小浪底水库库区及下游河道冲淤变化研究

利用小浪底水库运用以来至2008年的实测资料,对库区及下游河道的演变情况进行了研究。结果表明:①截至2008年4月,小浪底库区共淤积泥沙23.22亿m3,干、支流淤积比例分别为84.3%、15.7%;②小浪底水库干流淤积形态为水库回水末端附近的三角洲淤积及三角洲以下的异重流和浑水水库的淤积体;③小浪底水库下闸蓄水运用以来,黄河下游各河段均发生了冲刷,利津以上河段冲刷15.89亿t;④截至2008年汛初,花园口以上河段平滩流量已增大至6 000m3/s,花园口—高村河段平滩流量增大为4 500 m3/s左右,高村—艾山为3 800 m3/s左右,艾山以下大部分河段为4 000m3/s以上;⑤2002—2005年小浪底水库调水调沙年均增加黄河下游冲刷量0.18亿t。     

小浪底水库2000-2006年运用效果分析

对小浪底水库2000-2006年的运用效果进行了分析,结果表明:①自1999年10月至2006年10月,小浪底水库库区累计淤积量为21.27亿m3,其中干流淤积量为18.01亿m3,支流淤积量为3.26亿m3,利津以上河段累计冲刷泥沙13.23亿t,黄河下游河道主河槽最小平滩流量已由2002年汛前的1 800 m3/s增大至3 500 m3/s左右;②2002-2006年,水库实施了5次调水调沙,均实现了下游主槽的全线冲刷;③经三门峡、小浪底等水库联合调度,有效削减了洪峰流量,减小了下游河道发生漫滩洪水的几率,减轻了滩区群众淹没损失;④小浪底水库的合理调度不仅确保了特枯水年黄河下游不断流,改善了下游河道生态环境,而且多次为外流域供水;⑤1999-2006年,小浪底水电站累计发电量为255.92亿kW·h.     

小浪底水库拦沙运用九年后黄河下游防洪形势预测

小浪底水库建成拦沙运用九年来,黄河下游河道断面形态全面调整,洪水演进呈现出新的特点,黄河下游防洪形势也发生了相应的变化。本文在分析现行河道断面形态及洪水演进特点基础上,结合近期实体模型试验成果,探讨了黄河下游防洪形势的调整变化。认为:与调水调沙前相比,目前花园口以上河床冲刷下切明显,河道过流能力提高;洪水上滩几率减小,滩区对洪水削峰功能减弱,洪水传播速度加快。花园口至高村远至孙口河段,96.8洪水形成高昂的滩唇,影响上游水量同步归槽,同时上游滩区退水又造成高村以下河段洪峰显著变胖,滩区大量进水,长时间滞洪,保持高水位,灾情进一步加重。在当前极端天气频繁发生的情况下,黄河下游的防洪形势仍不容乐观,希望引起有关部门的高度关注。     

小浪底水库对下游游荡河段河床形态与过流能力的影响

小浪底水库蓄水拦沙以来,进入黄河下游的泥沙大幅度减少,引起了下游河道的再造床过程。以黄河下游游荡河段1986-2015年实测大断面资料为基础,从河床冲刷量、平滩河槽形态、平滩流量等方面分析了小浪底水库运行前后黄河下游游荡河段的河床调整过程及过流能力变化,并还原了无小浪底水库时的平滩河槽形态参数及平滩流量。研究结果表明:小浪底水库运行后,黄河下游河道持续冲刷,累计冲刷量为18. 6亿m~3,其中游荡河段所占比重达到72%。典型断面及河段尺度的平滩河槽形态调整明显,平滩河宽与水深增加,河相系数逐年递减,横断面形态总体向窄深方向发展。主槽过流能力明显增加,河段平滩流量都有不同程度增加,游荡河段内三个分河段的增幅分别为3 381 m~3/s、4 450 m~3/s及4 590 m~3/s。还原了无小浪底水库条件下2015年汛后游荡河段的平滩面积及平滩流量计算值,分别为有小浪底水库时的64%和80%。     

查勘黄河下游温孟滩河段的一些思考

黄河下游温孟滩河段历史上河势变化巨大，50年代末至70年代大力整治河道后，河势趋于规顺，流路基本得到控制。温孟滩区面积宽广，洪水漫滩在下游起到自然滞洪作用。为配合小浪底水库移民安置区建设，1996年将该河段左岸控导工程以防护堤贯连，把温孟滩区进行封闭，使河道缩窄，将来同流量水位将有一定的壅高；小浪底水库距温孟滩仅20余km，水库建成后拦沙运用期间，该河段首当其冲，河道将发生严重冲刷，须准备充分的备防料物，大力修守，保持这一河段完整的工程体系，避免其对下游河势变化的影响，同时联系到花园口至东坝头确保河段的河道整治工程，亦要进一步巩固完善，打一场攻坚战，争取小浪底水库建成后，清水下泄期使下游河道保持比较稳定的局面。     

2018年汛期黄河下游河道排洪能力分析

2018年汛期黄河下游来水222亿m~3,小浪底水库排沙4.66亿t,孙口以上河道淤积2.561亿t,其中花园口以上河道淤积1.920亿t,这是小浪底水库运用以来进入下游水量最大、水库排沙最多、下游淤积量最大的一年,然而排沙期间淤积最多的花园口以上河段的同流量水位不升反降。采用沙量法和断面法计算分析了汛期冲淤量及冲淤特点、水文站断面的同流量水位变化、7月洪水排沙期间险工水尺的同流量水位变化。结果表明:大量淤积发生在花园口以上河段的汊沟和边滩,洪水过后主槽更加明显,水流集中,流速增大,同流量水位下降;7月洪水之后,黄河下游水文站断面的同流量水位缓慢抬升,但汛后的同流量水位仍低于汛初;2018年汛期,黄河下游河道的排洪能力未明显降低。     

洪水冲刷增大高村—艾山段平滩流量研究

研究了小浪底水库运用以来黄河下游各河段糙率变化情况和冲刷强度的变化趋势。结果表明:①小浪底水库运用以来,夹河滩以下河段的糙率没因床沙粗化而增大;②小浪底水库运用以来泥沙粗化对冲刷的影响仅发展到花园口—夹河滩之间,高村—艾山河段冲刷强度没有明显减弱;③在目前河道边界条件下,只要小浪底水库下泄流量大于1 500m3/s,高村—艾山河段即可发生冲刷;④要想使高村—艾山河段平滩流量由3 810 m3/s增大至4 000 m3/s,需要小浪底水库下泄流量大于4 000 m3/s的水量约35亿m3。     

增大主槽过流能力 淡化生产堤存废之争

从大洪水发生几率大幅度减小、下游河道具有极强的泄洪输沙能力、刷槽和淤滩没有必然的联系等方面,论述了目前条件下黄河下游滩区生产堤存在的合理性。同时指出:三门峡水库"蓄清排浑"运用的减淤作用已经使花园口以上河道基本不淤,温孟滩已经成为小浪底水库的移民区;小浪底水库投入运用以后,下游河道平滩流量增大,但夹河滩以上河道依然宽浅散乱,急需采用双岸整治措施形成稳定的窄深河槽;通过小浪底水库泥沙多年调节优化水沙组合,将泥沙调节到洪水期输送,可以控制河道主槽不抬高。只要主槽过流能力增大了,洪水漫滩几率就会减小,生产堤存废的争论自然得到淡化,滩区问题就能得到合理的解决。     

小浪底水库运用前后黄河下游河道河型变化及成因分析

利用实测资料分析、理论判别和分形维数计算等方法,以黄河下游铁谢—伊洛河口、花园口—黑岗口和夹河滩—高村三个典型游荡性河段为研究对象,分析其1960年以来的主流摆幅、弯曲系数和主河槽宽深比等河势参数变化,以及小浪底水库修建前后下游游荡性河段的河型演化过程。结果表明,自20世纪90年代初,除花园口—黑岗口河段仍表现为游荡河性外,其他两个河段因整治工程不断完善其游荡性均有明显减弱,河型趋于限制性弯曲方向发展。自1999年10月小浪底水库拦沙运用以来,三个研究河段的整体游荡程度显著减弱,河势趋于规划流路方向发展,特别是夹河滩—高村河段河势基本稳定。小浪底水库长期下泄低含沙小流量过程,水流动力减弱,加之不断完善的河道整治工程,是河势游荡程度显著减小、河势归顺及河型发生变化的主要原因。     

黄河下游不同治理方案下河道冲淤规律研究

针对黄河下游宽河治理的现状方案和窄河治理的防护堤方案,采用一维非恒定水沙数学模型,对设计年均来沙分别为3亿、6亿t和8亿t的3组系列年水沙情景开展了计算。结果表明:年均来沙3亿t情景下,两种方案黄河下游均表现为微冲,冲刷量分年、分滩槽、分河段都差别较小,第50 a末两种方案的最小平滩流量为4 019～4 067 m~3/s;年均来沙6亿t情景下,两种方案黄河下游均表现为淤积,防护堤方案在全下游减淤15.78%,减淤主要发生在花园口—艾山河段,其中花园口—高村、高村—艾山分别减淤22.53%、23.45%,艾山—利津河段稍有增淤,第50 a末黄河下游最小平滩流量为2 389～2 608 m~3/s;年均来沙8亿t情景下,两种方案黄河下游淤积量都较大,防护堤方案在全下游减淤16.78%,在铁谢—花园口、花园口—高村、高村—艾山河段分别减淤18.40%、20.83%、21.85%,艾利河段增淤4.99%,至第50 a末黄河下游最小平滩流量为2 058～2 420 m~3/s,两种治理方案对西河口以下河长的延长值影响不是太大。     

Multi‐annual contemporary flood event overbank sedimentation within the vegetated lower Orinoco floodplain,Venezuela

Multi‐annual contemporary flood event overbank sedimentation rates were quantified on the World's third largest river in terms of discharge, the tropical lower Orinoco. We discuss the role of variables at the basin and reach scales that contributed to the complexity of spatio‐temporal overbank sediment deposition patterns. Monitored in situ plots were characterized by distance to the main channel, hydroperiod, different geomorphological units, and vegetation cover. Flood event sedimentation rates showed a high spatial variability ranging from the absence of sediment deposition up to 225.46 kg m^‐2 yr^‐1. Banks and levees received relatively high amounts of sediment (39.6 kg m^‐2 yr^‐1), whereas observed mean sedimentation rates on the more distant floodplain and backswamps tended to be lower (17.7 kg m^‐2 yr^‐1). Significant differences in sedimentation rates were observed in two major vegetation types: dense herbaceous and shrubby vegetation (42.2 kg m^‐2 yr^‐1) and floodplain forest (12.7 kg m^‐2 yr^‐1). However, overbank sedimentation patterns also reflected imbricated hydrosedimentary and biogeomorphological vegetation feedbacks that co‐construct fluvial landforms. The incidence of an El Niño–Southern Oscillation–La Niña episode during the study period on sediment availability and floodplain sedimentation suggests that within whitewater rivers, where suspended sediment concentrations are naturally high, hydrological connectivity seems to be more important for floodplain sedimentation than variations in suspended sediment concentrations. These results may provide a good basis for future biogeomorphological investigation projects using complementary methodologies, in order to better anticipate global change and fluctuations in the occurrence, strength or duration of El Niño–La Niña episodes in the tropical zone and their consequences for flood discharge and sediment dynamics during channel–floodplain exchanges.     

Sediment chemistry and nutrient influx in a hydrologically restored bottomland hardwood forest in Midwestern USA

Exchanges of total N and C between a river and its floodplain forest have been enhanced by sedimentation processes during flood pulses at a 5‐ha bottomland hardwood forest located at the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park in central Ohio. In the spring of 2000, the forest was hydrologically restored by notching an artificial levee that had separated the Olentangy River and its floodplain forest for 100 years. One‐hundred flat sediment traps (30 cm × 30 cm) were used to collect sediment samples during spring/summer flooding events from 2003 to 2005. Results showed that sediment deposition is determined by the landscape variability during flooding events, Net sediment deposit in the wettest area averaged 134 ± 12 g‐dry wt m^?2 in 2003, 127 ± 17 g‐dry wt m^?2 in 2004 and 149 ± 23 g‐dry wt m^?2 in 2005. Total N and C sedimentation ranged from 0.49 to 0.92 g‐N m^?2 and 5.2 to 19.9 g‐C m^?2. Fe dominates the sediment chemistry and results show the elemental abundance in the order of Al > Fe > Ca > K > Mg > S > P > Na > Mn > Zn > B > Cu > Mo. A hydrologic pulsing index (HPI) could be used as an indicator for mass changes of energies with hydrologic pulsing events. Restoration of seasonally flooded bottomland forests could stimulate potentially large nutrient and Fe releases, which would eventually lead to an enhanced forest productivity and biodiversity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of Carbon Sequestration Ability and Effect of Elevation in Fenced Wetland Plant Communities of the Xilin River Floodplains: A Model Case Study

Floodplain habitats of the Xilin River in Inner Mongolia, China, were overgrazed by sheep and cattle until fencing of the floodplains was implemented in 2000. Carbon cycling of three plant communities of differing floodplain elevation after fencing showed that biomass in low‐elevation wetlands increased fastest until reaching its maximum at 20 years in the future, while a slower increase in biomass existed in high‐elevation and ‘hummock’ wetlands. Modelling and field experiments revealed differences between the three plant communities that were primarily attributed to different elevation levels and inundation periods. This study also determined the carbon sequestration capacity of the three floodplain wetland types (0.18 kg C m^?2 year^?1 in low‐elevation wetlands, 0.09 kg C m^?2 year^?1 in high‐elevation wetlands, and 0.05 kg C m^?2 year^?1 in hummock wetlands). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mesoscale river restoration enhances the diversity of floodplain vegetation

Effective river restoration aims for the recovery of ecosystem functions by restoring processes and connectivity to the floodplain. At the straightened lowland river Stör in northern Germany, a sequence of 15 new meanders was created in 2008, with wavelengths up to 70 m. The newly created areas within the meander bends range in size from 215 to 1,115 m² and function as a series of 15 restored floodplain sites, which are subject to succession. After 7 years of restoration measures, we investigated the vegetation dynamics on the (a) restored floodplains and compared them with adjacent floodplain sites that were used as (b) low‐intensity grazed grassland or as (c) abandoned grassland. We analysed the species diversity, functional vegetation parameters, and plant communities of 200 plots within the floodplain area of the three floodplain types and of 246 plots at their river banks. Plant species diversity and composition differed with respect to restoration measure and site management. Restored floodplains revealed a higher coverage in species of wet grasslands and softwood forests and higher species diversity than abandoned grasslands. Grazed grasslands showed the highest species number and coverages of pioneer vegetation. The banks indicated fewer differences in species composition between floodplain types. The construction of restored floodplains revealed greater overall plant diversity due to promoting the development of typical floodplain vegetation. Shallow meanders with increased flooding intensity and the creation of a varying microreliefs are recommended as combined river/floodplain measures in order to foster processes and connectivity between valley components.     

Improved ecological development model for lower Yellow River floodplain,China

In this study, a model for the development of the wide floodplain in the lower Yellow River Basin, in China was developed. This model includes flood control schemes using grading criteria, enables sediment deposition in partitioned zones, and allows free exchange between channel runoff and sediment. The wide floodplain located between the main channel and levees is divided into three typical regions: the tender, low, and high floodplains. Different ecological models should be applied when these floodplains are constructed. This paper describes the associated research ideas and methodology, and clarifies several key issues, including sediment prediction and regulation, land planning, land use, and a multi-dimensional framework of safeguard measures for industries on the lower Yellow River floodplain. A refined ecological development model is proposed for the lower Yellow River floodplain, and future work on ecological and sustainable development of the lower floodplain is suggested. To establish a comprehensive system integrating runoff and sediment resource regulation in the Yellow River Basin, future work should focus on runoff and sediment exchange mechanisms in the wandering lower reaches. Furthermore, it is necessary to improve theories on floodplain planning and ecological construction, and these theories should be integrated with the research findings on land development across the lower Yellow River floodplain.     

Grasshoppers (Orthoptera,Saltatoria) on alpine and dealpine riverbanks and their use as indicators for natural floodplain dynamics

Gravel banks with sparse vegetation are typical habitats of braided alpine and dealpine floodplains. They are not only habitats for semiaquatic or hygrophilous organisms, but include also xerophilous elements: 17 species of grasshoppers were recorded in the floodplain of the Upper Isar (Bavaria, FRG). In the alpine region, two species (Bryodema tuberculata, Chorthippus pullus) occur only in floodplains, colonizing young gravel banks with sparse vegetation. Population dynamics and habitat selection of Bryodema tuberculata, studied on the Upper Isar for several years, are characterized by small scale movements of marked individuals between neighbouring gravel banks and fluctuations of the abundance on different sections of the gravel banks. Furthermore, the periodic desiccation of small watercourses is important for the dispersal of the females by walking. Historically widespread, today its distribution corresponds to the few remaining inundation areas. The main causes of decrease and extinction in most localities are man-made changes in floodplain dynamics. The building of retention reservoirs and the diverting of streams for hydropower influenced succession in the downstream floodplains. Most of the gravel banks with sparse vegetation changed into willow thickets or pine forests. All remaining inundation areas should be protected. Bryodema tuberculata is a good indicator for the balance between progressing succession and the reorganization of gravel banks by floods.     

Not all breaks are equal: Variable hydrologic and geomorphic responses to intentional levee breaches along the lower Cosumnes River,California

The transport of water and sediment from rivers to adjacent floodplains helps generate complex floodplain, wetland, and riparian ecosystems. However, riverside levees restrict lateral connectivity of water and sediment during flood pulses, making the re‐introduction of floodplain hydrogeomorphic processes through intentional levee breaching and removal an emerging floodplain restoration practice. Repeated topographic observations from levee breach sites along the lower Cosumnes River (USA) indicated that breach architecture influences floodplain and channel hydrogeomorphic processes. Where narrow breaches (<75 m) open onto graded floodplains, archetypal crevasse splays developed along a single dominant flowpath, with floodplain erosion in near‐bank areas and lobate splay deposition in distal floodplain regions. Narrow breaches opening into excavated floodplain channels promoted both transverse advection and turbulent diffusion of sediment into the floodplain channel, facilitating near‐bank deposition and potential breach closure. Wide breaches (>250 m) enabled multiple modes of water and sediment transport onto graded floodplains. Advective sediment transport along multiple flow paths generated overlapping crevasse splays, while turbulent diffusion promoted the formation of lateral levees through large wood and sediment accumulation in near‐bank areas. Channel incision (>2 m) upstream from a wide levee breach suggests that large flow diversions through such breaches can generate water surface drawdown during flooding, resulting in localized flow acceleration and upstream channel incision. Understanding variable hydrogeomorphic responses to levee breach architecture will help restoration managers design breaches that maximize desired floodplain topographic change while also minimizing potential undesirable consequences such as levee breach closure or channel incision.     

Impact of Urbanization on the Hydrodynamics of a Water Table in a Floodplain with High Potential for Renaturation

Large river basins influence the development of human populations either by interfering with population growth or by providing a valuable resource that supports population growth. The Paraíba do Sul River catchment (55,400 km²) in southeastern Brazil supplies more than 14-million people with water, and is located in a region of Brazil with the highest Gross National Product (GNP). This catchment contains 77 floodplains (2156 km²) whose waters are highly regulated, and has a medium urbanization index (18.9%). Fifty-two of these floodplains (67.5%) have characteristics that make them suitable for the implementation of management practices that seek renaturation of the floodplain to ensure the sustainability of regional economic development. The floodplain examined in this study is highly managed and has a great potential for renaturation. We examined variations in groundwater level from the control section (lowest cross-section of the floodplain) to the propagation zone for flooding (9.43 km upstream) from January to December of 2013. The elevation of the water table near the structural control point had less seasonal oscillation than a distant area (p = 0.036). There was also a significant difference in the depth of the water table within the interior of the floodplain (urban area: 3.13 m, non-urban area: 0.49 m, p < 0.001). These results demonstrate that water regulation has been compromised in the study area due to the reduced connection between the river channel and floodplain in the urban region. Thus, land use in this floodplain has interfered with water storage capacity and the connectivity between sub-surface flows. These results suggest that this area is suitable for the implementation of techniques that seek renaturation of the floodplain, so that humans can continue to use this water and so that the effects of climatic changes can be mitigated.     

Benthic invertebrate assemblages and species diversity patterns of the Upper Paraguay River

This paper presents the first study of the benthic invertebrate assemblages of the upper section of the Paraguay River, a major tributary to the Pantanal wetland in Brazil. Thirty‐eight sites were sampled along a 200 km section below the city of Cáceres in November 2000. Sixty‐nine species and morphospecies were identified, which were dominated by Oligochaeta and Chironomidae. Mean density of benthic invertebrates varied between 72 and 10 354 m^?2 in the meandering sector of the river, 3611–49 629 m^?2 in the straight–transitional sectors, 682–5962 m^?2 in the floodplain lakes, and 1704–2208 m^?2 in floodplain channels. Highest densities were attained in sand‐gravel sediments dominated by the psammophilous oligochaete Narapa bonettoi. The Shannon diversity index ranged from 0.75 to 2.08 and was highest in floodplain lakes. Statistical analysis (UPGMA and CCA) revealed that benthic assemblages in the floodplain habitats were clearly distinct from the riverine habitats. In the river channel, the habitats were distinguished by grain size while the floodplain habitats were mostly determined by current and silt‐clay concentration (floodplain channels) or by organic matter concentration (floodplain lakes). Conservation efforts in the Upper Paraguay area should aim to maintain the flood pulse as a permanent source of spatial and temporal habitat heterogeneity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nitrogen cycling in large temperate floodplain rivers of contrasting nutrient regimes and management

Hydraulic connection between channels and floodplains (“connectivity”) is a fundamental determinant of ecosystem function in large floodplain rivers. Factors controlling material processing in these rivers depend not only on the degree of connectivity but also on the sediment conditions, nutrient loads, and source. Nutrient cycling in the nutrient‐rich upper Mississippi River (MISS) is relatively well studied, whereas that of less eutrophic tributaries is not (e.g., St Croix River; SACN). We examined components of nitrogen cycling in 2 floodplain rivers of contrasting nutrient enrichment and catchment land use to test the hypothesis that N‐cycling rates will be greater in the MISS with elevated nutrient loads and productivity in contrast to the relatively nutrient‐poor SACN. Nitrate (NO₃^?‐N) concentrations were greatest in flowing habitats in the MISS and often undetectable in isolated backwaters except where groundwater inputs occurred. In the SACN, NO₃^?‐N concentrations were greatest in the flowing backwater where groundwater inputs were high. Ambient nitrification in the MISS was twice that in the SACN and tended to be lowest in the main channel. Denitrification was 3× greater in the MISS than that in the SACN, N‐limited in both rivers. Community production/respiration was >1 in the MISS and likely provisioned labile C to fuel microbial metabolism and dissimilatory NO₃^?‐N reduction, whereas the heterotrophic (production/respiration < 1) nature of the SACN likely limited microbial metabolism and NO₃^?‐N dissimilation. It appears that N‐cycling in the SACN was driven by groundwater, whereas that in the MISS was supported mainly by water column N‐sources.