Call number:
ZSP-201-84/32
In:
CRREL Report, 84-32
Description / Table of Contents:
Orwell Lake, in west-central Minnesota, is a flood-control, water-management reservoir first impounded in 1953. Subsequent erosion of the shoreline and a lack of knowledge of slope erosion processes in this region prompted this study to identify and quantify the processes there. The processes were measured at selected sites between June 1980 and June 1983. Erosion of the banks is primarily caused by three processes: rain, frost thaw, and waves. The first two processes tend to move sediment to the base of the steep slopes, forming 4 relatively gentle surface of accumulation. Wave action then tends to move this sediment into the lake. Analysis of the data collected over three years has confirmed that wave action is the dominant erosion process, providing almost 77% of the erosion during the 1981-82 study year. During the 1981 high pool level, 2,089 Mg of sediment, mostly colluvium, was removed from the lower slopes by wave action striking the 1.62 km of eroding shoreline. More than 4,300 Mg was eroded by waves accompanying the higher pool levels of 1982., During years in which the pool level does not exceed 325.5 m in elevation, the colluvium slope builds up at the expense of the steeper slope. But during successive years with higher pool levels, the resulting thin colluvium is quickly eroded. Erosion of the primary sediment, a compact till, then occurs, forming the S typical nearly vertical banks. In winter the upland surface adjacent to the lake freezes to a depth of between 1 and 2 m, depending on the surface temperature, the mow cover, and the distance from exposed banks. In late winter soil aggregates, released by the sublimation of interstitial ice within the banks, begin to accumulate at the base of the slopes, often veneering snowbanks there. Once thaw begins, slab failure of bank sediment is followed by mudflows and earthflows. Thaw failure at Orwell Lake in the winter of 1981-82 accounted for over 20% of the erosion; in the spring of 1982, 824 Mg was eroded by this process and 746 Mg the following spring. Such slope failure is most intense along north-facing banks and considerably less intense on south-facing banks, where more effective desiccation and sublimation reduce the soil moisture content. Summer rainfall is responsible for the remaining 3% of the total erosion, amounting to 102 Mg in 1981 and 208 Mg in 1982. Because the banks are steep and relatively short, rainwash is infrequent; rainsplash is the most consistent process during the summer, but the infrequent storms during which rainwash occurscause greater total erosion. Erosion by rain has increased in each of the past three summers, largely because of increased precipitation. Infrequent massive slope failures (slumps) have occurred at the east end of the lake where a buried clay rich unit is stratigraphically and topographically positioned to favor such failures. Drought years followed by heavy spring rains probably will result in additional slope failures of this type at the east end. Unless changes are made, the banks at Orwell Lake will continue to recede. Restriction of the pool level to less than 325.5-m elevation is the least expensive solution to the problem.
Type of Medium:
Series available for loan
Pages:
ix, 110 Seiten
,
Illustrationen
Series Statement:
CRREL Report 84-32
URL:
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a152952.pdf
URL:
https://hdl.handle.net/11681/9266
Language:
English
Note:
CONTENTS
Abstract
Preface
Summary
Chapter 1. Introduction
Location
Purpose of study
Previous work
Chapter 2. Methodology
Geology
Overland erosion
Wave erosion
Frost penetration and heave
Thaw failure
Bank recession
Ground water
Soil moisture
Chapter 3. Results
Geology
Geotechnical properties
Overland erosion
Wave erosion
Freeze-thaw phenomena
Ground water fluctuations
Other slope failures
Chapter 4. Discussion
Overland erosion
Wave erosion
Thaw failure
Universal soil loss equation
Chapter 5. Summary and conclusions
Techniques
Erosion processes at Orwell lake
Bank recession
Literature cited
Appendix A1: Average cumulative change of surface at erosion stations #2-12, 1980-81
Appendix A2: Cumulative net changes at overland erosion stations #1-12, 1980-81
Appendix A3: Cumulative net changes at overland erosion stations #1 -12, 198 1-82
Appendix A4: Cumulative average erosion at overland erosion stations #1-12, 1980-81
Appendix AS: Cumulative average erosion at overland erosion stations #1-12, 1981-82
Appendix A6: Cumulative average erosion at overland erosion stations #1 -1 2A, 1982
Appendix B: Dimensions of erosion sections, Orwell Lake, Minnesota
Appendix C: Piezometer installation data, Orwell Lake, Minneso
Location:
AWI Archive
Branch Library:
AWI Library
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