Sediment Erosion Characteristics in the Anacostia River
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 8
Abstract
Four in situ experiments on sediment erosion characteristics were conducted at the Anacostia River that runs through Washington, D.C. Supplemental erosion rate data were also obtained by carrying out five laboratory experiments using sediment samples collected at the field. In laboratory experiments, the sediment samples were mixed with tap water and placed in the flume to form beds for finding the difference in terms of erosion characteristics caused by different sediment composition among the five samples. This approach enables the finding of erosion characteristics for the entire tidal Anacostia River with limited resources. The in situ measured critical bed-shear stresses for erosion at the water-sediment interface varies from 0.03 to . Field results indicated that increases with the depth and becomes more than 0.6 to with an erosion thickness of less than . Sediment beds prepared at a laboratory appear having an upper limit on how much can be developed.
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Acknowledgments
Support of this study by the Environmental Health Administration, Bureau of Environmental Quality, Water Quality Division, Washington, D.C. with Grant No. UNSPECIFIED01a-02-WQD04 (APPR01) is sincerely acknowledged. The stimulating discussion with the grant officer, Mrs. J. Bekele, is greatly appreciated. The perfect control of the VIMS R/V Bay Eagle by Mr. D. Ward is also noted. Thanks also go to Mr. R. Gammisch, W. Reisner, HoKyung Ha, and J.I. Kwon for their dedication to the field work. The critical review and valuable suggestions from anonymous reviewers are also sincerely appreciated. Support of the development of the VIMS Sea Carousel was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, contract number UNSPECIFIEDR-817182-01-0.
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© 2008 ASCE.
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Received: Jul 14, 2006
Accepted: May 1, 2007
Published online: Aug 1, 2008
Published in print: Aug 2008
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