Modeling Contaminated Sediment in the Elbe River Basin - SedNet

Modeling Contaminated Sediment in
the Elbe River Basin: Integrating Field
Data & Observations
SEDNET: VENICE, 08.04.2011
Kari Moshenberg 1 , Susanne Heise 1 ,
Evelyn Claus 2 and Daniel Schwandt 2
1: Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
2: German Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG)

Introduction: WFD & Elbe River Basin
Elbe River Basin: Substances of Concern
Groyne Fields: Sediment Traps
Field Data: Interpreting Groyne Fields
Conclusions
CONTENTS

WFD and the Elbe River Basin
�Water Framework Directive
� EU Water bodies: Good chemical & ecological status by 2015
� Some sections of the Elbe will likely fail WFD goals
�Elbe Basin Sediments
� Areas of low sediment quality due to historical
contamination.
� Effect management measures (fishing, dredging)
�Elbe Sediment Modeling: Hydrodynamics, suspended
sediment, and particle-bound contaminants
� Describe erosion and deposition along and between groyne
fields
� Estimate transport of particle-bound contaminants –
Heise S, Krüger F, Baborowski particularly M, Stachel B, Götz R, Förstner U. 2009. Bewertung from der Risiken durch tributaries
Feststoffgebundene Schadstoffe im Elbeeinzugsgebiet. Im Auftrag der FGG Elbe und HPA, erstellt vom BIS an der TU Hamburg-Harburg. Hamburg, 349 p.
Directive 2000/60/EC. Directive 2000/60/EC.
FGG Elbe. 2009. Hintergrundpapier zur Ableitung der überregionalen Bewirtschaftungsziele für die Oberflächengewässer im deutschen Teil der Flussgebietseinheit Elbe für den Belastungsschwerpunkt Schadstoffe. Magdeburg, Germany.
INTRODUCTION

Cd, Hg,
Cu, Zn,Pb
Schnackenburg
As, Dioxin,
HCH
IN
BAS
HCH, HCB, PCB,
DDX, TBT
ER
RIV
E
Substances of Concern in the
Elbe River Basin
ELB
ELBE RIVER BASIN

Groyne Fields: Alter the Elbe’s Hydraulics
�History: Built in 17 th century for flood prevention, land
acquisition & customs collection
�Today: Improve navigability in low water
� KM 0-~125: No groynes
� KM >~125: 6900 groynes (92% of banks)
�Assumptions:
� Groynes trap fine sediment
� High water: mobilize fines &
sorbed contaminants
R. Schwartz, “Geochemical characterisation and erosion stability of fine-grained groyne field sediments of the Middle Elbe River,”
Acta hydrochimica et hydrobiologica 34, no. 3 (2006).
GROYNE FIELDS

Role of Groyne Fields in Sediment Transport?
uestions � Field : Very little fine sediment in groyne fields
(upstream of Magdeburg)
�Modeling: Groynes fill quickly with fine sediments
�Data:
� Field Summer 2010: Toxicity & Chemistry data
� Wittenberg (km 214) –Magdeburg (km 327)
� Ongoing: Suspended sediment loads
GROYNE FIELDS

Sediment Sampling: Targeting Sinks/Sources
�Sources/Sinks
� Tributaries (Saale, Mulde)
� Side-structures
�Sampling Program (n=25)
� Sediment Chemistry
� Toxicity:
V. fischeri
(Bioluminescent Bacteria)
Reduced Luminescence:
Evidence of Contamination
A. globiformis
(Soil Bacteria)
Reduced Respiration: Evidence of
Contamination
30-Min ElutriateTest 2-Hour Contact Test
GROYNE FIELDS

Reduction in Bioluminescence (Ctrl Adj.)
Sediment Toxicity: Groynes & Small Harbors
Station
A. globformis
V. fischeri
Toxicity
Elevated
Moderate
Low
RECENT FIELD DATA

PCA Results : V. Fischeri & Organics
RECENT FIELD DATA

Cd, Hg,
Cu, Zn,Pb
Schnackenburg
As, Dioxin,
HCH
IN
BAS
HCH, HCB, PCB,
DDX, TBT
ER
RIV
E
Substances of Concern in the
Elbe River Basin
ELB
ELBE RIVER BASIN

Suspended Sediment Characteristics
RECENT FIELD DATA

Groynes Likely a Secondary Source
Load Difference Schnackenburg-Magdeburg (kg/year)
Load Difference Schnackenburg-Magdeburg (kg/year)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
3
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
0
1996
-0,5 1997 1998 1999 2000
1996 2001
1997 2002
1998 2003
1999 2004
2000 2005
2001 2006
2002 2007
2003
2008
2004
2009
2005
2006
2007
2008
Negative Values: Loads Decrease Downstream
Positive Values: Loads Increase Downstream
Arsenic
Mercury Lead
Chrom
Cadmium
Nickel
2009
RECENT FIELD DATA

Different Sources, Different Processes
Load Difference Schnackenburg-Magdeburg
(kg/year)
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
ß-HCH
g-HCH
p,p'-DDD
HCB
RECENT FIELD DATA

Conclusions
�Coastal Area:
� Schnackenburg close to estuary - different
contamination patterns
�Groynes:
� Sediments & sorbed contaminants are likely
resuspended during high water events (M’burg-S’burg)
� Sediments are bioavailable and can be toxic
(Wittenberg-Magdeburg)
� Decreased Fines (2006-2008) likely related to
coarsening observed in groynes
�Information Gaps:
� More data needed on sediment grain size/density in
groynes To be collected this summer
CONCLUSIONS

Thanks for your Attention!
Acknowledgements:
•Michael Bergemann(Behörde für Stadtentwicklung und Umwelt Amt für
Umweltschutz Abt.)

GOALS
RESEAR
CH
MODELI
NG
Model Elbe hydraulics and suspended sediment -
Czech border–Schnackenburg (km 474.6)
Describe erosion and deposition along and between groyne
fields
Estimate transport of particle-bound contaminants –
particularly from tributaries
Evaluate multiple scenarios (remediation, floods)