Case Study of the Integrated Model for Estimation of Sediment Load in Artificial River Channel

Abstract

Sedimentation is one of the most important factors affecting stream channel stability. A proposed model was developed to estimate the sediment load of an artificial channel by the integration of the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and Watershed Assessment of River Stability and Sediment Supply (WARSSS). The developed model was tested in the channelized portion of the Hocking River near Athens, Ohio. It was estimated that the gross erosion from the watershed was 7.29×11 kg/year, of which 96.64% resulted from surface erosion and 3.36% from bank erosion. A field measurement of total sediment yield in the channel, assumed to be the sum of suspended sediment and bedload, was conducted. The total annual sediment yield was estimated as 8.9×19 kg, of which 98.29% was suspended sediments and 1.71% bedload sediments. It was concluded that the sediment delivery ratio of the studied watershed was estimated to be 11.11%, which is consistent with those of the watersheds having similar sizes in the region. Based on these results, the authors believe that the proposed model can reasonably well estimate the sediment load in the studied portion of the Hocking River.