Suspended-sediment dynamics in the tidal reach of a San Francisco Bay tributary

California State Coastal Conservancy
By: , and 

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Abstract

To better understand suspended-sediment transport in a tidal slough adjacent to a large wetland restoration project, we deployed continuously-measuring temperature, salinity, depth, turbidity, and velocity sensors since 2010, and added a dissolved-oxygen sensor in 2012, at a near-bottom location in Alviso Slough (Alviso, California USA). Alviso Slough is the downstream reach of the Guadalupe River and flows into the far southern end of San Francisco Bay. River flow is influenced by the Mediterranean climate, with high flows correlated to episodic winter storms (~85 m3 s-1) and low base flow during the summer (~0.85 m3 s-1). Storms and associated runoff have the greatest influence on sediment flux. Strong spring tides promote upstream sediment flux and weak neap tides have only a small net flux. During neap tides, stratification likely suppresses sediment transport during weaker flood and ebb tides.

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Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Suspended-sediment dynamics in the tidal reach of a San Francisco Bay tributary
Year Published 2015
Language English
Contributing office(s) California Water Science Center
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Proceedings of the 17th physics of estuaries and coastal seas (PECS) conference
Conference Title 17th physics of estuaries and coastal seas (PECS) conference
Conference Location Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco, Brazil
Conference Date 19–24 October 2014
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Southern reach of San Francisco Bay
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