Importance of Hydrology on Channel Evolution Following Dam Removal: Case Study and Conceptual Model
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 5
Abstract
A slow draining reservoir on the U.S. East Coast was monitored to identify the processes governing channel evolution upstream of a dam removal. Channel evolution was documented through cross section surveys, sediment size analysis, discharge measurements, and visual assessments of vegetative growth. The reservoir drained slowly, allowing for an analysis of channel evolution and identification of the morphometric parameters defining the path and time required for a channel to reach dynamic equilibrium. Channel evolution was a multidirectional process, and evolving channel reaches actively migrated laterally while alternating between aggradation and degradation. Channel formation was dominated primarily by the hydrologic regime at the time of dam removal and secondarily by the ability of vegetation to establish and stabilize the channel form. The importance of seasonal site hydrology over the minimum time required for channel evolution and the process through which the channel evolves indicates the complexity of channel formation within the first year following dam removal. Existing channel evolution models (CEMs) were modified and a new CEM that explicitly incorporates local hydrology and vegetative growth in the channel evolution process is presented. The modified CEM is applied to dam removals in Illinois, Virginia, and New Hampshire to illustrate its application beyond the immediate study area. In all cases, the seasonal flows were a dominant factor over the time frame and process of channel evolution. The CEM can be used to improve predictions of the length of time needed for a channel to evolve and the magnitude of channel change during the evolutionary process, such that it can be used to aid in planning and facilitating dam removals in similar regions.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
This research would not have been possible without the partnership with the VCU Rice center and partial funding through the GAANN fellowship program. Joe Wood was instrumental in sharing ideas, field collection methods, and resources. Joe, along with Bocephus Cannatelli, Mickie Fox, Lu Tan, and Rachel Baker, were invaluable in collecting field data. The manuscript has been improved by discussions with Tim Randle, Kevin Waters, and Stavros Calos. The comments of Jim Pizzuto, Martin Doyle, and an anonymous reviewer have also helped guide the manuscript. The authors thank them for their input.
References
American Rivers. (2010). “60 dams removed to restore rivers in 2010.” 〈http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/restoring-rivers/dams/projects/2010-dam-removals.html〉 (Mar. 5, 2011).
American Rivers. (2012). “Embrey Dam demolition frees Rappahannock River.” 〈http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/restoring-rivers/dams/projects/embrey-dam.html〉 (Mar. 23, 2012).
Brink, E., McClain, S., and Rothert, S. (2004). “Beyond dams: Options and alternatives.” 〈http://www.internationalrivers.org/files/BeyondDams.Intro_.Overview.pdf〉 (Apr. 25, 2011).
Burroughs, B. A., Hayes, D. B., Klomp, K. D., Hansen, J. F., and Mistak, J. (2009). “Effects of Stronach Dam removal on fluvial geomorphology in the Pine River, Michigan, United States.” GeomorphologyGEMPEZ, 110(3–4), 96–107.
Dougherty, M. E. (2008). “Lake Charles drawdown and stream restoration: Impact on structure and function of Kimages Creek.” Ph.D. thesis, Virginia Commonwealth Univ., Richmond, VA.
Doyle, M., Stanley, E., and Harbor, J. (2002). “Geomorphic analogies for assessing probable channel response to dam removal.” J. Am. Water Works Assoc.JWRAF5, 38(6), 1567–1579.
Doyle, M. W., Stanley, E. H., and Harbor, J. M. (2003a). “Channel adjustments following two dam removals in Wisconsin.” Water Resour. Res.WRERAQ, 39(1), 1011–1026.
Doyle, M. W., Stanley, E. H., Selle, A. R., Stofleth, J. M., and Harbor, J. M. (2003b). “Predicting the depth of erosion in reservoirs following dam removal using bank stability analysis.” Int. J. Sediment Res., 18(2), 115–121.
Elliott, A. H. (2000). “Settling of fine sediment in a channel with emergent vegetation.” J. Hydraul. Eng., 126(8), 570–577.
Elwha Watershed Information Resource. (2011). “History of Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams.” 〈http://www.elwhainfo.org/elwha-river-watershed/dam-removal/history-elwha-and-glines-canyon-dams〉 (Mar. 30, 2011).
Evans, J. E. (2007). “Sediment impacts of the 1994 failure of IVEX Dam (Chagrin River, NE Ohio): A test of channel evolution models.” J. Great Lakes Res.JGLRDE, 33(2), 90–102.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). (1999). National dam safety program, Washington, DC.
Graf, W. L. (1999). “Dam nation: A geographic census of American dams and their large-scale hydrologic impacts.” Water Resour. Res.WRERAQ, 35(4), 1305–1311.
Henshaw, P. C., and Booth, D. B. (2000). “Natural restabilization of stream channels in urban watersheds.” J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc.JWRAF5, 36(6), 1219–1236.
Hupp, C. R. (1992). “Riparian vegetation recovery patterns following stream channelization: A geomorphic perspective.” EcologyECOLAR, 73(4), 1209–1226.
Hupp, C. R. (2000). “Hydrology, geomorphology and vegetation of coastal plain rivers in the south-eastern USA.” Hydrol. ProcessesHYPRE3, 14(16–17), 2991–3010.
Lowry, W. R. (2003). Dam politics: Restoring America’s rivers, Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC.
Major, J. J., et al. (2008). “Initial fluvial response to the removal of Oregon’s Marmot Dam.” EOS, Trans. Am. Geophys. UnionTAGUAT, 89(27), 241–243.
National Research Council. (1992). Restoration of aquatic ecosystems, National Academy of Science, Washington, DC.
Oregon State University. (2011). “Chiloquin dam removal - effectiveness monitoring.” 〈http://rivers.bee.oregonstate.edu/ChiloquinDamRemoval.html〉 (Apr. 21, 2011).
Pearce, F. (1992). The dammed: River, dams and the coming world water crisis, Random House, London.
Pearson, A. J., Snyder, N. P., and Collins, M. J. (2011). “Rates and processes of channel response to dam removal with a sand-filled impoundment.” Water Resour. Res.WRERAQ, 47(8), W08504.
Pejchar, L., and Warner, K. (2001). “A river might run through it again: Criteria for consideration of dam removal and interim lessons from California.” Environ. Manage.EMNGDC, 28(5), 561–575.
Pizzuto, J. (2002). “Effects of dam removal on river form and process.” BioScienceBISNAS, 52(8), 683–691.
Pollen, N., and Simon, A. (2005). “Estimating the mechanical effects of riparian vegetation on streambank stability using a fiber bundle model.” Water Resour. Res.WRERAQ, 41(7), W07025.
Provence, L. (2006). “Dam demo: Breach at Woolen Mills good for shad.” The Hook, 〈http://www.readthehook.com/79138/news-dam-demo-breach-woolen-mills-good-shad〉 (Apr. 21, 2011).
Rice, S., and Church, M. (1996). “Sampling surficial fluvial gravels; the precision of size distribution percentile sediments.” J. Sediment. Res.JSERFV, 66(3), 654–665.
Rinaldi, M. (2003). “Recent channel adjustments in alluvial rivers of Tuscany, central Italy.” Earth Surf. Processes LandformsESPRDT, 28(6), 587–608.
Roberts, S., Gottgens, J., Spongberg, A., Evans, J., and Levine, N. (2007). “Assessing potential removal of low-head dams in urban settings: An example from the Ottawa River, NW Ohio.” Environ. Manage.EMNGDC, 39(1), 113–124.
Schumm, S. A., Harvey, M. D., and Watson, C. C. (1984). “Incised channels: Morphology, dynamics, and control.” Water Resources Publications, Littleton, CO.
Simon, A. (1989). “A model of channel response in disturbed alluvial channels.” Earth Surf. Processes LandformsESPLDB, 14(1), 11–26.
Simon, A., and Hupp, C. R. (1986). “Channel evolution in modified Tennessee channels.” Proc., 4th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conf.,, 2, Las Vegas, NV.
Smock, L. A., Wright, A. B., and Benke, A. C. (2005). “Atlantic coast rivers of the southeastern United States.” Rivers of North America, Benke, A. C. and Cushing, C. E., eds., Academic, New York, 72–122.
Straub, T. (2007). “Erosion dynamics of a stepwise small dam removal, Brewster Creek Dam near St. Charles Illinois.” Ph.D. thesis, Colorodo State Univ., Fort Collins, CO.
Tschantz, B. A., and Wright, K. R. (2011). “Hidden dangers and public safety at low-head dams.” J. Dam Saf., 9(1), 7–17.
Walter, R. C., and Merritts, D. J. (2008). “Natural streams and the legacy of water-powered mills.” ScienceSCIEAS, 319(5861), 299–304.
Widdows, J., Pope, N., and Brinsley, M. (2008). “Effect of Spartina Angelica stems on near-bed hydrodynamics, sediment erodability and morphological changes on an intertidal mudflat.” Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.MESEDT, 362, 45–57.
Wildman, L., and MacBroom, J. (2005). “The evolution of gravel bed channels after dam removal: Case study of the Anaconda and Union City Dam removals.” GeomorphologyGEMPEZ, 71(1–2), 245–262.
Wildman, L., and MacBroom, J. (2010). “A broad level classification system for dam removals.” Proc., 2nd Joint Federal Interagency Conf., Las Vegas.
Wood, J. (2010). “Seasonal patterns of nutrient retention in a restored tidal freshwater stream of the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain.” Ph.D. thesis, Virginia Commonwealth Univ., Richmond, VA.
Wyrick, J., Rischman, B., Burke, C., McGee, C., and Williams, C. (2009). “Using hydraulic modeling to address social impacts of small dam removals in southern New Jersey.” J. Environ. Manage.EMNGDC, 90(3), S270–S278.
Yagci, O., and Kabdasli, M. S. (2008). “The impact of single natural vegetation elements on flow characteristics.” Hydrol. ProcessesHYPRE3, 22(21), 4310–4321.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 5 • May 2012
Pages: 377 - 390
Copyright
© 2012. American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 20, 2010
Accepted: Oct 17, 2011
Published online: Apr 16, 2012
Published in print: May 1, 2012
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.