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Bed Degradation of the Lower Missouri River a Thesis In BED DEGRADATION OF THE LOWER MISSOURI RIVER A THESIS IN Civil Engineering Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE by JACOB ALAN MORGAN B.S., Tennessee Technological University, 2011 Kansas City, Missouri 2013 © 2013 JACOB ALAN MORGAN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BED DEGRADATION OF THE LOWER MISSOURI RIVER Jacob Alan Morgan, Candidate for the Master of Science Degree University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2013 ABSTRACT The phenomenon of bed degradation can be due to a multiplicity of causes, but ultimately reflects a change in either the sediment input or sediment transport capacity of a system. Causes for the accelerated rate of degradation of the lower Missouri River Bed, particularly in Kansas City are explored as well as potential countermeasures to arrest the incision. Main-stem rivers and their tributaries constitute a complex, interrelated system and consequently the Platte and Kansas Rivers are briefly discussed as well. Although the lower Missouri River Valley has been inhabited for over two hundred years, significant changes on the scale required to disrupt sediment transport patterns has only occurred within the last century or so. Major channelization efforts orchestrated by the federal government began around the turn of the nineteenth century. These operations coupled with a series of main-stem dams built between the 1930s and 1960s served to provide a navigation channel for commercial barge traffic as well as provide flood protection. It appears that clear water releases from upstream reservoirs and effects of the Platte River contribute little to nothing as far as degradation processes at Kansas City are iii concerned. Channelization works probably play a minor role, as well as land-use changes, such as deforestation and urbanization. Significant causes to the recent increase in degradation rate are major flood events and commercial dredging. The river often degrades several feet during a single flood event and although some recovery occurs, the river’s bed never reaches its previous elevation. Commercial dredging has significantly increased in the Missouri River in the same time frame that degradation has accelerated, occurring in the same areas as well. A few European rivers that also experience bed degradation were evaluated along with countermeasures applied to them. Unfortunately, the use of the European rivers lent itself to methods to arrest degradation that are unreasonable for use on the Missouri River. In light of the probable causes for degradation, the most effective countermeasure is likely a change in dredging regulations. Further study is required, though, to more satisfactorily determine the cause(s) of degradation as well as possible countermeasures. iv APPROVAL PAGE The faculty listed below, appointed by the Dean of the School of Computing and Engineering and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, have examined a thesis titled “Bed Degradation of the Lower Missouri River,” presented by Jacob A. Morgan, candidate for the Master of Science degree, and certify that in their opinion it is worthy of acceptance. Supervisory Committee Jerry R. Richardson, Ph.D., Committee Chair Civil and Mechanical Engineering (CME) Department ZhiQiang Chen, Ph.D. Civil and Mechanical Engineering (CME) Department Jejung Lee, Ph.D. Department of Geosciences v CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...............................................................................................x LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... xiii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... xiv Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 Dynamic Stability and Degradation .............................................................1 The Missouri River ......................................................................................3 Predevelopment................................................................................5 Early Settlement along the Missouri ................................................9 Early Transportation on the Missouri ............................................11 2. DEVELOPMENT AND CAUSES OF DEGRADATION ....................................18 Introduction ................................................................................................18 Main-Stem Dams .......................................................................................21 Fort Peck ........................................................................................23 Pick-Sloan Plan ..............................................................................30 Garrison..............................................................................36 Oahe ...................................................................................39 Big Bend ............................................................................41 Fort Randall .......................................................................43 Gavins Point .......................................................................44 Channelization ...........................................................................................47 vi Dikes and Revetments....................................................................81 Cutoffs............................................................................................85 Big Blue Bend Cutoff ........................................................88 Liberty Bend Cutoff ...........................................................88 Flood Events ..............................................................................................90 Historical Flooding ........................................................................90 1844....................................................................................91 1881....................................................................................91 1903....................................................................................94 1943....................................................................................95 1952....................................................................................97 1993....................................................................................99 2011..................................................................................100 Levees ..........................................................................................101 Dredging ..................................................................................................103 Land-Use Changes ...................................................................................105 Deforestation ................................................................................106 Urbanization .................................................................................107 Tributaries ................................................................................................109 Platte River...................................................................................109 Kansas River ................................................................................113 Most Probable Causes ..............................................................................117 3. IMPACTS OF DEGRADATION ........................................................................120 vii Introduction ..............................................................................................120 Ecological Impacts ...................................................................................121 Economic Impacts ....................................................................................124 4. EUROPEAN RIVERS CASE STUDIES ............................................................127 Introduction ..............................................................................................127 River Rhine ..............................................................................................127 River Danube ...........................................................................................131 River Elbe ................................................................................................137 5. DEGRADATION COUNTERMEASURES .......................................................139 Introduction ..............................................................................................139 Restoration versus Rehabilitation ............................................................139 Natural Recovery .....................................................................................141 Grade Control...........................................................................................142 Dike Modification ....................................................................................144 Meander/Side Channel Restoration .........................................................146 Bed Revetments .......................................................................................146 Artificial Sediment Supply ......................................................................147 Granulometric Bed Improvement
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