Sediment transport below a small alpine reservoir desilted by controlled flushing: field assessment and one-dimensional numerical simulation

Purpose

Sediment transport and riverbed sedimentation were investigated in an alpine stream below a small hydropower reservoir desilted by a controlled sediment flushing (CSF) operation. The term “controlled” refers to the operational tasks implemented to mitigate the downstream environmental impact of the operation. The experimental dataset acquired before, during, and after the CSF was also used to carry out and calibrate a one-dimensional sediment transport model of the monitored event.

Materials and methods

The investigated reservoir is located in the central Italian Alps, and its original storage was 160,000 m³, about 30% filled by a mixture of sand and silt/clay before the CSF. Downstream sediment concentration was controlled by releasing clear water from upstream reservoirs and regulating the work of earth-moving equipment in the emptied reservoir. A 3.6-km-long reach with average slope of 0.015 was monitored: concentration and grain size of suspended sediment were measured during the CSF and the riverbed alteration was evaluated by volumetric sampling and measurements of the deposits’ thickness. Sedimentation and River Hydraulics—One Dimensional (SRH-1D) was used to simulate sediment transport during the monitored CSF. Model parameters were calibrated by comparing the computed and the observed amount of sediment deposited along the study reach.

Results and discussion

Sediment flushing was carried out in October 2010 for 3 days. Ca. 16,000 m³ of sediment were evacuated, representing approximately 30% silt/clay and 70% sand. 2.4 Mm³ of clear water was released to reduce sediment concentration and increase transport capacity downstream. About 3000 m³ of sand was deposited in the study reach after the CSF, with maximum height up to 0.2 m. Although the riverbed before the CSF was simply set as mono-granular, after calibrating the parameters, good agreement was achieved between the depositional pattern computed by SRH-1D and the one observed, both in terms of deposit thickness and grain size of deposited sediment. The sensitivity analysis revealed a major role of the parameters controlling bed mixing processes in affecting the simulated deposition after the CSF.

Conclusions

Sediment below 0.1 mm in diameter was not detected in river deposits after the flushing: the effects on river biota associated with substrate clogging by very fine sediment were therefore minimized. After proper calibration, 1-D sediment transport modeling can effectively support the planning of CSF operations: to minimize the downstream environmental effects, concurrently achieving acceptable flushing efficiency, the analyzed scenarios as well as the model outputs need to be carefully evaluated from a multidisciplinary perspective.

     

Decomposition of Medicago sativa Debris Incubated at Different Depths under Mediterranean Climate

Reports on the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen at different depths in soil profiles usually describe a higher mineralization of both at upper horizons. Nevertheless, under Mediterranean climate, upper soil horizons are strongly affected by drought, especially in summer, and may offer pedoclimatic conditions less favorable to microbial activity than deep soil layers. Therefore, decomposition could be slower in the upper soil layers. To test this hypothesis, mixtures of Medicago sativa ground plants and soil material were incubated in the field, at 5, 20, and 40 cm depth, in nylon mesh bags. Mineralization of carbon and nitrogen was studied for two years. At 5 cm, mineralization of both elements was lower, and no differences were found between 20 and 40 cm. After two years of field incubation, the remaining carbon (as a percentage of the initial content) was 27.95 % +/- 0.88 at 5 cm depth, 19.87% +/- 0.77 at 20 cm, and 18.78 % +/- 1.19 at 40 cm. Mineralization of nitrogen exceeded that of carbon. After two years of field incubation, the remaining nitrogen (as a percentage of the initial content) was 17.62% +/- 3.06 at 5 cm depth, 12.17% +/- 0.94 at 20 cm, and 11.26% +/- 0.99 at 40 cm. The biodegradation rate in upper layers was lower for all biochemical fractions (water-soluble compounds, lipids, polysaccharides, lignin). This contrasts with the usual findings on this topic, but is consistent with our previous results with forest litter samples. Mineralization clearly followed double-exponential kinetics, with a labile and a recalcitrant pool of both carbon and nitrogen. The labile pool of carbon accounted for about 50% of the total initial carbon, whereas that of nitrogen accounted for about 60%. No clear effect of depth on the proportion between the labile and the recalcitrant pool was observed, neither for carbon nor for nitrogen. It was not possible to identify both pools with the biochemical fractions, suggesting that these pools should be interpreted in physical terms (unprotected vs. protected ). No direct effect of depth on the global retention of N was detected.     

Phylogenetic identification of Cystoisospora spp. from dogs, cats, and raccoon dogs in Japan

Cystoisospora spp. from feces in dogs, cats, and raccoon dogs were isolated, sequenced at the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene locus and compared to other Cystoisospora spp. Cystoisospora oocysts from dogs and raccoon dogs were morphologically similar with those of C. ohioensis, and cat isolates were similar with those of C. felis. The sequences from dogs and raccoon dogs, and cats have a homology with C. ohioensis and C. felis, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the DNA sequences showed that the dog and raccoon dog isolates were nested in a clade with other Cystoisospora spp. including C. ohioensis, C. belli, and C. orlovi. The cat isolate formed a sister group with C. felis that was a separate clade from the dog and raccoon dog group. We report sequence variation in these Cystoisospora sequences and have identified raccoon dogs as another carnivore host for Cystoisospora spp. infecting dogs.     

Variability of in-channel sediment storage in a river draining highly erodible areas (the Isábena,Ebro Basin)

Purpose

In-channel sediment storage is a fundamental component of a river basin’s sediment budget. Sediment remains stored until a competent flow re-suspends and transfers it downstream. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to quantify in-channel sediment storage and its spatial and temporal dynamics in the River Isábena, a mesoscale mountainous catchment draining highly erodible areas (badlands) in the south central Pyrenees (Ebro basin) and (2) to analyse changes in storage in the mainstem channel in relation to sediment yield from the main tributaries.

Materials and methods

In-channel sediment storage was measured seasonally (from winter 2011 to winter 2012) at 14 mainstem cross-sections using a re-suspension cylinder. A minimum of three locations were sampled at each section, and two levels of agitation were applied. Samples allowed determination of the amount of sediment accumulated per unit surface area at a given point in the river; estimates of the total storage in the bed of the mainstem Isábena were derived from these data. In addition, main five tributaries were monitored for discharge and suspended sediment transport.

Results and discussion

Results show an annual sedimentary cycle, with the sediment being produced in badlands during winter, transferred to the main channel during spring, stored in the river during summer and, finally, exported out of the basin by the autumn floods. Marked spatial variability was observed; sections located immediately downstream from the main tributaries (i.e. mainly Villacarli) generally held larger amounts of sediment in the bed. Runoff and sediment inputs from the tributaries were the most important factors determining sediment storage and its spatial and temporal dynamics. The overall sediment yield of the Isábena was much higher than the in-channel sediment storage, despite the large amounts stored in the channel.

Conclusions

This finding corroborates a previous published hypothesis that fine sediment in the drainage network has a mean residence time of the order of 1 year and that the basin’s delivery ratio exceeds 90 %; both of these characteristics can be related to the high connectivity between production areas (badlands) and the river network, and to the role of baseflows allowing continuous export of sediment from the catchment.     

Spatial Relationships of Soil Texture and Crop Rotation to Aspergillus flavus Community Structure in South Texas

ABSTRACT Aspergillus flavus, the causal agent of aflatoxin contamination of cottonseed, is a natural inhabitant of soils. A. flavus can be divided into the S and L strains, of which the S-strain isolates, on average, produce greater quantities of aflatoxins than the L-strain isolates. Aflatoxin contamination can be severe in several crops in South Texas. The structure of A. flavus communities residing in soils of South Texas was determined from 326 soil samples collected from 152 fields located from the Rio Grande Valley in the south to Fort Bend County in the north from 2001 through 2003. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences in the incidence of A. flavus isolates belonging to the S strain (percent S) among regions. The Coastal Bend (30.7%) and Upper Coast (25.5%) regions had significantly higher percent S incidence than the Rio Grande Valley (4.8%). No significant differences in percent S among years were detected. The CFU per gram of soil were not significantly different among regions. Strain S incidence was positively correlated with clay content and negatively correlated with sand content. Fields cropped to cotton the previous year had a higher S-strain incidence, whereas fields cropped to corn had greater total quantities of A. flavus propagules. Maps of S-strain patterns show that the S strain constitutes >30% of the overall A. flavus community in the area extending from the central Coastal Bend region to the central Upper Coast region. The west Rio Grande Valley had the lowest S-strain incidence (<10%). Geographic variation in S-strain incidence may influence the distribution of aflatoxin contamination in South Texas.     

Computed tomographic retrograde positive contrast cystography and computed tomographic excretory urography characterization of a urinary bladder diverticulum in a dog

A one‐year‐old intact male German shepherd dog was referred with a 3‐month history of dysuria and pollakiuria. Physical examination revealed a large firm mass in the caudal abdomen. Findings from survey radiography, negative contrast cystography, computed tomographic (CT) retrograde positive contrast cystography, and CT excretory urography were consistent with a large urinary bladder diverticulum. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a normal wall appearance in the ventral compartment (true bladder) and marked thinning of the wall in the dorsal compartment (diverticulum). Both ureters inserted into the ventral compartment. The dorsal compartment was excised and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of urinary bladder diverticulum.     

Sediment transport from continuous monitoring in a perennial Mediterranean stream

Sediment transport in the Ribera Salada stream was estimated from continuous suspended and bedload monitoring between 2005 and 2008. The Ribera Salada basin is a mountainous perennial river in the Southern Pyrenees and is representative of the extensive forestry land use in this upland region. Water and sediment fluxes have been analysed with the aim of determining the thresholds, duration, ranges and relative contributions of the two sediment transport modes (suspended and bedload), and their variability in relation to the basin's annual hydrology. The stream's hydrology in the first two sampling years was average in the context of a 10-yr series of the basin, while 2007–2008 can be classified as a wet year. The specific total sediment load during the study period amounted to 12 t km⁻²y⁻¹, a low value compared with similar Mediterranean counterparts. The maximum load (31.5 t km⁻²y⁻¹) was observed during the wettest year of the monitoring programme. During average years most of the total load (> 90%) was transported in suspension; consequently, suspended sediment transport is more frequent through time. In contrast, bedload occurs sporadically during floods that exceed certain hydraulic thresholds, corresponding to a flow equalled or exceeded 4% of the time, that yields an average shear stress of ∼ 35 N m⁻². Under such conditions bedload transport becomes relevant and, if the threshold is frequently exceeded as in relatively wet years such as 2007–2008, may constitute the majority of the total sediment load (74%). This paper provides new evidence of the distinct role of sediment transport modes in stable fluvial environments where only sporadic inputs of surplus energy (flow discharge) determine the dominant mode, magnitude and duration of their respective contribution.