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Article
Streambank Alluvial Unit Contributions to Suspended Sediment and Total Phosphorus Loads, Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA
Water
  • William Beck, Iowa State University
  • Thomas Isenhart, Iowa State University
  • Peter Moore, Iowa State University
  • Keith Schilling, University of Iowa
  • Richard Schultz, Iowa State University
  • Mark Tomer, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2018
DOI
10.3390/w10020111
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 × 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.

Comments

This article is published as Beck, William, Thomas Isenhart, Peter Moore, Keith Schilling, Richard Schultz, and Mark Tomer. "Streambank alluvial unit contributions to suspended sediment and total phosphorus loads, Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA." Water 10, no. 2 (2018): 111. doi: 10.3390/w10020111.

Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
William Beck, Thomas Isenhart, Peter Moore, Keith Schilling, et al.. "Streambank Alluvial Unit Contributions to Suspended Sediment and Total Phosphorus Loads, Walnut Creek, Iowa, USA" Water Vol. 10 Iss. 23 (2018) p. 111
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/thomas_isenhart/63/