25 River Corridor Processes and Related Decision Making I

Monday, 18 March 2019
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Connecticut Room

THE HYDRAULIC IMPLICATIONS OF RELICT INDUSTRIAL (LOG DRIVE ERA) INFRASTRUCTURE ON LARGE RIVERS IN THE NORTHEAST

Paper number: 25-12
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 11:20 AM – 11:40 AM

Authors

Abstract

Following the 2013 removal of the Veazie Dam in the lower Penobscot River, the reemergence of remnant logging structures (“boom islands”) in the former dam impoundment raised questions about what should be done, if anything, with the derelict structures. Knowledge about the impacts of the boom islands on diadromous fish species will help to inform decision-making efforts about dam removal projects involving remnant infrastructure. Detailed knowledge of the water flow velocity conditions around boom islands is important to assessing the impact of logging industry infrastructure on fish habitat, but there are challenges associated with direct measurements and traditional numerical approaches to predicting their hydraulic effects. We apply 3D hydraulic modeling calibrated with 3D hydraulic velocity measurements collected by an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) to address ecological questions that require a detailed knowledge of the hydraulic conditions of the Penobscot River. With these detailed measurements and modeling results, we capture detailed information about flow kinematics in the Penobscot River to inform decision-making efforts related to aquatic habitat restoration.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2019NE-328057

© Copyright 2019 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.