Quantification of Bed-Load Transport on the Upper Mississippi River Using Multibeam Survey Data and Traditional Methods

This Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) describes the progress made in using multibeam bathymetric data to determine bed-load transport in large sand bed rivers. Work was conducted as part of the Monitoring of Completed Navigation Projects (MCNP) Program in coordination with the Coastal Inlets Research Program (CIRP).The need for quantifying bed-load transport is universal in riverine and coastal processes. In the past many analytic and mechanical methods have been devised to try and quantify bed-load transport on large sand bed rivers. To date, most methods are only marginally successful. In this MCNP work unit, being able to quantify the bed load accurately would be extremely helpful in determining whether or not river training structures in combination with a drawdown of the navigation pool would have an effect on net sediment movement through a given reach of river. In other words, accurate measurements would help resolve whether or not the altering of the pool stage and flow schedules might also be used as a sediment management tool. With these considerations in mind, a new methodology for the computation of bed-load transport was developed using multibeam bathymetric data. This methodology could also be applicable in evaluating transport in and around coastal structures throughout a tidal cycle. The original document contains color images.