OPTIMIZING SEDIMENT CAPTURE AND DELIVERY

Ehab Meselhe, PhD, PE

Director of Natural Systems Modeling

INTEGRATING APPLIED RESEARCH. LINKING KNOWLEDGE TO ACTION.

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS.

P R E S E N TAT I O N O V E R V I E W

Analysis/Validation of large scale dynamics

Application of large scale models

Analysis/validation of local riverine dynamics

Applications of local riverine dynamics

Analysis/validation of receiving area land building

Application of receiving area land building

G E O M O R P H I C A S S E S S M E N T

Document the historic trends of the channel system

Establish the current stability of the channel system and identify the dominant processes and features within the system

Acknowledgement: Little & Biedenharn

3

1 9 6 0 S T O 1 9 7 0 S

4

1 9 7 0 S T O 1 9 9 0 S

5

1 9 9 0 S T O 2 0 0 0 S

6

BUILDING STRONG®

Validation of large scale dynamics (Heath and Thomas)

7

A P P L I C AT I O N O F L A R G E S C A L E M O D E L S : LONG TERM IMPACT OF MULTIPLE DIVERSIONS ON RIVER

BUILDING STRONG®

Future With Project (PR#2)

(Heath and Thomas)

Map from 2012 Coastal Master Plan

5,000 CFS

35,000 CFS

75,000 CFS 50,000 CFS

50,000 CFS

BUILDING STRONG®

(Heath and Thomas)

A N A LY S I S / V A L I D AT I O N O F L O C A L R I V E R I N E D Y N A M I C S : LOCAL RIVER RESPONSE TO LARGE DIVERSION

BUILDING STRONG®

Bathymetric change (FLOOD 2011)

(Sadid and Meselhe)

BUILDING STRONG®

Bathymetric change

(June 2011-June 2012)

BUILDING STRONG®

Volume of Erosion and Accretion

BUILDING STRONG®

2011 Flood Event-Sand Budget

29

%

17%

8%

2%

A P P L I C AT I O N S O F L O C A L R I V E R I N E D Y N A M I C S

BUILDING STRONG®

Impact of Diversion Design on Capture Efficiency (Gaweesh and Meselhe)

17

BUILDING STRONG® 18

Invert Elevation

Alignment Angle

Size

Impact of

Diversion Design

on Capture

Efficiency

A N A LY S I S / V A L I D AT I O N O F R E C E I V I N G A R E A L A N D B U I L D I N G

W E S T B AY D I V E R S I O N

Acknowledgement: Meselhe, Allison, Khadka & Deltares

To West Bay (Receiving Basin)

2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E S

2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 1 L A N D B U I L D I N G ( ~ 3 K M 2 / 7 5 0 A C R E S )

A P P L I C AT I O N O F R E C E I V I N G A R E A L A N D B U I L D I N G

MID-BARATARIA LAND BUILDING ANALYSIS (WATER INSTITUTE AND HDR)

Alternatives:

75,000 CFS

50,000 CFS

35,000 CFS

25,000 CFS

C L O S I N G R E M A R K S

The synergy between Diversions and Dredging offers:

• Diversions: Sustainable solution

• Diversions: Significant new land building and preserve existing wetlands [fine material]

• Dredging/Placement: Near term land building

• Dredging/Placement: Reduced erosion

• Dredging/Placement: Enhanced sediment retention

• Combined: May reduce shoaling near the HOP

Impacts on Fisheries and Nutrients are being analyzed

THANK YOU

Please visit us at:

www.thewaterinstitute.org

@TheH2OInstitute

Follow us:

The Water Institute of the Gulf