River turbidity and sediment loads during dam removal

Factors controlling variations in river sediment loads

Sediment transfer from continents to oceans via rivers is one of the important processes regulating river-bank stabilization, soil formation, biogeochemical cycling of elements, crust evolution and many other earth-related processes. Due to changes in continental positions during the geologic past, water flow and sediment loads in rivers have also shown variations during different time periods....

A Special Section on Dam Removal and River Restoration

H activities have degraded many of the world’s ecosystems, which has created an urgent need for strategies that can restore their ecological integrity. This need is accompanied by many scientific challenges, however. In particular, ecosystems are among the most complex entities in the hierarchy of life, and the successful repair of damaged systems will require a deep understanding of the proces...

Sediment concentration and turbidity changes during culvert removals.

The concentrations of sediment and turbidity in stream water were monitored during culvert removals to determine the short term effects of road obliteration. Sediment concentration was measured at 11 stream crossings among two locations in Idaho and one in Washington. Sediment concentration immediately below the culvert outlet exceeded levels above the culvert outlet by at least three orders of...

Increased sediment load during a large-scale dam removal changes nearshore subtidal communities

The coastal marine ecosystem near the Elwha River was altered by a massive sediment influx-over 10 million tonnes-during the staged three-year removal of two hydropower dams. We used time series of bathymetry, substrate grain size, remotely sensed turbidity, scuba dive surveys, and towed video observations collected before and during dam removal to assess responses of the nearshore subtidal com...

Lessons of the Elwha River: Managing Health Hazards During Dam Removal