U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

The The Mississippi River Mississippi River

Sediment and QW Data Information Sediment and QW Data Information NetworkNetwork

Phil Turnipseed, PEPhil Turnipseed, PE

for John R. Grayfor John R. Gray

Office of Surface WaterOffice of Surface Water

Reston, VA 20192Reston, VA 20192

Interagency Mississippi Valley Division MeetingInteragency Mississippi Valley Division Meeting

Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee

November 17, 2009November 17, 2009

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

The The Mississippi River Mississippi River

Sediment and QW Data Information Sediment and QW Data Information NetworkNetwork

USGS Coordination team:

John R. Gray – Team Leader

Charles Demas

Andrew Ziegler

Arthur Horowitz

Dale Blevins

USASC Coordination team:

Chuck Shadie – Team Leader

National Monitoring Network (NMN)National Monitoring Network (NMN)Current design approved by ACWI on Current design approved by ACWI on

April 5, 2006; endorsed by Corps, April 5, 2006; endorsed by Corps, EPA, USGS, NOAA (NOS &NWS), EPA, USGS, NOAA (NOS &NWS), TVA, USDA (NRCS & USFS),TVA, USDA (NRCS & USFS),

DOI (BLM, NPS, OSM, USFWS), many DOI (BLM, NPS, OSM, USFWS), many regional and state orgsregional and state orgs

352 HUC 6 Accounting units352 HUC 6 Accounting units

(about 130 in MS basin)(about 130 in MS basin)

2,262 HUC 8 Cataloging units2,262 HUC 8 Cataloging units

WQ issues:WQ issues:

DO, nutrient enrichment, toxics, DO, nutrient enrichment, toxics, sedimentationsedimentation, harmful algal blooms, , harmful algal blooms, habitat degradation, invasive species, habitat degradation, invasive species, and pathogens (indicator bact.)and pathogens (indicator bact.)

Pilots studies report completedPilots studies report completed

Advisory Committee on Water Information http://acwi.gov/monitoring/network/

Problem Annual loss of 25 - 40 mi2 of LA coastal wetlands due

in part to

Anthropogenic disturbance; Sea level rise; Subsidence; “Sediment Starvation”;

Sediment-bound nutrients contribute to Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone (since 1985 has ranged in size from 100 mi2 to 8,500 mi2).

Recent studies contend that about 50% of transport loss is attributable to Missouri River dams and reservoirs;

Gulf of MexicoHypoxic Zone

Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone

Annual Sediment Loads in MS River BasinAnnual Sediment Loads in MS River Basin

Background

1. Sediment data in Mississippi River Basin are highly variable with space and time;

2. Inconsistencies in sample frequency, collection and sample analysis methods, and record-computation techniques;

3. Sampling sites established for localized goals without a true network design to address basin-scale issues;

4. No one-stop data shopping.

Objectives

Develop and implement a long-term Develop and implement a long-term sediment- and solid-phase chemistry sediment- and solid-phase chemistry monitoring network based on monitoring network based on Network Design and State-of-Art Network Design and State-of-Art TechnologiesTechnologies Evaluate historical sediment-flux data; Evaluate historical sediment-flux data;

compute (or recompute where needed);compute (or recompute where needed); Network Design = Appropriate sites Network Design = Appropriate sites

(spatial, temporal) and consistent (spatial, temporal) and consistent instruments, data-collection and instruments, data-collection and computation methods.computation methods.

Ultimately identify trends in sediment Ultimately identify trends in sediment and solid-phase chemistry loadsand solid-phase chemistry loads

Overviews of:

Data Availability Data Collection Instruments and

Methods Load Computation Schemes New Capabilities that may

Revolutionize Acquisition of Fluvial-Sediment and QW Data

The Mississippi River Basin

Periods of Sediment Sample Collection on the Lower Missouri River

1879 1889 1899 1909 1919 1929 1939 1949 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2009

St. Charles/Howard Bend

Hermann

Boonville

Waverly

Kansas City

St. Joseph/Leavenworth

Nebraska City/Plattsmouth

Omaha

Sioux City

Yankton ~ 50 sample-days/yr

~25 sample-days/yr

~ 81+ sample-days/yr

~46 sample days/yr

~ 61 sample-days/yr

~ 61 sample days/yr

~91 sample-days/yr

~91 sample-days/yr

Surface samples only

Surface samples only

~308 sample days/yr

~216 sample days/yr

~163 sample days/yr

~210 sample days/yr

12 to 15 USGS samples/yr

~15 USGS NASQAN samples/yr

~15 USGS NASQAN samples/yr

Surface samples only

No SamplesSamples collected by USACE

Samples collected by USGS

Samples collected by others

Availability of suspended sediment loadsPeriods of Suspended-Sediment Load Calculations on the Lower Missouri River

1879 1889 1899 1909 1919 1929 1939 1949 1959 1969 1979 1989 1999 2009

St. Charles/Howard Bend

Hermann

Boonville

Waverly

Kansas City

St. Joseph/Leavenworth

Nebraska City/Plattsmouth

Omaha

Sioux City

Yankton ~ 50 sample days/yr

~25 sample days/yr

~ 81+ sample days/yr

~46 sample days/yr

~ 61 sample days/yr

~ 61 sample days/yr

~91 sample days/yr

~91 sample-days/yr

Surface samples only

Surface samples only

~308 sample days/yr

~216 sample days/yr

~163 sample days/yr

~210 sample days/yr

12 to 15 USGS samples/yr

~15 USGS NASQAN samples/yr

~15 USGS NASQAN samples/yr

Surface samples only

No Samples Loads calculated by USACE Loads calculated by USGS

Sed Loads @ 2 sites

USGS Daily Sediment Stations by Year 1940-2000

0

100

200

300

400

1940

1942

1944

1946

1948

1950

1952

1954

1956

1958

1960

1962

1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

Water Year

Nu

mb

er o

f Sta

tions

Estimated from Glysson, 1989

Estimated from graphic, originunknownLew, 1998; Lew, 2000, written commun.

1

2

1 Glysson, G.D., 1989, 100 Years of Sedimentation Study by the USGS, in, Proceedings of the International Symposium, Sediment Transport Modeling, Sam S.Y . Wang, ed.: American Society of Civil Engineers, New Orleans, August 14-18, 1989, pp. 260-2652 Lew, Melvin, 1998, Operation of Hydrologic Data-Collection Stations by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1997: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-832, p.14. These data have been multiplied by a coefficient of 0.657 based on the relation between the red and tan bars for the period 1985-1993 in an attempt to render Lew's data comparable to the blue and red bars. Data depicted by the blue bars were dervied from the National Water Information System or its predessesor. Data depicted by the red bars, of unknown origin, also appear to be approximately derived from the National Water Information System. Almost half of the sediment stations operated in 2000 are in Puerto Rico.

(J ohn R. Gray and Roger K. Chang, USGS, OSW, October 2000)

Overviews of:

Data Availability Data Collection Instruments and

Methods Load Computation Schemes New Capabilities that may

Revolutionize Acquisition of Fluvial-Sediment and QW Data

Data-Collection MethodsData-Collection Methods

Used 1939 - 1954Used 1939 - 1954

Federal Interagency Federal Interagency Sedimentation Project Sedimentation Project

Samplers and Sampling Samplers and Sampling Techniques are the Techniques are the

StandardsStandardsfor quality-for quality-

assured data assured data USA, and International USA, and International Standards OrganizationStandards Organization

FISPFISPFISPTMTM

US DUS D--9696

FISPFISPFISPTMTM

US DHUS DH--4848

US DUS D--9595

FISPFISPFISPTMTM

US PUS P--6161--A1A1

FISPFISPFISPTMTM

FISPFISPFISPTMTM

US BMHUS BMH--6060US BLUS BL--8484

FISPFISPFISPTMTM

US SAHUS SAH--9797

FISPFISPFISPTMTMFISPFISPFISP

TMTM

US XD-99US XDUS XD--9999

Conventional Equipment and Methods

Overviews of:

Data Availability Data Collection Instruments and

Methods Load Computation Schemes New Capabilities that may

Revolutionize Acquisition of Fluvial-Sediment and QW Data

Computational MethodsComputational Methods

1.1. Porterfield (1972) – Traditional “daily record” Porterfield (1972) – Traditional “daily record” computation method – concentration time computation method – concentration time seriesseries

2.2. ““Simple” transport curvesSimple” transport curves

3.3. Multi-parameter stochastic models – Estimator, Multi-parameter stochastic models – Estimator, Loadest, othersLoadest, others

4.4. Continuous measurement would be best to use Continuous measurement would be best to use along with defined uncertainty.along with defined uncertainty.

Overviews of:Overviews of:

Data AvailabilityData Availability Data Collection Instruments and Data Collection Instruments and

MethodsMethods Load Computation SchemesLoad Computation Schemes New Capabilities that may New Capabilities that may

Revolutionize Acquisition of Revolutionize Acquisition of Fluvial-Sediment and QW DataFluvial-Sediment and QW Data

SURROGATE TECHNOLOGIES SURROGATE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSPENDED SEDIMENTFOR SUSPENDED SEDIMENTThose based on:Those based on:

Acoustic Backscatter (Hydroacoustics)Acoustic Backscatter (Hydroacoustics) Multi-Frequency OpticsMulti-Frequency Optics Laser DiffractionLaser Diffraction Digital Photo-Optic ImagingDigital Photo-Optic Imaging Pressure Difference Pressure Difference Gamma AttenuationGamma Attenuation Bulk Optics (Attenuation and Scatterance)Bulk Optics (Attenuation and Scatterance)

In-Situ Hydroacoustic technologiesIn-Situ Hydroacoustic technologies

Side-lookingSide-looking

Upward-lookingUpward-looking

Hudson River – Hydroacoustic EquipmentHudson River – Hydroacoustic Equipment Two 600 kHz RDI Sentinel ADCPs used in Two 600 kHz RDI Sentinel ADCPs used in

rotation.rotation. Initial deployments were self contained, Initial deployments were self contained,

since changed to a 400-ft land line.since changed to a 400-ft land line.

Hydroacoustic TechnologiesHydroacoustic Technologies

Hudson River -- CalibrationHudson River -- Calibration

Hudson River Cross-Section AdjustmentsHudson River Cross-Section Adjustments

Cross Sectional Cross Sectional Adjustment:Adjustment: ““Box-coefficient” based Box-coefficient” based

on ADCP cross-sectional on ADCP cross-sectional estimates of Suspended estimates of Suspended Sediment ConcentrationSediment Concentration

PROFILE AVERAGE SUSPENDED SEDIMENT-CONCENTRATION BASED ON UPWARD-

LOOKING ADCP MEASUREMENTS,IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

CROSS

-SEC

TION

AL

AVE

RAGE

SUSP

ENDED

-SE

DIM

ENT

CON

CEN

TRATI

ON

BASE

D O

NBOAT-

MOUN

TED A

DCP

MEA

SURE

MEN

TS,

IN M

ILLI

GRA

MS

PER

LITE

R

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Hudson River – Daily/Annual LoadsHudson River – Daily/Annual Loads

LASER DiffractionDeployed in-situ in blueWater, Estuaries, Rivers Additionally,USGS has project withManufacturer to developstreamlined laser scattering device(Gray, 2002)

Laser TechnologiesLaser Technologies

Isokinetic withdrawal LISST-SLIsokinetic withdrawal LISST-SL

• Active control, pump-assisted isokinetic withdrawal• Pitot tube velocity sensor• 2-Wire communication• Optional internal battery• Low drag permits low weight.

Cooperative Research and Development Projectamong Sequoia, Sci., Inc.,USGS, FISP

Colorado River Colorado River at Grand Canyonat Grand Canyon

Laser, acoustic, and opticalLaser, acoustic, and opticaltechnologies arrayedtechnologies arrayed

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

September 18 - 24, 2004

Silt

and

cla

y co

ncen

tratio

n (m

g/L)

Colorado River near mile 30

EZQ acousticsConventional samples (EWIs and pumps)

Silt and Clay Silt and Clay concentration concentration in mg/Lin mg/L

From David Topping, USGSFrom David Topping, USGS

SummarySummary

Evaluate historical sediment-flux data, and recompute Evaluate historical sediment-flux data, and recompute as needed: as needed:

- Started in Lower Missouri River (Omaha District and - Started in Lower Missouri River (Omaha District and USGS Kansas City Office (Blevins/Heimann)USGS Kansas City Office (Blevins/Heimann)

- Loads computational scheme evaluation- Loads computational scheme evaluation

Implement a long-term sediment- and solid-phase Implement a long-term sediment- and solid-phase chemistry monitoring network based on Network Design chemistry monitoring network based on Network Design and State-of-Art Technologies:and State-of-Art Technologies:

– – Turbidity protocol available – hydroacoustics soon?Turbidity protocol available – hydroacoustics soon?

SummarySummary

Identify trends in sediment and solid-phase chemistry Identify trends in sediment and solid-phase chemistry loads -- Needs:loads -- Needs:

– – Comparable, quality-assured dataComparable, quality-assured data

– – Comparative data (traditional, surrogate, modeled)Comparative data (traditional, surrogate, modeled)

Make these data available from a online single portal: Make these data available from a online single portal:

– – Presumably tractable policy issues on Furnished DataPresumably tractable policy issues on Furnished Data

Proposal for the network will be Proposal for the network will be presented at the nextpresented at the next

HQ Interagency Coordination meeting on HQ Interagency Coordination meeting on February 2, 2010February 2, 2010

in in Reston, VirginiaReston, Virginia

Thanks!Thanks!

John R. Gray

jrgray@usgs.gov

Office of Surface Water

Reston, VA