Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

08 Jul, 08 AM - 09 Jul, 02 AM

In mountain channels, boulders or large roughness elements often influence local flow hydraulics and downstream morphology. However, few studies exist that successfully integrate the influence of large boulders on pool form and maintenance. In the absence of a more complete understanding of the controls on pool formation in boulder-bed streams, river restoration projects designed to enhance pool habitat, will be reliant upon uncalibrated empirical data and insufficiently tested theoretical principles. The present study will utilize semi-natural channels at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Lab (SNARL), to address this research gap by testing the following hypotheses: 1) Large boulders converge flow and increase velocities and sediment transport capacity through pool centers 2) There is an optimal size and spacing of boulders that maximizes flow acceleration and pool scour The direct study of pool formation in natural channels is extremely difficult because channel scour in these streams occurs during high magnitude, low frequency flows. The recurrence intervals between such flows is very long relative to the time span of most research projects, and conditions within the channel commonly make direct field measurements hazardous or impossible. Consequently, studies in semi-natural channels, such as those present at SNARL, offer an excellent opportunity to collect data relating channel hydraulics to flow obstructions.

Visit #5618 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 4405 | Research

Modeling pool formation and response to sedimentation

graduate_student - University of California, Santa Barbara

Reservation Members(s)

lee harrison Jul 8 - 9, 2004 (2 days)
lee harrison Jul 8 - 9, 2004 (2 days)

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Dorm 2 Jul 8 - 9, 2004