Tracking the Shifting Sands of the Missouri River
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7 pm presentation (6 pm Social Hour)
Watch virtually on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fE3qdhG0QgK8UcoBcd5F9Q
Or Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MissouriRiverRelief/streams
Hosted by Missouri River Relief
The lower part of the Missouri River downstream of Sioux City, Iowa is a 800-mile long engineered navigation channel designed to keep sediment from building up, so routine dredging is usually not needed. However, seasonal floods can sometimes deposit sand in the navigation channel, which can make it difficult for boats and may require dredging or other maintenance.
Scientists do not yet fully understand how sand moves along the river bed during floods which typically happen in the spring to early summer. To learn more, Carrie Elliot and her team conducted 13 detailed sonar surveys of the river bottom along a 2.5-kilometer section near the Eagle Bluffs Conservation area in central Missouri. During this time, the river experienced a high-flow event that peaked at 215,000 cubic feet per second. The surveys showed that the riverbed can change significantly. In some places, the river’s bed rose or dropped by as much as 4 meters, with an average change of about 2 meters. During the high-flow event, the riverbed eroded overall, although some areas also experienced sand buildup. After the flood peak, surveys showed a general trend of sediment slowly building back up in late summer and fall. Similar trends occur in other sites where repeat measurements have been made.
Understanding how flows and sediment interact on the Lower Missouri River will help to guide future management decisions. Join us for an evening of tracking the ever-shifting sands of the Missouri River.
Meet Your Presenter
Carrie Has worked for the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center's River Studies Branch on the Missouri River for 24 years. Her work focuses on understanding the physical habitats in the Missouri River and how they are used by fish species like the endangered pallid sturgeon.
Watch virtually on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fE3qdhG0QgK8UcoBcd5F9Q
Or Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MissouriRiverRelief/streams
Hosted by Missouri River Relief
The lower part of the Missouri River downstream of Sioux City, Iowa is a 800-mile long engineered navigation channel designed to keep sediment from building up, so routine dredging is usually not needed. However, seasonal floods can sometimes deposit sand in the navigation channel, which can make it difficult for boats and may require dredging or other maintenance.
Scientists do not yet fully understand how sand moves along the river bed during floods which typically happen in the spring to early summer. To learn more, Carrie Elliot and her team conducted 13 detailed sonar surveys of the river bottom along a 2.5-kilometer section near the Eagle Bluffs Conservation area in central Missouri. During this time, the river experienced a high-flow event that peaked at 215,000 cubic feet per second. The surveys showed that the riverbed can change significantly. In some places, the river’s bed rose or dropped by as much as 4 meters, with an average change of about 2 meters. During the high-flow event, the riverbed eroded overall, although some areas also experienced sand buildup. After the flood peak, surveys showed a general trend of sediment slowly building back up in late summer and fall. Similar trends occur in other sites where repeat measurements have been made.
Understanding how flows and sediment interact on the Lower Missouri River will help to guide future management decisions. Join us for an evening of tracking the ever-shifting sands of the Missouri River.
Meet Your Presenter
Carrie Has worked for the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center's River Studies Branch on the Missouri River for 24 years. Her work focuses on understanding the physical habitats in the Missouri River and how they are used by fish species like the endangered pallid sturgeon.
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Where is it happening?
Reichman Pavilon, 2300 E Walnut St,Columbia, Missouri, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherBig Muddy Speaker Series
