Sediment Characteristics and Configuration within Three Dam Impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, 2000

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Abstract

The removal of the remnants of three hydroelectric dams on the Kalamazoo River near Plainwell, Otsego, and Allegan, Michigan, has been proposed. The benefits of this removal include returning the Kalamazoo River to its pre-dam flow, increasing recreational use and safety on the river, and improving aquatic habitat. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated this reach of the Kalamazoo River as a Federal Superfund site because of the historical discharge of papermill waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls. Much of this waste material remains concentrated in organic sediment and kaolinite clay deposited upstream from the three dam foundations. Sediment containing up to 150 milligrams per kilogram polychlorinated biphenyls could move if dam foundations are removed; therefore, it is necessary to estimate the characteristic and configuration of the sediment before work begins.

Data collected from augered sections and sediment cores show that impoundment sediments were deposited in two distinctly different sedimentary environments. Interbedded lacustrine sediments that overlie the pre-dam channel surface consist of organic-rich silt and clay, fine to medium sand, and some gravel. These materials were deposited in a repetitive, cyclic fashion related to former stream velocities when the impoundment water levels were 5-10 feet higher. Lowering of these water levels and demolition of the superstructures of these dams resulted in erosion of much of these instream lacustrine sediments and subsequent deposition of coarse-grained alluvium in the impounded channel behind the remaining dam foundations.

The composite thicknesses of the lacustrine deposits and overlying alluvium was determined from sediment cores collected from each impoundment. The volume of instream sediment contained in each impoundment is estimated to be about 77,600 cubic yards at the Plainwell impoundment; 268,900 cubic yards at the Otsego impoundment; and 1,192,600 cubic yards at the Trowbridge impoundment. Estimates do not include bank or flood-plain deposits.

Citation:

Rheaume, S. J., C. M. Rachol, D. L. Hubbell and Andreanne Simard, 2002, Sediment Characteristics and Configuration within Three Dam Impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, 2000, Date Posted: May 8, 2006: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4098.
[http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/WRIR/WRIR02-4098/]

2A. Location of data-collection points in the Plainwell impoundment on the Kalamazoo River

2B. Location of data-collection points in the Otsego impoundment on the Kalamazoo River

2C. Location of data-collection points in the Trowbridge impoundment on the Kalamazoo River

4A. Depth to pre-dam alluvium in the Plainwell impoundment on the Kalamazoo River

4C. Depth to pre-dam alluvium in the Trowbridge impoundment on the Kalamazoo River

5A. Combined thickness of post-dam lacustrine deposits and post-superstructure alluvium in

5B. Combined thickness of post-dam lacustrine deposits and post-superstructure alluvium in

5C. Combined thickness of post-dam lacustrine deposits and post-superstructure alluvium in

1. Characteristics of stream bottom and sediments at sediment-core sites in three impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan

2. Estimates of the instream-sediment volume and root mean squared error of sediment thickness in three impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan

3. Volume of sediment between transects in three impoundments on the Kalamazoo River,

Tables A1-A3. Date, location, water velocity, altitude of surfaces, and total thickness of sediment at transect data points in three impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan

Tables B1-B3. Lithologic descriptions of sediment cores collected in three impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan

Tables C1-C3. Particle size of selected sediment samples from cores collected in three impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan

Sediment Characteristics and Configuration within Three Dam Impoundments on the Kalamazoo River, Michigan, 2000

Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4098

By S. J. Rheaume, C. M. Rachol, D. L. Hubbell, and Andreanne Simard

Abstract

Citation:

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