Streambank Alluvial Unit Contributions to Suspended Sediment and Total Phosphorus Loads, Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA

William Beck; Thomas Isenhart; Peter Moore; Keith Schilling; Richard Schultz; Mark Tomer

doi:10.3390/w10020111

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Streambank Alluvial Unit Contributions to Suspended Sediment and Total Phosphorus Loads, Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA

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Streambank Alluvial Unit Contributions to Suspended Sediment and Total Phosphorus Loads, Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA

William Beck, Thomas Isenhart, Peter Moore, Keith Schilling, Richard Schultz and Mark Tomer

Water (Basel), Vol.10(2), p.111

01/01/2018

DOI: 10.3390/w10020111

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Abstract

Streambank erosion may represent a significant source of sediment and phosphorus (P) to overall watershed loads; however, watershed-scale quantification of contributions is rare. In addition, streambanks are often comprised of highly variable stratigraphic source materials (e.g., alluvial deposits), which may differentially impact in-channel P dynamics once eroded. The objective of this study was to quantify sediment and total phosphorus (TP) losses from four materials comprising streambanks within a 5218 ha watershed in Iowa, USA. Streambank-face surveys, erosion pins, and soil analyses were used to quantify surface area representation, recession, and losses of sediment and TP over a two-year period. Cumulative, whole-bank gross mean recession totaled 18.6 cm over two years, and material-specific gross mean recession ranged from 15.5 to 64.1 cm. Cumulative, whole-bank mean gross mass losses totaled 0.28 Mg sediment and 0.7 x 10(-5) Mg TP per meter channel length. Annual sediment losses equated to 4-44% of historic suspended sediment loads. Stratigraphy was significant in gross material erosion and losses, with lower materials (i.e., bank toe region) exhibiting the greatest recession rates and cumulative recession. Weathered/colluvial material dominated total bank face surface area (88.3%), and contributed the greatest proportion of sediment and TP mass loss (66, 68%, respectively) versus other streambank materials.

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Details

Title: Subtitle: Streambank Alluvial Unit Contributions to Suspended Sediment and Total Phosphorus Loads, Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA
Creators: William Beck - Iowa State University
Thomas Isenhart - Iowa State University
Peter Moore - Iowa State University
Keith Schilling - Univ Iowa, Iowa Geol Survey, 340A Trowbridge Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
Richard Schultz - Iowa State University
Mark Tomer - National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Water (Basel), Vol.10(2), p.111
DOI: 10.3390/w10020111
ISSN: 2073-4441
eISSN: 2073-4441
Publisher: MDPI AG
Number of pages: 22
Language: English
Date published: 01/01/2018
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984383279102771

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