SEDIMENT TRANSPORT FROM A RURAL CATCHMENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Suspended-sediment sampling over a non-contiguous 2-year period, October 1970 - October 1971 and October 1973 - October 1974, was carried out on Congewai Creek at Eglinford (85.5 k sq m) in the Hunter Valley, N.S.W. Both depth-integrated and single-stage sampling was used, concentrations obtained by the latter method being adjusted because of the large unsampled zone. The samples were divided seasonally and into rising the falling/stationary stage groups. Reduced major axes (RMA's) were calcualted and compared for winter (April - September) and summer (October - March) bias. Sediment load was obtained from the hourly hydrograph by two methods: (a) concentration (mg/1) vs. time graphs; and (b) model-II regression lines, discharge (cu m/s) vs. concentration (mg/1), summer and winter. Considerable differences in load are obtained by these two methods for each year, but the totals for the 2-year period are within 8% of each other, method (a) yielding 4,554 tonnes and (b) 4,971 tonnes. No distinct seasonal (winter - summer) patterns are revealed by the RMA tests and sediment load calculations. If the year is divided into summer - early winter (January - June) and winter - early summer (July - December) it is found that 99% of the 2-year load is yielded in the first six calendar months. Of the twenty rises and floods to occur on the stream, eighteen are in the period January - June. These 20 rises are responsible for transportating 97% of the suspended sediment. The average annual sediment yield of 28 tonnes/k sq m for Congewai Creek is higher than reported rates for southeast Tasmania and southeast N.S.W., but comparable with some northeast Queensland values. Above average runoff (+72%) in the second year of study may largely account for these differences. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  Radarweg 29
  Amsterdam,   Netherlands  1043 NX
• Authors:
  • Loughran, R J
• Publication Date: 1977-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 357-375
• Serial:
  • Journal of Hydrology
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue Number: 3/4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drainage basins; Floods; Hydrographs; Runoff; Rural areas; Sampling; Seasons; Sedimentation; Suspended sediments
• Uncontrolled Terms: Seasonal variations
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00164101
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 29 1977 12:00AM