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River Flood Indicators for Sustainability: Field Studies, Trends and Modeling

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (21 August 2022) | Viewed by 9404

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Karol Plesiński

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Department of Hydrotechnic Engineering and Geotechnics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-239 Kraków, Poland
Interests: water engineering; water resources; hydraulic modeling; hydrodynamic modeling; sediment transport; open channel hydraulics

Prof. Dr. Artur Radecki-Pawlik

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Structural Mechanics and Material Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Cracow University of Technology, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
Interests: river and mountain stream hydraulics; low-head hydraulic structures; river engineering; river morphology; sediment transport; hydrology for engineers; hydromorphology
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Dr. Tomasz Kałuża

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Department of Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, ul. Piatkowska 94A, 60-649 Poznan, Poland
Interests: environmental impact assessment; water resources management; water engineering; hydrologic and water resources simulation; ecohydraulics; influence of vegetation on flow resistance; hydraulic engineering and modelling; river engineering; open channel hydraulics; hydraulic structure
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Floods are inevitable and are a part of our lives. The records, diaries, and chronicles make us aware that floods are a recurring, natural phenomenon that we will continue to face. Some of the disasters caused by floods were of unimaginable proportions.

In recent decades, we have witnessed a revolution in the way we think about reducing the effects of floods. It consists of moving from the assumption that it is possible to totally protect against floods to a philosophy according to which complete protection is impossible and that we should instead think, first and foremost, about limiting flood damage and loss. How could this be done? Our experience with floods show that the size of flood losses depends on three elements: the extent of the flood, what is located in the affected area, and the extent to which the endangered objects and people are susceptible to flooding.

These three elements define the concept of flood risk, which is currently the basis of all measures to reduce the effects and losses due to floods in all European countries. Consequently, in order to reduce the risk of flooding, we should take measures in all three areas:

- Reduce the risk, i.e., the area of a flood, using technical measures (flood protection structures, including retention reservoirs, embankments, relief channels, polders) or nontechnical measures (e.g., increasing retention, leaving undeveloped space for floodwaters).

- Limit exposure by prohibiting the construction of facilities in the most endangered areas, issuing building permits in zones with lower risk, but under certain conditions (use of appropriate building structures).

- Reduce the vulnerability by building early warning systems for residents in addition to implementing preventive measures, including sealing buildings, using waterproof building materials, preparing evacuation plans.

A new approach to reducing the negative effects of floods was formulated in Directive 2007/60/EC of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risk, the so-called Floods Directive. It aims to minimize the effects of floods, with particular emphasis on elements such as human life and health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity, and on the proper management of flood risk.

The main aim of this Special Issue is to provide an overview of the latest research on:

- development of techniques to reduce flood hazard and risk

- development of flood monitoring and warning system

- numerical modeling of extreme events

- impact of the flood on the aquatic environment

- geomorphological changes in riverbeds after a flood has passed

- river bank and bed erosion

- incision of river channels

- river sediment transport

- stability of hydraulic structures during floods and their renovation after damage

- operation of hydraulic structures in extreme conditions

- changes in the use of the catchment area in terms of increasing the flood risk

- spatial development plans taking into account flood risk zones

- riverbed revitalization increasing flood retention

Particular attention will be given to issues involving interactions between several disciplines, which may highlight the impact of high pressure and flooding on hydroengineering, biological, geomorphological, social, and other aspects.

Dr. Karol Plesiński
Prof. Dr. Artur Radecki-Pawlik
Dr. Tomasz Kałuża
Guest Editors

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Keywords

flood
numerical modeling
physical modeling
field studies
trends
ecohydraulic
ecohydrology
renewable energy
hydropower
geomorphology changes
climate changes
flood protection
flood hazard zones
flood risk
bed load transport
suspended load transport
hydrodynamic
hydraulic structures
dams

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Procedure of Numerical Modelling and Estimation of Sieve Curve Changes as a Tool to Define Riverbed’s Erodibility

by Jacek Florek and Maciej Wyrębek

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1468; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15021468 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1383

Abstract

The numerical 1-D HEC-RAS modelling tool was supported by the estimation of the sieve curve changes procedure to measure the scale of predicted discharges along a stretch of stream in southern Poland on the Olkusz Upland. The procedure was calibrated in southern Poland on the mountain streams during high-stage events, using a radiotracer application in bedload transport. Particular terrain hypsometry, created by the dissolution of limestone, forced the deep erosion of the river valley bottom; it is here that the current shape of the riverbed of the Prądnik stream is placed. While numerical modelling is widely used in hydraulics, standards have been set for the estimation of flood risk zones; these estimations suggest that the densities of the measured cross-sections are less then optimal, and that the erosive processes are more frequent. This was proved by identifying a number of erosive sections. A new procedure proposed combining the prediction of grain size distribution with hydraulic modelling. Calculations using the estimation of sieve curves, based on the processes of creation and destruction in the armouring layer, have proven to be a challenge for the existing standards of hydraulic modelling. We believe that it is easy to expand the usefulness of the 1D model by utilising its results for this procedure. For the purpose of this type of analysis, dense cross-section measurements are involved, careful modelling is required and a wide range of additional in-field data has to be gathered. For the interpretation of the results, the relation between channel-forming discharge, bankfull discharge, present and critical shear stresses, as well as the mean diameter of the grain size and other estimated sieve curve parameters, were evaluated. Channel-forming discharge is smaller than the bankfull discharge in more than one third of the segment where the erosion process is more frequent and the stability of the riverbed is compromised. Channel-forming discharge was at least twice as high in the stable sections, compared to the erosive section. The presented method will help to find unstable riverbed sections, in order to mitigate the dimension of river training techniques and protect the natural state of the river. While we are in the period of development in this region of Europe, limiting the scope of interference in rivers and streams by applying this method may create an opportunity for the concept of river training close to nature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue River Flood Indicators for Sustainability: Field Studies, Trends and Modeling)

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13 pages, 4933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Verification of Methods for Determining Flow Resistance Coefficients for Floodplains with Flexible Vegetation

by Tomasz Tymiński, Tomasz Kałuża and Mateusz Hämmerling

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 16170; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142316170 - 03 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 814

Abstract

In terms of the hydraulic effect of plant flexibility, of particular note is the calculation formula that was proposed by Kouwen, which combines the roughness of the riverbed with the plant community parameter MEJ (including the modulus of elasticity). Kouwen’s method was developed on the basis of laboratory experiments with low vegetation (grasses). According to the authors of this work, the method can also be used to evaluate the resistance of medium vegetation (shrubs) deforming under the influence of water flow. The main objective of the presented research was to verify the application of Kouwen’s method in order to calculate the flow resistance coefficient λ for quasi-regular formed plant obstructions (e.g., basket willow plantations). In a water laboratory, a comprehensive study of the biomechanical and hydraulic properties was carried out for flexible shrubs in floodplains. The results of the hydraulic measurements were compared with the results of the calculations that were made by four various methods using the Chezy-Manning, Garbrecht/Pasche, Lindner/Kaiser, and Kouwen formulas. For all of the flows through the vegetated zone that was tested, the best results were obtained when using the Kouwen calculation procedure and the worst were found for the Lindner formula, which did not include information on the plant flexibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue River Flood Indicators for Sustainability: Field Studies, Trends and Modeling)

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15 pages, 4349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrodynamics of the Instream Flow Environment of a Gravel-Bed River

by Agnieszka Woś and Leszek Książek

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15330; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142215330 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1154

Abstract

This work was aimed at comparing the instream flow environment of four basic hydromorphological units of a mountain gravel-bed river: pools, runs, riffles and rapids. A survey was performed during the average flow stage on the Skawa River in southern Poland. In the 3.5 km long reach, 31 physical habitats were surveyed: eight pools, eight runs, nine riffles and seven rapids. Using Micro ADV Sontek equipment, instantaneous velocity time series components were measured at eight locations in three positions—z/h = 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6—in each unit. Turbulence descriptors—the mean components of velocity, turbulence intensities calculated as the root mean square of velocity component time series, turbulent kinetic energy TKE, Reynolds shear stresses and standard hydraulic attribute, i.e., Froude number—were estimated. Although there was a wide dispersion of the turbulence variable distributions, a standard tendency of decreased mean velocity and increased turbulence towards the bottom was observed. Most turbulence parameters—streamwise velocity, turbulence intensities, TKE and streamwise-vertical Reynolds shear stresses—reveal differences of instream flow environment between the pools, runs and riffles. In addition, the mean turbulence intensities suggested a 1:2:3:3 proportion of turbulence intensity in pools, runs, riffles and rapids, respectively. Riffles and rapids, in general, have similar turbulence values, whereas rapids are deeper and visually more energetic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue River Flood Indicators for Sustainability: Field Studies, Trends and Modeling)

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20 pages, 4466 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Floods on Sediment Trap Efficiency of a Small Shallow Reservoir—A Case Study

by Bogusław Michalec and Karol Plesiński

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14537; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142114537 - 04 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1336

Abstract

Silting is the main factor limiting the ability to perform the tasks that small reservoirs are intended for. Therefore, the change in sediment trap efficiency was studied for a small shallow reservoir, Krempna, which, due to high silting intensity, was desilted twice (2005, 2018). Siltation measurements were performed in two periods (1987–2005, 2006–2018) after the reservoir was desludged. It was found that the sediments were composed of fine-fraction sediment; therefore, a series of measurements of suspended sediment transport were performed. These data allowed us to calculate the daily sediment transport flowing into and out of the reservoir and water-level measurements. Then, the sediment trap efficiency was calculated. The aim of this study was: (1) to determine the impact of flood flows on the sediment trap efficiency (STE) of a small shallow reservoir, (2) to determine changes in the value of the sediment trap efficiency of a small shallow reservoir in two different periods of its operation, and (3) to demonstrate whether it is possible to determine the value of the initial sediment trap efficiency and changes in the STE values during operation using empirical formulas. Finally, during flood flows, the amount of sediment retained in the studied reservoir was several times lower than during freshets with a much smaller flow. It is these small freshets that reduce the capacity of the reservoir. A correlation relationship was developed for 18 data—flood flows (Q) and sediment trap efficiency (STE). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue River Flood Indicators for Sustainability: Field Studies, Trends and Modeling)

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17 pages, 25589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

FLOW-3D Model Development for the Analysis of the Flow Characteristics of Downstream Hydraulic Structures

by Beom-Jin Kim, Jae-Hong Hwang and Byunghyun Kim

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10493; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141710493 - 23 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2119

Abstract

Hydraulic structures installed in rivers inevitably create a water level difference between upstream and downstream regions. The potential energy due to this difference in water level is converted into kinetic energy, causing high-velocity flow and hydraulic jumps in the river. As a result, problems such as scouring and sloping downstream may occur around the hydraulic structures. In this study, a FLOW-3D model was constructed to perform a numerical analysis of the Changnyeong-Haman weir in the Republic of Korea. The constructed model was verified based on surface velocity measurements from a field gate operation experiment. In the simulation results, the flow discharge differed from the measured value by 9–15 m³/s, from which the accuracy was evaluated to be 82–87%. The flow velocity was evaluated with an accuracy of 92% from a difference of 0.01 to 0.16 m/s. Following this verification, a flow analysis of the hydraulic structures was performed according to boundary conditions and operation conditions for numerous scenarios. Since 2018, the Changnyeong-Haman weir gate has been fully opened due to the implementation of Korea’s eco-environmental policy; therefore, in this study, the actual gate operation history data prior to 2018 was applied and evaluated. The evaluation conditions were a 50% open gate condition and the flow discharge of two cases with a large difference in water level. As a result of the analysis, the actual operating conditions showed that the velocity and the Froude number were lower than the optimal conditions, confirming that the selected design was appropriate. It was also found that in the bed protection section, the average flow velocity was high when the water level difference was large, whereas the bottom velocity was high when the gate opening was large. Ultimately, through the reviewed status survey data in this study, the downstream flow characteristics of hydraulic structures along with adequacy verification techniques, optimal design techniques such as procedures for design, and important considerations were derived. Based on the current results, the constructed FLOW-3D-based model can be applied to creating or updating flow analysis guidelines for future repair and reinforcement measures as well as hydraulic structure design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue River Flood Indicators for Sustainability: Field Studies, Trends and Modeling)

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23 pages, 6868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bed Load Transport and Alternation of a Gravel-Bed River Morphology within a Vicinity of Block Ramp: Classical and Numerical Approach

by Karol Plesiński, Artur Radecki-Pawlik, Piotr Kuboń, Tadeusz Tatara, Filip Pachla and Nadzieja Jurkowska

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4665; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084665 - 13 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1447

Abstract

In current river management, we very often use environment-friendly hydraulic structures when it is required for river bed or river bank protection due to erosion of a river channel. Block ramps are one of many methods used to stabilize river beds. They provide a semi-natural solution to certain river engineering problems in mountain streams. When building block ramps, one can use the dissipative behavior of large rock blocks or boulder elements randomly placed on the river bed to enhance fish migration in an upstream direction; thus, they can serve as fish passes. In this paper, we present the results of the numerical modelling of a bed load transport and the morphological changes of a river bed where a block ramp was designed and built. The main aim of the study was to investigate the difference of 2D modelling of a bed load transport along the mountain stream reach with boulder ramps in comparison to the classical methods of Hjulström, Shields, and Russian standard ST-24-2396. The work was carried out on the stream of one of the chosen low-head hydraulic structures, where 25 identical block ramps were constructed for river training reasons. The novel approach of our study is, for the first time in the field, to show a very detailed analysis of block ramp influence on sediment transport and river morphology changes compared to the classical understanding of those phenomena, as well as 2D model results to give hydraulic engineers an inside look into classical and modern approaches of bed load transport calculations. This might be helpful for designing such kinds of hydraulic structures in the future, in all regions where sediment transport calculations are important but do not always require sophisticated modelling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue River Flood Indicators for Sustainability: Field Studies, Trends and Modeling)

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