Modelling the impacts of river stage manipulation on a complex river-floodplain system in a semi-arid region
Files
(Published version)
Date
2014
Authors
Alaghmand, S.
Beecham, S.
Jolly, I.D.
Holland, K.L.
Wood, J.A.
Hassanli, A.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Environmental Modelling & Software, 2014; 59:109-126
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Abstract
This paper investigates the complex interaction between a river and a saline floodplain in a semi-arid environment strongly influenced by groundwater lowering using a fully integrated physically-based numerical model. The main objective is to quantify the impacts of river stage manipulation on fresh-ening of the shallow floodplain groundwater through bank storage. It is shown that river stage rises produce a relatively less saline floodplain aquifer with a larger freshwater lens. First, an increase in river stage reduces saline groundwater recharge to the floodplain. Second, the enhanced bank storage is able to freshen the groundwater near the river banks during high-flow pulses by mixing fresh water with saline groundwater. Overall, it was found that river stage manipulation may be considered as a short term salt management technique. However, if longer term strategies are required, it may be possible to implement these salt interception measures periodically.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2014 Elsevier
Access Condition Notes: Postprint will be available after 1 August 2016