Author(s): Yi Jun Xu, Bo Wang, Sanjeev Joshi

Linked Author(s): Yi Jun Xu

Keywords: Sediment transport; Bedmaterial load; Channel morphodynamics; Estuary-coastal zone; Mississippi River;

Abstract: Sediment transport and channel dynamics of large alluvial rivers in their lower reaches can strongly influence physical, chemical and biological conditions in their deltaic regions. In this paper, we report the latest assessment on sediment transport and riverbed dynamics of the last 500-km reach of the Mississippi River before entering the Gulf of Mexico. This river reach is also termed as the Lowermost Mississippi River (LmMR), which begins downstream of its division node to the Atchafalaya River. Our assessment shows that in the past 2-3 decades, suspended sediment and bed material loads in the LmMR were significantly higher at the upstreamlocation than those at the downstream locations. Nearly 70% of the riverine sand is trapped within the LmMR. Continuous riverbed aggradation (up to 10 m) occurred below the Mississippi-Atchafalaya diversion, presentingfavorable backwater conditions for an avulsion. Backwater effects have mainly controlled riverbed deformationin the LmMR, while flow reduction may have also contributed to channel aggradation in the lowermost reach. Our assessment reveals the considerable complexity of morphodynamical responses of a large alluvial river tohuman interventions, strongly suggesting that future river engineering and management of the world largealluvial rivers need to look for effective strategies that will improve sediment transport.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/38WC092019-1641

Year: 2019