrically similar to those of the natural unrestricted Waiho River. The boundaries were then altered to represent the presence of the stopbanks, and the fan allowed to continue evolving under the same water and sediment inputs. The model fanhead aggraded in a spatial pattern similar to that recorded on the Waiho. Taking into consideration the limitations of microscale modelling, these results indicate that the aggradation in the Waiho is a result of the lateral restriction of the river by stopbanks. This poses fundamental questions about the variables that control the behaviour of alluvial fans. The results also suggest that microscale modelling can be used to make reliable quantitative predictions of the effects of engineering works on rivers, in spite of the low level of dynamic similarity with the prototype compared to that in larger‐scale models. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depth‐dependent hydraulic conductivity distribution patterns of a streambed

Characterization of streambed hydraulic conductivity from the channel surface to a great depth below the channel surface can provide needed information for the determination of stream‐aquifer hydrologic connectedness, and it is also important to river restoration. However, knowledge on the streambed hydraulic conductivity for sediments 1 m below the channel surface is scarce. This study describes a method that was used to determine the distribution patterns of streambed hydraulic conductivity for sediments from channel surface to a depth of 15 m below. The method includes Geoprobe's direct‐push techniques and Permeameter tests. Direct‐push techniques were used to generate the electrical conductivity (EC) logs and to collect sequences of continuous sediment cores from river channels, as well as from the alluvial aquifer connected to the river. Permeameter tests on these sediment cores give the profiles of vertical hydraulic conductivity (K_v) of the channel sediments and the aquifer materials. This method was applied to produce K_v profiles for a streambed and an alluvial aquifer in the Platte River Valley of Nebraska, USA. Comparison and statistical analysis of the K_v profiles from the river channel and from the proximate alluvial aquifer indicates a special pattern of K_v in the channel sediments. This depth‐dependent pattern of K_v distribution for the channel sediments is considered to be produced by hyporheic processes. This K_v‐distribution pattern implied that the effect of hyporheic processes on streambed hydraulic conductivity can reach the sediments about 9 m below the channel surface. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a three‐dimensional watershed modelling system for water cycle in the middle part of the Heihe rivershed,in the west of China

A three‐dimensional numerical modelling system is developed to study transformation processes of water resources in alluvial fan and river basin along the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China, an arid and semi‐arid region. Integrating land utilization, remote sensing and geographic information systems, we have developed a numerical modelling system that can be used to quantify the effects of land use and anthropogenic activities on the groundwater system as well as to investigate the interaction between surface water and groundwater. Various hydraulic measurements are used to identify and calibrate the hydraulic boundary conditions and spatial distributions of hydraulic parameters. In the modelling study, various water exchanges and human effects on the watershed system are considered. These include water exchange between surface water and groundwater, groundwater pumping, lateral water recharges from mountain areas, land utilization, and infiltration and evaporation in the irrigation and non‐irrigation areas. The modelling system provides a quantitative method to describe spatial and temporal distributions and transformations between various water resources, and it has application to other watersheds in arid and semi‐arid areas. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The frictional resistance characteristics of a bedrock‐influenced river channel

Much of the published literature relating to reach‐scale total ?ow resistance concentrates on alluvial rivers and little mention is made of the more extreme resistance found in bedrock‐in?uenced river systems. This paper presents the results of a detailed investigation of total ?ow resistance variation for ?ve channel types on the Sabie River, South Africa (cohesive mixed anastomosed, uncohesive mixed anastomosed, mixed pool–rapid, alluvial braided and alluvial single thread) over a range of discharges. Manning's ‘n’ and Darcy‐Weisbach f resistance coef?cients are calculated using Barnes' methodology (H. H. Barnes, US Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1849, 1967). These data are analysed at the scales of channel type and morphologic unit and the resultant resistance values are compared with the literature. Generally the low‐?ow friction values estimated for the bedrock‐in?uenced channel types are higher than any reported. Flow resistance quanti?cation of the alluvial channel type study sites on the Sabie River produced values slightly higher than earlier studies of similar morphologies. In situations where signi?cant areas of irregular bedrock are exposed (cohesive mixed anastomosed and mixed pool–rapid channel types) the high ?ow resistance coef?cients at low discharges probably re?ect energy dissipation due to hydraulic jumps and internal distortions; however, these values fall as discharge increases to values comparable to those recorded for step–pool rivers. It is suggested that the slightly elevated resistance coef?cients recorded in the alluvial channel types are the result of the vegetation roughness component, operating when the macro‐channel bar features are inundated. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Weathering reflected by the chemical composition of alluvial soils from the Zeya and Selemdzha river valleys

The paper examines the chemical composition of alluvial soils from the Zeya and Selemdzha River valleys, one of the branch rivers in the Amur River basin. It has been established that the compositions of these soils are characterized by a relative shortage of practically all analyzed macro- and microelements as compared with UCC (upper continental crust) and PAAS (post- Arhean Australian average shale) compositions. The chemical composition of alluvial soils approximates that of the soils in NE China and Korea due to similar climatic and geographic conditions. On the basis of relationships between major and trace elements and peculiarities of trace elements concentration it is shown that the alluvial soils in the middle reaches of the Zeya River were formed by the sources largely transformed by chemical weathering processes. By comparison, the soils in the Selemdzha River and lower reaches of the Zeya River (below the Selemdzha River mouth) are dominated by material to a large degree reworked by the physical processes rather than chemical ones. This inference conforms with specific geological settings of the water-collector.     

Assimilation of historical head data to estimate spatial distributions of stream bed and aquifer hydraulic conductivity fields

Management of water resources in alluvial aquifers relies mainly on understanding interactions between hydraulically connected streams and aquifers. Numerical models that simulate this interaction often are used as decision support tools for water resource management. However, the accuracy of numerical predictions relies heavily on unknown system parameters (e.g., streambed conductivity and aquifer hydraulic conductivity), which are spatially heterogeneous and difficult to measure directly. This paper employs an ensemble smoother to invert groundwater level measurements to jointly estimate spatially varying streambed and alluvial aquifer hydraulic conductivity along a 35.6‐km segment of the South Platte River in Northeastern Colorado. The accuracy of the inversion procedure is evaluated using a synthetic experiment and historical groundwater level measurements, with the latter constituting the novelty of this study in the inversion and validation of high‐resolution fields of streambed and aquifer conductivities. Results show that the estimated streambed conductivity field and aquifer conductivity field produce an acceptable agreement between observed and simulated groundwater levels and stream flow rates. The estimated parameter fields are also used to simulate the spatially varying flow exchange between the alluvial aquifer and the stream, which exhibits high spatial variability along the river reach with a maximum average monthly aquifer gain of about 2.3 m³/day and a maximum average monthly aquifer loss of 2.8 m³/day, per unit area of streambed (m²). These results demonstrate that data assimilation inversion provides a reliable and computationally affordable tool to estimate the spatial variability of streambed and aquifer conductivities at high resolution in real‐world systems.     

A coupled vertically integrated model to describe lateral exchanges between surface and subsurface in large alluvial floodplains with a fully penetrating river

This paper presents a vertically averaged model for studying water and solute exchanges between a large river and its adjacent alluvial aquifer. The hydraulic model couples horizontal 2D Saint Venant equations for river flow and a 2D Dupuit equation for aquifer flow. The dynamic coupling between river and aquifer is provided by continuity of fluxes and water level elevation between the two domains. Equations are solved simultaneously by linking the two hydrological system matrices in a single global matrix in order to ensure the continuity conditions between river and aquifer and to accurately model two‐way coupling between these two domains. The model is applied to a large reach (about 36 km²) of the Garonne River (south‐western France) and its floodplain, including an instrumented site in a meander. Simulated hydraulic heads are compared with experimental measurements on the Garonne River and aquifer in the floodplain. Model verification includes comparisons for one point sampling date (27 piezometers, 30 March 2000) and for hydraulic heads variations measured continuously over 5 months (5 piezometers, 1 January to 1 June 2000). The model accurately reproduces the strong hydraulic connections between the Garonne River and its aquifer, which are confirmed by the simultaneous variation of the water level in the river and in piezometers located near the river bank. The simulations also confirmed that the model is able to reproduce groundwater flow dynamics during flood events. Given these results, the hydraulic model was coupled with a solute‐transport component, based on advection‐dispersion equations, to investigate the theoretical dynamics of a conservative tracer over 5 years throughout the 36 km² reach studied. Meanders were shown to favour exchanges between river and aquifer, and although the tracer was diluted in the river, the contamination moved downstream from the injection plots and affected both river banks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of heterogeneity on radionuclide retardation in the alluvial aquifer near Yucca Mountain, Nevada

The U.S. Department of Energy is currently studying Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as a potential site for a geological high-level waste repository. In the current conceptual models of radionuclide transport at Yucca Mountain, part of the transport path to pumping locations would be through an alluvial aquifer. Interactions with minerals in the alluvium are expected to retard the downstream migration of radionuclides, thereby delaying arrival times and reducing ground water concentrations. We evaluate the effectiveness of the alluvial aquifer as a transport barrier using the stochastic Lagrangian framework. A transport model is developed to account for physical and chemical heterogeneities and rate-limited mass transfer between mobile and immobile zones. The latter process is caused by small-scale heterogeneity and is thought to control the macroscopic-scale retardation in some field experiments. A geostatistical model for the spatially varying sorption parameters is developed from a site-specific database created from hydrochemical measurements and a calibrated modeling approach (Turner and Pabalan 1999). Transport of neptunium is considered as an example. The results are sensitive to the rate of transfer between mobile and immobile zones, and to spatial variability in the hydraulic conductivity. Chemical heterogeneity has only a small effect, as does correlation between hydraulic conductivity and the neptunium distribution coefficient. These results illustrate how general sensitivities can be explored with modest effort within the Lagrangian framework. Such studies complement and guide the application of more detailed numerical simulations.     

Relationships Between Water Table and Model Simulated ET

This research was conducted to develop relationships among evapotranspiration (ET), percolation (PERC), groundwater discharge to the stream (GWQ), and water table fluctuations through a modeling approach. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrologic and crop models were applied in the Big Sunflower River watershed (BSRW; 7660 km²) within the Yazoo River Basin of the Lower Mississippi River alluvial plain. Results of this study showed good to very good model performances with the coefficient of determination (R²) and Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) index from 0.4 to 0.9, respectively, during both hydrologic and crop model calibration and validation. An empirical relationship between ET, PERC, GWQ, and water table fluctuations was able to predict 64% of the water table variation of the alluvial plain in this study. Thematic maps were developed to identify areas with overuse of groundwater, which can help watershed managers to develop water resource programs.     

Modelling stage–discharge relationships in anastomosed bedrock-influenced sections of the Sabie River system

Flow dynamics in a bedrock-influenced river system, the Sabie River, South Africa, have been found to be significantly different from those in temperate alluvial systems. The lack of lateral water connectivity leads to multiple bedrock distributaries with varying water surface elevations across a cross-section. Distributary activation is dependent on upstream breaching of bedrock barriers between distributaries by rising discharge. Where measurement of individual stage–discharge relationships in each distributary was not possible, a ‘Multiple Stage’ model was developed to predict hydraulic conditions in each distributary, using a single measured rating curve and knowledge of individual distributary water surface elevations at a low flow. Use of the ‘Multiple Stage’ model has enabled realistic prediction of channel geometry and hydraulic variables, that accounts for the different stages found in bedrock-influenced sections, yet is not prohibitively data intensive. Predicted ‘Multiple Stage’ results for maximum depth and velocity demonstrate the vast improvement on modelling flow dynamics, when compared to the conventional assumption of a single stage representing the whole cross-section. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reducing capture zone uncertainty with a systematic sensitivity analysis

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established several methods to delineate wellhead protection areas (WHPAs) around community wells in order to protect them from surface contamination sources. Delineating a WHPA often requires defining the capture zone for a well. Generally, analytical models or arbitrary setback zones have been used to define the capture zone in areas where little is known about the distribution of hydraulic head, hydraulic conductivity, or recharge. Numerical modeling, however, even in areas of sparse data, offers distinct advantages over the more simplified analytical models or arbitrary setback zones. The systematic approach discussed here calibrates a numerical flow model to regional topography and then applies a matrix of plausible recharge to hydraulic conductivity ratios ( R / K ) to investigate the impact on the size and shape of the capture zone. This approach does not attempt to determine the uncertainty of the model but instead yields several possible capture zones, the composite of which is likely to contain the actual capture zone. A WHPA based on this composite capture zone will protect ground water resources better than one based on any individual capture zone. An application of the method to three communities illustrates development of the R / K matrix and demonstrates that the method is particularly well suited for determining capture zones in alluvial aquifers.     

Loess erosion change modeling during heavy rainfall

A typical gully sub-basin with a complex geomorphological form is used to do a model test of gravity erosion of loess by considering the sequence of slopes in a prototype gully creating a sequence of underlying surface forms in the upper reaches. The results show that the runoff from heavy rainfall is the main external force for the erosion of loess, and also is an important influencing factor to stimulate and intensify the development of gravity erosion. The soil structure and the height of the...     

Tailings fans and valley‐spur cutoffs created by hydraulic mining

Sand and gravel tailings from nineteenth century open‐pit hydraulic gold mines formed large alluvial fans at tributary con?uences in the northwestern Sierra Nevada, California. In the Bear River watershed, several of these fans were so large that they blocked main channels for decades. Some channels not only aggraded deeply, but also moved laterally and cut across the inner bends of valley spurs. Now locked in bedrock channels, these valley‐spur cutoffs impose local controls on geomorphic, hydraulic, and sedimentary processes. One cutoff has incised 25 m into bedrock over the past century (25 cm a^?1) with rapid initial incision rates of up to 50 cm a^?1 (1884–1890). Recognition of spur cutoffs in the geological record may help to identify large landslides and provide an analogue for a type of natural earth?ll dam spillway not prone to catastrophic failures. Tailing fans, valley‐spur cutoffs, and the sediment they trap are described from contemporary accounts and recent ?eld conditions in the Bear River watershed. These anthropogenic changes represent a major shift in the watershed from supply‐limited to transport‐limited sediment budgets and a change in geomorphic processes away from long‐term drainage evolution dominated by ingrown meanders. The large volumes of mining sediment stored in these landforms will be slowly released over the next millennium and could be signi?cant to contemporary ecological and public health issues due to recent ?ndings of high mercury loadings associated with hydraulic mines. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.