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Kansas Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey
Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5168

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A Comparison of Approaches for Estimating Bottom-Sediment Mass in Large Reservoirs

By Kyle E. Juracek

Abstract

Estimates of sediment and sediment-associated constituent loads and yields from drainage basins are necessary for the management of reservoir-basin systems to address important issues such as reservoir sedimentation and eutrophication. One method for the estimation of loads and yields requires a determination of the total mass of sediment deposited in a reservoir. This method involves a sediment volume-to-mass conversion using bulk-density information. A comparison of four computational approaches (partition, mean, midpoint, strategic) for using bulk-density information to estimate total bottom-sediment mass in four large reservoirs indicated that the differences among the approaches were not statistically significant. However, the lack of statistical significance may be a result of the small sample size. Compared to the partition approach, which was presumed to provide the most accurate estimates of bottom-sediment mass, the results achieved using the strategic, mean, and midpoint approaches differed by as much as ±4, ±20, and ±44 percent, respectively. It was concluded that the strategic approach may merit further investigation as a less time consuming and less costly alternative to the partition approach.

Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Description of Study Areas
Methods
Comparison of Sediment Mass Estimates
Summary and Conclusions
References Cited

Juracek, K.E., 2006, A comparison of approaches for estimating bottom-sediment mass in large reservoirs: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5168, 13 p.

For more information about USGS water-quality studies in the lower Kansas River Basin, contact:

Kyle Juracek
U.S. Geological Survey
Kansas Water Science Center
4821 Quail Crest Place
Lawrence, KS 66049-3839
Telephone: (785) 832-3527
Fax: (785) 832-3500
Email:

kjuracek@usgs.gov

For more information about USGS water resources studies in Kansas, visit the USGS Kansas Water Science Center home page: http://ks.water.usgs.gov

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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Persistent URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/sir/2006/5168/ Page Contact Information: USGS Publishing Network Last modified: Thursday, December 01 2016, 07:11:45 PM

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