Research Article
Nov 1967
Sediment Transport in a Coastal Plain Estuary
Authors: Maynard M. Nichols and George PoorAuthor Affiliations
Publication: Journal of the Waterways and Harbors Division
Volume 93, Issue 4
Abstract
Observations of net flow and suspended sediment were made in the Rappahannock Estuary, Virginia, to delineate patterns of transport that lead to partial entrapment of sediment in the middle estuary. The estuary is characteristic of the partly mixed type; its main channel is bordered by extensive submerged shoals. River-borne sediments are flushed downstream through the upper estuary mainly over the shoals. In the middle estuary, sediment is partly entrapped on the north shoals or deposited on the basin floor. Another part is redistributed headward in the channel along with estuarine produced organic constituents. Upstream transport by density currents is augmented by alternating tidal flow that favors differential settling and selective transport of coarse-grained particles. Near the head, rapid advective mixing and moderate tidal turbulence act to deter deposition and recirculate sediment downstream over the shoals. Engineering measures in similar systems should be planned to take advantage of natural self-flushing features.
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Published In
Journal of the Waterways and Harbors Division
Volume 93 • Issue 4 • November 1967
Pages: 83 - 95
Copyright
© 1967 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published in print: Nov 1967
Published online: Feb 12, 2021
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Authors
Affiliations
Maynard M. Nichols
Assoc. Marine Scientist, Virginia Inst. of Marine Science, Assoc. Prof., College of William and Mary, Willia msburg, Va., and Asst. Prof., Univ. of Virginia, Gloucester point, Va.
George Poor
LCdr. US ESSA, Commanding Officer, USC & GS Marmer, Environmental Science Service Administration, Atlantic Marine Center, Norfolk, Va.; now Projects Officer, Pacific Marine Center, Seattle, Wash.
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