Author(s): N. Steeb; A. Badoux; C. Rickli; D. Rickenmann

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Large wood transport; Flood events; Empirical equations; River restoration

Abstract: Based on different catchment and transport characteristics, we derived empirical power law equations to estimate the amount of transported large wood during flood events. In the context of river restoration projects, a conflict of interests exists between the ecological benefits of large wood (LW) and flood protection objectives. Instream wood is a particularly important element in aquatic ecosystem functioning as it provides a habitat and a food source for many aquatic organisms. In contrast, the transport of vast amounts of LW in watercourses can considerably aggravate hazardous situations during flood events, and often strongly affects resulting flood damage. For example, inundations can be triggered when drift blockage occurs at critical cross-sections of the stream. Large wood recruitment and transport are controlled by various factors which are difficult to assess and because of these uncertainties the prediction of transported LW volumes remains challenging. Such information are, however, important for engineers and river managers to adequately dimension retention structures or to identify critical stream cross-sections.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-981-11-2731-1_020-cd

Year: 2018