Levee morphology and sedimentology along the lower Tuross River, south-eastern Australia

Levees on the lower Tuross River in south-eastern Australia reflect a complex interplay between depositional and erosional processes. Stream power, conditioned primarily by valley width, is the key determinant of levee morphology and sedimentology in this confined valley setting. Three styles of levee are described. The Rewlee levee is functionally linked to a flood channel in narrow valley settings (< 250 m). These levees contain a diverse facies assemblage characterized by various scales of erosion surfaces. Vertical accretion on levees has produced conditions under which stream power values exceed the threshold for catastrophic floodplain stripping. The levee at the Mortfield site is associated with less confined settings (valley width 500–600 m), which present lower flood stage and stream power conditions. This levee hosts a wide range of facies, but erosion surfaces are seldom observed. In the more open valley setting at the Central site (valley width 700–1000 m), levees comprise uniform, fine-grained deposits, which grade to pronounced distal floodplains with backswamps. As levees reflect a combination of within-channel and overbank processes, both depositional and erosional, these geomorphic features influence the character and sedimentology of adjacent landforms and the associated alluvial architecture of the basin.     

Geomorphic controls on the physical and hydrologic properties of soils in a valley floor

The distribution of soil hydraulic and physical properties strongly influences runoff processes in landscapes. Although much work has been done to quantify and predict the properties of hillslope soils, far less is known about the distribution of soil properties in valley floors. A technique that links the estimation and distribution of soil hydraulic properties in valleys, with easily identified geomorphic features, was developed along a 2 km length of a valley at Brooks Creek in New South Wales, Australia. Soil physical and hydraulic property data were collected across a set of floodplain and fan features within the valley and analysed statistically to determine if soil properties varied significantly between geomorphic features and stratigraphic layers. The results show that the depth‐averaged saturated hydraulic conductivity, K_s, of the soil varies significantly with landform: fan units have K_g values that are twice that of floodplains and colluvial toeslope deposits have K_s values four times higher than floodplains. Given the notorious variability of K_s values in space, the strong statistical separation of soil properties by landform, backed up by strong separation of soil particle size by landform, suggests a way forward in understanding the distribution of soil properties in valleys and their influence on catchment hydrology. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Late-glacial and Holocene sedimentation and fluctuations of river water level in the Caquetá River area (Colombian Amazonia)

The sequence of Late-glacial and Holocene alluvial sedimentation in the middle Caquetá River Basin of Colombian Amazonia is described, based on the study of the sediments and palynology of several river bank sections and on 30 radiocarbon dates. An early Late-glacial sedimentation cycle is recognised, followed by a minor late Late-glacial erosion phase. The Holocene valley fill consists of grey clays (often present in the lower part of the sections) deposited in open water and silty clays often with faint yellow mottling, deposited under a regime of seasonal flooding. The base of the Holocene sections is formed by sands, where exposed. In two places the transition of sand to open-water grey clay was dated around 10 000 yr BP and there is a suggestion that open water may have been more common at the beginning of the Holocene than later, when sedimentation by seasonal flooding became important. In many places much of the earlier Holocene sediments may have been removed by erosion and replaced by younger sediments, by a process of lateral aggradation. A considerable part of the present valley fill is younger than ca. 3500 yr. However, in several places older Holocene sediments are found, apparently only little affected by later erosion, lying below younger varzea silty clays. During the Holocene more organic sediments were formed in periods with reduced river discharge, related to drier climates in the Andes and possibly in Amazonia. These dry periods, deduced from data in the Caquetá River area, correspond well with dry phases in other parts of northwestern South America (e.g. between approximately 2700-1900 yr BP and approximately 3200-3800 yr BP). Rates of average net sedimentation, calculated from dated sections that apparently lack major hiatuses caused by erosion, were high in the lower Holocene, low during the middle Holocene and increase again in the upper Holocene. Levee deposits became coarser and the high river level of the Caquetá increased during the late Holocene. These phenomena may be explained by the increasing influence of man on the vegetation cover in the Andean headwater areas and possibly also in the Amazonian catchment area of the Caquetá River.     

The role of channel and floodplain storage in the suspended sediment budget of the River Ouse, Yorkshire, UK

This study attempts to quantify the amount of fine-grained (ca. < 150 μm) sediment stored on the floodplains and on the channel bed of the non-tidal sections of the main channels in the catchment of the River Ouse (3315 km²) and of one of its tributaries, the River Waarfe (818 km²), in Yorkshire, UK. Caesium-137 analyses of floodplain sediment cores were used to quantify the amount of Iloodplain deposition as a result of overbank flooding during the last ca. 40 years. A combination of bulk and sectioned cores were collected along transects perpendicular to the channel at 26 sites throughout the study basins. In general, rates of overbank sedimentation decrease with distance from the channel. The average values for individual transects range between 0.010 and 0.554 g cm⁻² year⁻¹. Floodplain storage along the main channels of the Ouse and Wharfe basins accounts for 60645 and 10325 t year⁻¹, respectively, and represents a net loss from the system. The amount of fine-grained sediment stored on the channel bed was estimated by a survey undertaken in August 1996, during which the fine material deposited on the bed was resuspended and its mass estimated at 16 locations. The average values for the individual locations range between 0.017 and 0.924 g cm⁻² and tend to increase downstream. The total channel bed storage at the time of sampling in 1996 was estimated to be 16076 and 1866 t for the Ouse and Wharfe basins, respectively. It is assumed that channel bed storage is seasonal and that no net loss to the system occurs at the annual timescale. Floodplain storage for the Ouse and Wharfe basins represents 39 and 49%, and channel bed storage equals 10 and 9%, respectively, of the annual suspended sediment load (1995–1996) delivered to the channel system. These results have important implications for the routing of fine-grained sediment and sediment-associated contaminants in drainage basins, and for the interpretation of downstream sediment yields in terms of upstream sediment mobilisation.     

Reconstructing the early 19th‐century Waal River by means of a 2D physics‐based numerical model

Suspended‐sediment concentration data are a missing link in reconstructions of the River Waal in the early 1800s. These reconstructions serve as a basis for assessing the long‐term effects of major interventions carried out between 1850 AD and the early 20th century. We used a 2D physics‐based morphodynamic model accounting for the influence of floodplain vegetation to fill in this gap. Historical discharge hydrographs were derived from a correlation between flow discharge records at Cologne and water level measurements of the Rhine branches in the Netherlands, taking into account the discharge distribution between the branches. Historical floodplain sedimentation rates were estimated using old cartographic information and recent geomorphologic field work. The computed historical sedimentation rates are found to be within the range of measured data, which suggests that fine suspended sediment concentrations in the early 1800s were comparable to contemporary ones. The computations show also how vegetation enhances the formation of natural levees close to the main channel and at the same time decreases the sedimentation rates in farther areas of the floodplain. A sensitivity analysis shows suspended sediment composition to have a strong influence on the resulting quantities and patterns of floodplain deposition. The reconstruction has also provided validation of the modelling tools to reproduce the effects of vegetation on sediment dynamics, enabling their implementation to study other cases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Semi‐automated GIS techniques for detecting floodplain earthworks

Levees, channels and water storages built on the world's floodplain wetlands control flows for irrigation, flood mitigation and erosion management. Assessing their distribution and hydrological impacts through time and across broad extents is limited by significant costs and technical challenges. We tested the effectiveness of three new semi‐automated geographic information systems and traditional visual interpretation techniques for detecting earthworks. We used commercially or freely available two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional spatial imagery within 19 quadrats in an agricultural floodplain of the Murray–Darling Basin, southeastern Australia. Semi‐automated digital elevation model (DEM) analysis performed best for spatial accuracy (78% of earthworks correctly predicted within 25 m), overall classification accuracy (97.7%) and kappa (0.64), compared with traditional visual interpretation techniques using Landsat TM (52%, 96.3%, 0.39), SPOT (53%, 95.8%, 0.27) and aerial photography (72%, 97.2%, 0.31). DEM analysis also outperformed semi‐automated image segmentation (16%, 93%, 0.29) and integrated analysis (75%, 96.0%, 0.43) that used spectral information. Semi‐automated techniques were slow (DEM analysis: 27 418 s/km²; integrated analysis: 27 737 s/km²; and image segmentation: 1439 s/km²) compared with visual interpretation (Landsat TM: 109 s/km²; SPOT: 166 s/km²; and aerial photography: 276 s/km²); however, processing speed of semi‐automated techniques can be further increased without compromising accuracy. Semi‐automated techniques also offered operational autonomy following model calibration. High quality, cost‐effective earthwork mapping techniques, particularly the semi‐automated techniques in this study, are critical for understanding and managing ecosystem health, flood risk and water security in developed floodplains worldwide and should be implemented by governing institutions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The hydrogeomorphic influences on alluvial gully erosion along the Mitchell River fluvial megafan

Hydrogeomorphic processes influencing alluvial gully erosion were evaluated at multiple spatial and temporal scales across the Mitchell River fluvial megafan in tropical Queensland, Australia. Longitudinal changes in floodplain inundation were quantified using river gauge data, local stage recorders and HEC‐RAS modelling based on LiDAR topographic data. Intra‐ and interannual gully scarp retreat rates were measured using daily time‐lapse photographs and annual GPS surveys. Erosion was analysed in response to different water sources and associated erosion processes across the floodplain perirheic zone, including direct rainfall, infiltration‐excess runoff, soil‐water seepage, river backwater and overbank flood inundation. The frequency of river flood inundation of alluvial gullies changed longitudinally according to river incision and confinement. Near the top of the megafan, flood water was contained within the macrochannel up to the 100‐year recurrence interval, but river backwater still partially inundated adjacent gullies eroding into Pleistocene alluvium. In downstream Holocene floodplains, inundation of alluvial gullies occurred beyond the 2‐ to 5‐year recurrence interval and contributed significantly to total annual erosion. However, most gully scarp retreat at all sites was driven by direct rainfall and infiltration‐excess runoff, with the 24‐h rainfall total being the most predictive variable. The remaining variability can be explained by seasonal vegetative conditions, complex cycles of soil wetting and drying, tension crack development, near‐surface pore‐water pressure, soil block undermining from spalling and overland flow, and soil property heterogeneity. Implications for grazing management impacts on soil surface and perennial grass conditions include effects on direct rainfall erosion, water infiltration, runoff volume, water concentration along tracks, and the resistance of highly dispersible soils to gully initiation or propagation under intense tropical rainfall. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi‐scale assessment of overflow‐driven lateral connectivity in floodplain and backwater channels using LiDAR imagery

Overflow‐driven lateral connectivity significantly influences the spatial distribution and diversity of floodplain habitats and biota. Proper understanding of lateral connectivity in floodplain and backwater channels is therefore critical for assessment of river quality and for targeting management or restoration actions. In this study, we present a methodological framework for spatial and temporal assessments of overflow‐driven lateral connectivity at two spatial scales: bypass reach and backwater channel. Firstly, we compute the relative elevations, as well as overflow discharge, duration, and frequency using a simple, raster‐based method that uses a LiDAR digital elevation model (DEM), rating curves, and streamflow time series. Subsequently, we analyse the accuracy of this approach with respect to the accuracy of a DEM and evaluate its further applications. Altogether, four 10‐km‐long bypass reaches and 11 backwater channels are analysed, located along the Rhône River corridor in France. The results proved the precision of the method to be affected by the LiDAR DEM accuracy, which was on average more precise in a typically homogeneous floodplain setting rather than for backwater channel plugs with pronounced topographic complexity and usually riparian forest canopy. Amongst the four studied reaches, Brégnier Cordon proved to have the greatest flooding dynamics, followed by Belley and Chautagne. The hydrological connectivity pattern of Pierre Bénite differed significantly. Three longitudinal patterns of hydrological connectivity of backwater channels displayed stepwise advancement of the water. The presented results can be used to assess ecological potential of floodplain habitats and their historic and prospective evolution through time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentation in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta,Vietnam Part II: deposition and erosion

Deposition and erosion play a key role in the determination of the sediment budget of a river basin, as well as for floodplain sedimentation. Floodplain sedimentation, in turn, is a relevant factor for the design of flood protection measures, productivity of agro‐ecosystems, and for ecological rehabilitation plans. In the Mekong Delta, erosion and deposition are important factors for geomorphological processes like the compensation of deltaic subsidence as well as for agricultural productivity. Floodplain deposition is also counteracting the increasing climate change induced hazard by sea level rise in the delta. Despite this importance, a sediment database of the Mekong Delta is lacking, and the knowledge about erosion and deposition processes is limited. In the Vietnamese part of the Delta, the annually flooded natural floodplains have been replaced by a dense system of channels, dikes, paddy fields, and aquaculture ponds, resulting in floodplain compartments protected by ring dikes. The agricultural productivity depends on the sediment and associated nutrient input to the floodplains by the annual floods. However, no quantitative information regarding their sediment trapping efficiency has been reported yet. The present study investigates deposition and erosion based on intensive field measurements in three consecutive years (2008, 2009, and 2010). Optical backscatter sensors are used in combination with sediment traps for interpreting deposition and erosion processes in different locations. In our study area, the mean calculated deposition rate is 6.86 kg/m² (≈ 6 mm/year). The key parameters for calculating erosion and deposition are estimated, i.e. the critical bed shear stress for deposition and erosion and the surface constant erosion rate. The bulk of the floodplain sediment deposition is found to occur during the initial stage of floodplain inundation. This finding has direct implications on the operation of sluice gates in order to optimize sediment input and distribution in the floodplains. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of vertical water balance on modelling Pantanal (Brazil) spatio‐temporal inundation dynamics

The current benchmark approach for mathematical modelling of floodplain hydrologic regime consists of dynamically coupling one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) models for flow routing along the main channel and the floodplain, respectively. For large‐scale sites, floodplain inundation may spread over hundreds of square kilometres and may last for many months and even influence seasonal floods in following years. This paper aims at evaluating the effect of vertical water balance representation on modelling a large‐scale floodplain. The Pantanal wetland (140 000 km²; Brazil) is simulated using a 1D/2D coupled model approach, which also considers the representation of vertical water processes over the floodplain. Four scenarios are simulated: Baseline (the reference scenario), NoVertBal (in which the vertical water balance over floodplain is turned off) and ETp+1 and ETp?1 scenarios, characterized by artificially increasing or decreasing daily potential evapotranspiration (ETp) by 1 mm, respectively. The results showed that the effect of the vertical water processes scenarios on channel flow is directly dependent on the lateral exchange of water between the channel and floodplain in the upstream river reach. This influence is stronger when there is a gain of water from the floodplain to the channel. The inclusion of these vertical water processes into floodplain modelling was essential to represent the process of wetting and drying, this effect being more relevant for areas not directly connected to main channels, which is a characteristic of the Pantanal region. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.