Effect of low-head dams on reach-scale suspended sediment dynamics in coarse-bedded streams

River infrastructure is one of the primary threats to riverine ecosystems globally, altering hydromorphological processes and isolating habitats. Instream barriers and low-head dams can have significant effects on system connectivity, but despite this, very few empirical studies have assessed the impacts of these structures on suspended sediment transport. Through a paired turbidity study over a 20-month monitoring period we investigated the differences in suspended sediment flux above and below two low-head dams in the south-east of Ireland. Using sediment balance as a proxy for sediment storage, results showed that a net-export of sediment from the study reach occurred for 68% of the high-flow events analysed. As the primary controls on sediment dynamics at the downstream reach depend on sediment availability from upstream, we argue that these results indicate the presence of a substantial local source of sediment between monitoring stations that cannot be explained by natural intra-reach erosional processes. Here we hypothesise that as sediment supply from the catchment becomes exhausted, the structure's impounded zone (typically considered a depositional area) provides a major sediment source to the downstream reach. Our rationale is that if sediment trapped behind the weir is periodically available for transportation at the rates and frequencies observed in this study, then we can infer that both structures must be trapping sediment under lower flows. [Display omitted] •68% of high-flow events indicated net-export of sediment from the reach.•After sediment exhaustion, material in the impoundment becomes a major source to the downstream reach.•Results indicate that low-head dam trap efficiencies vary with flow magnitude and time between events.