SUBCOMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ON

SEDIMENTATIONSEDIMENTATION

Report to the ACWIReport to the ACWI

John R. Gray (jrgray@usgs.gov), ChairJohn R. Gray (jrgray@usgs.gov), ChairSeptember 15, 2004September 15, 2004

SOS SOS StatusStatus

• Formed in 1939Formed in 1939

• ACWI Subcommittee, September ACWI Subcommittee, September 20032003

• Last meeting: Yesterday (9/14/2004)Last meeting: Yesterday (9/14/2004)

• Membership: Non-Federal orgs Membership: Non-Federal orgs (ASCE-Environmental and Water (ASCE-Environmental and Water Research Institute; Colorado State Research Institute; Colorado State University) interested, but have yet University) interested, but have yet to petition for membershipto petition for membership

12 Current SOS 12 Current SOS Members*Members*

Agricultural Research Agricultural Research ServiceService

Bureau of Land Bureau of Land ManagementManagement

Bureau of ReclamationBureau of Reclamation U.S. Environmental U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyProtection Agency

Federal Highway Federal Highway AdministrationAdministration

U.S. Forest ServiceU.S. Forest Service

International Boundary International Boundary and Water Commissionand Water Commission

National Park ServiceNational Park Service

Office of Surface MiningOffice of Surface Mining U.S. Army Corps of U.S. Army Corps of EngineersEngineers

Natural Resources Natural Resources Conservation ServiceConservation Service

U.S. Geological SurveyU.S. Geological Survey

* Past members FERC, TVA, BIA, NOAA, and NRC have not been represented on the SOS for years.* Past members FERC, TVA, BIA, NOAA, and NRC have not been represented on the SOS for years.* FHWA has missed consecutive meetings.* FHWA has missed consecutive meetings.* Currently no non-Federal SOS members, although some are considering membership.

SOS Charge SOS Charge (1993) (1993)

• Identify the Nation’s major sediment-Identify the Nation’s major sediment-related problems in the 21’st centuryrelated problems in the 21’st century

• Endeavor to coordinate and pool Federal Endeavor to coordinate and pool Federal resources to effectively address high-resources to effectively address high-priority problemspriority problems

• Remain the primary mechanism for Remain the primary mechanism for interagency communication and interagency communication and coordination on national sedimentation coordination on national sedimentation issuesissues

Workgroup Workgroup ReportsReports

• 88thth Federal Interagency Sedimentation Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference (2006):Conference (2006): Plans. Plans.

• Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates:Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates: Progress with ASTM International on Progress with ASTM International on standards.standards.

• National Sediment Monitoring and Federal National Sediment Monitoring and Federal Data Storage and Access:Data Storage and Access: Status and future Status and future directionsdirections

• Reservoir Information System (RESIS) II:Reservoir Information System (RESIS) II: Recommendation to the ACWI.Recommendation to the ACWI.

Joint 8Joint 8thth Federal Interagency Federal Interagency Sedimentation and 3Sedimentation and 3rdrd Federal Federal

Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference – April 2-6, 2004Conference – April 2-6, 2004

“ “Interdisciplinary Solutions for Interdisciplinary Solutions for Watershed Sustainability.”Watershed Sustainability.”

• Silver Legacy Hotel, RenoSilver Legacy Hotel, Reno

• Estimated 400-600 attendeesEstimated 400-600 attendees

• 6 concurrent sessions, ~270 papers6 concurrent sessions, ~270 papers

• 60 + poster and computer demonstrations60 + poster and computer demonstrations

• Commercial Exhibit HallCommercial Exhibit Hall

• Field TripsField Trips

• Short Courses (may award continuing education units)Short Courses (may award continuing education units)

• Call for Papers due out October 1, 2004; Call for Papers due out October 1, 2004; ASCE advertiseASCE advertise??

Workgroup Workgroup ReportsReports

• 88thth Federal Interagency Sedimentation Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference (2006): Plans.Conference (2006): Plans.

• Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates: Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates: Progress with ASTM International on Progress with ASTM International on standards.standards.

• National Sediment Monitoring and Federal National Sediment Monitoring and Federal Data Storage and Access: Status and future Data Storage and Access: Status and future directionsdirections

• Reservoir Information System (RESIS) II: Reservoir Information System (RESIS) II: Recommendation to the ACWI.Recommendation to the ACWI.

TurbidityTurbidity WorkgroupWorkgroup

• Proceedings of the Fed. Interagency Workshop Proceedings of the Fed. Interagency Workshop (USGS Circular 1250*)(USGS Circular 1250*)

• Propose Federally developed standards for Propose Federally developed standards for turbidity data-collection and reporting (as turbidity data-collection and reporting (as many as many as 1010 different reporting units for different reporting units for “turbidity”).“turbidity”).

• SOS working with ASTM to develop standards SOS working with ASTM to develop standards (round-robin testing planned, perhaps in 2004)(round-robin testing planned, perhaps in 2004)

**http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/2003/circ1250/http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/2003/circ1250/

Workgroup Workgroup ReportsReports

• 88thth Federal Interagency Sedimentation Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference (2006): Plans.Conference (2006): Plans.

• Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates: Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates: Progress with ASTM International on Progress with ASTM International on standards.standards.

• National Sediment Monitoring and Federal National Sediment Monitoring and Federal Data Storage and Access: Status and future Data Storage and Access: Status and future directionsdirections

• Reservoir Information System (RESIS) II: Reservoir Information System (RESIS) II: Recommendation to the ACWI.Recommendation to the ACWI.

Nation’s Fluvial-Sediment Data Nation’s Fluvial-Sediment Data NeedsNeeds

• Historical: Maintenance of reservoirs, channels, Historical: Maintenance of reservoirs, channels, and hydraulic structures/bridge piersand hydraulic structures/bridge piers

• Today’s needs include but are not limited to: Today’s needs include but are not limited to: - Legal requirements – - Legal requirements – TMDL’sTMDL’s- - Contaminated sedimentContaminated sediment management management- - BMPBMP Evaluations Evaluations- - DamDam decommissioning, rehabilitation, removal decommissioning, rehabilitation, removal- - FireFire-burn hydrology/sedimentology-burn hydrology/sedimentology- Stream - Stream restorationrestoration/geomorphic assessments/geomorphic assessments- Physical-- Physical-bioticbiotic interactions interactions- Global - Global carboncarbon budget budget- Sand budget and bar maintenance- Sand budget and bar maintenance- - ProductivityProductivity of agricultural lands of agricultural lands

USGS Daily Sediment Stations by Year 1940-2000

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100

200

300

400

1940

1942

1944

1946

1948

1950

1952

1954

1956

1958

1960

1962

1964

1966

1968

1970

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1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

Water Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Sta

tio

ns

Estimated from Glysson, 1989

Estimated from graphic, originunknownLew, 1998; Lew, 2000, written commun.

1

2

1 Glysson, G.D., 1989, 100 Years of Sedimentation Study by the USGS, in, Proceedings of the International Symposium, Sediment Transport Modeling, Sam S.Y . Wang, ed.: American Society of Civil Engineers, New Orleans, August 14-18, 1989, pp. 260-2652 Lew, Melvin, 1998, Operation of Hydrologic Data-Collection Stations by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-832, p.14. These data have been multiplied by a coefficient of 0.657 based on the relation between the red and tan bars for the period 1985-1993 in an attempt to render Lew's data comparable to the blue and red bars. Data depicted by the blue bars were dervied from the National Water Information System or its predessesor. Data depicted by the red bars, of unknown origin, also appear to be approximately derived from the National Water Information System. Almost half of the sediment stations operated in 2000 are in Puerto Rico.

(J ohn R. Gray and Roger K. Chang, USGS, OSW, October 2000)

Declining Sediment-Data Collection

!!!This graph should be considered qualitatively,

not quantitatively!!!

*29 daily sediment stations in Puerto Rico

ChallengeChallengeHow can the Nation’s fluvial-How can the Nation’s fluvial-sediment data needs be met sediment data needs be met with…with…

• IncreasedIncreased temporal and spatial temporal and spatial resolutionresolution,,• Better – and known – Better – and known – accuracyaccuracy,,• ExpandedExpanded measured measured characteristicscharacteristics,,• Reduced costsReduced costs, and, and• Increased safetyIncreased safety,,

as compared to traditional monitoring techniques?as compared to traditional monitoring techniques?

Future: A National Sediment Future: A National Sediment Information Program – NSIPInformation Program – NSIP2 2

…?…? There has never been a national sedimentThere has never been a national sediment monitoring networkmonitoring network

• Core Network of “Sediment Stations”Core Network of “Sediment Stations”• Subset of Stations for Sediment ResearchSubset of Stations for Sediment Research• Equipment & Methods Analytical ComponentEquipment & Methods Analytical Component• Data Synthesis ComponentData Synthesis Component• Common DatabaseCommon Database• $4M-$16M/year (scope & methods dependent)$4M-$16M/year (scope & methods dependent)• AGU-EOS letter, 9/28/2004 (handout)AGU-EOS letter, 9/28/2004 (handout) http://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/TSS/gray.pdfhttp://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/TSS/gray.pdf

National Sediment National Sediment Monitoring CostsMonitoring Costs Estimate Estimate (USGS, 2004)(USGS, 2004)• Proposal based on a U.S. Commission Proposal based on a U.S. Commission

on Ocean Policy Request to developon Ocean Policy Request to develop““a strategy for improved assessment, a strategy for improved assessment, monitoring, research, and technology monitoring, research, and technology development to enhance sediment development to enhance sediment managementmanagement””

• $$16M annually16M annually estimated for a “ estimated for a “full-full-scalescale” monitoring and synthesis ” monitoring and synthesis program (linked to QW and biological program (linked to QW and biological measurements)measurements)

National Sediment National Sediment Monitoring CostsMonitoring Costs Estimate Estimate (USGS, 2004)(USGS, 2004)• Proposal based on a U.S. Commission Proposal based on a U.S. Commission

on Ocean Policy Request to developon Ocean Policy Request to develop““a strategy for improved assessment, a strategy for improved assessment, monitoring, research, and technology monitoring, research, and technology development to enhance sediment development to enhance sediment managementmanagement””

• $$16M annually16M annually estimated for a “full- estimated for a “full-scale” monitoring and synthesis scale” monitoring and synthesis program (linked to QW and biological program (linked to QW and biological measurements)measurements)

New Instruments and New Instruments and TechniquesTechniques

Laser In Situ Scattering and Transmissometry, LISST

Data from CO River, Grand Data from CO River, Grand CanyonCanyon

0.08

0.09

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0.14

0.08

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0.17

0 5 10 15 20 25

LISST POINT VALUES AT UPPER GAGE

CROSS-SECTIONALLY INTEGRATED VALUES MEASURED AT CABLEWAY WITH D-77 BAG SAMPLER

LIS

ST

SU

SP

EN

DE

D-S

AN

D D

50 (

mm

)C

AB

LE

WA

Y S

US

PE

ND

ED

-SA

ND

D50 (m

m)

HOURS AFTER START OF TEST

(LISST D50

) x1.19 = ( CABLEWAY MEASURED D50

)

Integrated Sand Conc.

By D-77 Bag Sampler

LISST-100Point Sand Conc. Measurements

USGS Informal Sediment “SuperGage” Network (past, present)

MS, KS, AZ, FL, NY, TX, CA, PA, IL, OR, GA, WA, MD, formerly PR

USGS and ARSUSGS and ARSInternational Journal of Sediment Research, International Journal of Sediment Research,

1998*1998*

•Sediment Damages in North America Total $16 Billion Annually

• If Program Results Were Used to Better Manage Resources Such That a 1% Decrease in Sediment Damage was Realized, the Program Would Pay for Itself 40 Times Over (annual basis)

*http://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/Osterkamp.html

A National A National Sediment Sediment Information Information ProgramProgram•The SOS believes this program is The SOS believes this program is

important and needed.important and needed.

•If the ACWI concurs, SOS seeks If the ACWI concurs, SOS seeks counsel on how to proceed.counsel on how to proceed.

Workgroup Workgroup ReportsReports

• 88thth Federal Interagency Sedimentation Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference (2006): Plans.Conference (2006): Plans.

• Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates: Turbidity and Other Sediment Surrogates: Progress with ASTM International on Progress with ASTM International on standards.standards.

• National Sediment Monitoring and Federal National Sediment Monitoring and Federal Data Storage and Access: Status and future Data Storage and Access: Status and future directionsdirections

• Reservoir Information System (RESIS) II: Reservoir Information System (RESIS) II: Recommendation to the ACWI.Recommendation to the ACWI.

A Brief Description of A Brief Description of RESISRESISInformation for 1,819 Federally operated Information for 1,819 Federally operated reservoirsreservoirs

• Volumetric data for submerged and aerated depositsVolumetric data for submerged and aerated deposits

• Originated in Soil Conservation Service Originated in Soil Conservation Service (now the (now the NRCSNRCS), early ), early 1980’s1980’s

• Nearly 6,000 individual surveys from Nearly 6,000 individual surveys from 1827 to 19921827 to 1992..

• Includes various descriptive attributes (e.g., owner, Includes various descriptive attributes (e.g., owner, nearest post office, watershed dimensions)nearest post office, watershed dimensions)

• For some reservoirs, contains information on size For some reservoirs, contains information on size distribution of bed sedimentsdistribution of bed sediments

• Originally maintained on a PC using Paradox 9Originally maintained on a PC using Paradox 9

• Includes reservoirs with drainage areas ranging from Includes reservoirs with drainage areas ranging from 0.0075 mi0.0075 mi22 to over 170,000 mi to over 170,000 mi22

Original Data Sheets as Part of Original Data Sheets as Part of RESIS-IIRESIS-II

RESIS-II: StatusRESIS-II: Status

• Ported to relational database by USGSPorted to relational database by USGS

• Some geo-referencing issues to be resolved, including Some geo-referencing issues to be resolved, including those related to Homeland Securitythose related to Homeland Security

• Largely unpopulated since 1980’sLargely unpopulated since 1980’s

• An orphanAn orphan

From Stallard and others, 2001

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Number of Reservoirs

< 1

1 to 5

5 to 10

10 to 50

50 to 500

500 to 5000

> 5000

Dra

inag

e A

rea

Cla

ss

Mi2

Reservoirs Surveyed for Sediment Deposits

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Perc

ent o

f Res

ervo

irs

Hal

f Fill

ed

< 1 1 to 5 5 to 10 10 to 50 50 to 500 500 to5000

> 5000 TOTAL LastSurveyDate

19932018

Drainage Area Class - Mi2

Time

Reservoirs Half Filled with Sediment

Chronosequence of Dam Chronosequence of Dam Construction in the U.S.Construction in the U.S.

From Before 1800 to 1993

Based on data in the National Inventory of Dams. Symbol size and darkness correspond to the size of the reservoir. Black and gray symbols correspond to dams older than the indicated time interval. Red symbols correspond to dams constructed during the time interval.

Prepared byRobert StallardUS Geological SurveyBoulder, CO 80303-1066e-mail: stallard@usgs.gov

NID: 1600-2000

Hit space bar to start sequence.

NID: Pre-1800

NID: 1801-1810

NID: 1811-1820

NID: 1821-1830

NID: 1831-1840

NID: 1841-1850

NID: 1851-1860

NID: 1861-1870

NID: 1871-1880

NID: 1881-1890

NID: 1891-1900

NID: 1901-1910

NID: 1911-1920

NID: 1921-1930

NID: 1931-1940

NID: 1941-1950

NID: 1951-1960

NID: 1961-1970

NID: 1971-1980

NID: 1981-1990

NID: 1991-2000

NID: 1600-2000

Some RESIS-II Findings*Some RESIS-II Findings* • The use of a GIS has enabled a more detailed

study of reservoir sedimentation data and rates.

• Soil erodibility was found to be the most influential factor affecting reservoir sedimentation rates – A proxy for land-use?

• A negative relation was found between mean annual rainfall and sedimentation rates – Annual rainfall a proxy for land cover?

• A positive relation exists between storm intensity and sedimentation rates

*From Stallard and others, 2001

1.1.Establish “Establish “ownershipownership” & MOU” & MOU

2.2.Form data-entry & QA Form data-entry & QA protocolsprotocols

3.3.Update Update GUIGUI, place on-line, place on-line

4.4.MaintainMaintain and and updateupdate database database

5.5.Perform data Perform data synthesissynthesis

6.6.Future: Future: Sed-qualitySed-quality information? information?

RESIS-II: General RESIS-II: General StepsSteps

• Year Year 1 1 ~$250k~$250k

• Year Year 2&3 2&3 ~$150k/yr~$150k/yr

• Year Year 4 ++ 4 ++ ~$75k/yr~$75k/yr

*to be refined on request *to be refined on request

RESIS-II: Cost Sum.*RESIS-II: Cost Sum.*

• Recognize importance of implementing, Recognize importance of implementing, updating, and maintaining an existing updating, and maintaining an existing national reservoir sedimentation survey national reservoir sedimentation survey database as an interactive, web-based database as an interactive, web-based application.application.

• Seek ACWI concurrence and support to Seek ACWI concurrence and support to develop ways and means for implementationdevelop ways and means for implementation

RESIS-II: SOS RESIS-II: SOS Resolution*Resolution*

* See 2-page handout to the ACWI, “Implementation of the Reservoir Information System (RESIS-II)”

Questions?

http://water.usgs.gov/wicp/acwi/sos/