Wood Retention at Inclined Bar Screens: Effect of Wood Characteristics on Backwater Rise and Bedload Transport

In forested mountain catchment areas, both bedload and large wood (LW) can be transported during ordinary flows. Retention structures such as sediment traps or racks are built to mitigate potential hazards downstream. Up to now, the design of these retention structures focuses on either LW or bedload. In addition, the majority of LW retention racks tend to retain both LW and bedload, while bedload transport continuity during ordinary flows is an important aspect to be considered in the design. Therefore, a series of flume experiments was conducted to study the effect of LW accumulations at an inclined bar screen with a bottom clearance on backwater rise and bedload transport. The main focus was put on testing different LW characteristics such as LW size, density, fine material, and shape (branches and rootwads), as well as a sequenced flood. The results demonstrated that a few logs (wood volume of ≈ 7 m3 prototype scale with a model scale factor of 30) are sufficient to reduce the bedload transport capacity to below 75% compared to the condition without LW. Fine material and smaller wood sizes further reduced bedload transport and increased backwater rise. In contrast, LW density and LW shape had a negligible effect. The test focusing on a sequenced flood highlighted the need for maintenance measures to avoid self-flushing of the bed material. The results of this study further indicate that an inclined bar screen may need to be adapted by considering LW characteristics in the design of the bottom clearance to enable bedload continuity during ordinary flows

Large wood in rivers and its Influence on flood hazard

In terms of flood hazard, the presence of large wood (logs, trees, branches and roots) in rivers may aggravate the consequences of flood events. This material may affect infrastructures such as bridges, weirs, etc., especially those intersecting forested mountain rivers. Until recently, a widely accepted practice was to systematically remove wood debris from river channels as a preventive measure. However, studies have shown that this practice may be useless as the material is transported and deposited after each flood and may even not benefit the long term natural balance of the river ecosystem. Therefore, the presence of this woody material in rivers must be managed and included in flood hazard and risk analysis. In this paper we present a comprehensive methodological approach to study the role of large wood in rivers, with a focus on flood hazard. First, to understand the dynamics of wood recruitment, the contributing areas delivering wood to the streams have to be delineated and the recruitment mechanisms studied. Thus, an estimate can be obtained of the potential volume of deliverable wood. To analyse wood transport we present a numerical model, which allows simulates the behaviour of individual pieces of wood together with hydrodynamics. Finally, we analyse the impact of wood on the magnitude of flood events (in terms of water level, flow velocity or flooded areas), using as an example a flood which occurred in December 1997 in the Sierra de Gredos. The results allowed us to reproduce the wood deposit patterns during the event and to reconstruct the bridge blockage. This caused the upstream water level to rise by up to 2 meters and reduced the flow velocity, which favoured debris and sediment deposits. Consequently, the effects of flooding were equivalent to those of a greater magnitude event. This increase in the flood hazard has been numerically quantified.Postprint (published version

Geospatial modelling of large wood supply to rivers: a state-of-the-art model comparison in Swiss mountain river catchments

Different models have been used in science and practice to identify instream large wood (LW) sources and to estimate LW supply to rivers. This contribution reviews the existing models proposed in the last 35 years and compares two of the most recent GIS-based models by applying them to 40 catchments in Switzerland. Both models, which we call here empirical GIS approach (EGA) and Fuzzy-Logic GIS approach (FGA), consider landslides, debris flows, bank erosion, and mobilization of instream wood as recruitment processes and compute volumetric estimates of LW supply based on three different scenarios of process frequency and magnitude. Despite being developed following similar concepts and fed with similar input data, the results from the two models differ markedly. In general, estimated supply wood volumes were larger in each of the scenarios when computed with the FGA and lower with the EGA models. Landslides were the dominant process identified by the EGA, whereas bank erosion was the predominant process according to the FGA model. These differences are discussed and results compared to available observations coming from a unique database. Regardless of the limitations of these models, they proved extremely useful for hazard assessment, and the design of infrastructure and other management strategies.</p

Characterization of wood-laden flows in rivers

Inorganic sediment is not the only solid-fraction component of river flows; flows may also carry significant amounts of large organic material (i.e., large wood), but the characteristics of these wood-laden flows (WLF) are not well understood yet. With the aim to shed light on these relatively unexamined phenomena, we collected home videos showing natural flows with wood as the main solid component. Analyses of these videos as well as the watersheds and streams where the videos were recorded allowed us to define for the first time WLF, describe the main characteristics of these flows and broaden the definition of wood transport regimes (adding a new regime called here hypercongested wood transport). According to our results, WLF may occur repeatedly, in a large range of catchment sizes, generally in steep, highly confined single thread channels in mountain areas. WLF are typically highly unsteady and the log motion is non-uniform, as described for other inorganic sediment-laden flows (e.g., debris flows). The conceptual integration of wood into our understanding of flow phenomena is illustrated by a novel classification defining the transition from clear water to hypercongested, wood and sediment-laden flows, according to the composition of the mixture (sediment, wood, and water). We define the relevant metrics for the quantification and modelling of WLF, including an exhaustive discussion of different modelling approaches (i.e., Voellmy, Bingham and Manning) and provide a first attempt to simulate WLF. We draw attention to WLF phenomena to encourage further field, theoretical, and experimental investigations that may contribute to a better understanding of flows river basins, leading to more accurate predictions, and better hazard mitigation and management strategies

Avances en el análisis del material leñoso en ríos: incorporación, transporte e influencia en el riesgo por inundaciones

El transporte y dep&oacute;sito de restos de vegetaci&oacute;n en los r&iacute;os (troncos o &aacute;rboles completos, ramas y ra&iacute;ces, material le&ntilde;oso en general) puede agravar las consecuencias de los eventos de avenida e inundaci&oacute;n e incrementar su peligrosidad potencial. Este material puede afectar especialmente a infraestructuras como drenajes, puentes, etc., que intersectan r&iacute;os en cuencas monta&ntilde;osas forestadas. Una pr&aacute;ctica muy extendida y aceptada hasta hace pocos a&ntilde;os ha sido la extracci&oacute;n sistem&aacute;tica de este material le&ntilde;oso de los cauces como medida de prevenci&oacute;n. Sin embargo, se ha demostrado que esta pr&aacute;ctica puede resultar in&uacute;til (el material es transportado y depositado tras cada inundaci&oacute;n), e incluso no beneficiosa para el equilibrio natural del sistema fluvial a largo plazo. Por lo tanto, es necesario gestionar la presencia del material le&ntilde;oso en los r&iacute;os, e integrar su estudio en los an&aacute;lisis de peligrosidad y riesgo por inundaci&oacute;n. Sin embargo, en Espa&ntilde;a existen escasos trabajos en los que el material le&ntilde;oso haya sido objetivo fundamental de estudio y, por tanto, tampoco existe demasiada bibliograf&iacute;a relacionada con esta tem&aacute;tica. En este trabajo, se presenta una exhaustiva revisi&oacute;n de los principales m&eacute;todos empleados para evaluar la peligrosidad de las avenidas e inundaciones que incorporan material le&ntilde;oso. Asimismo, se propone una metodolog&iacute;a integral para estudiar esta carga de detritos le&ntilde;osos en r&iacute;os. En primer lugar, hay que caracterizar la din&aacute;mica de incorporaci&oacute;n de este material a los cauces. Para ello, es necesario establecer las &aacute;reas contribuyentes que pueden aportar el material a los cursos de agua y los procesos que lo incorporan. De este modo, es posible estimar el volumen de madera potencialmente disponible, para lo cual se presenta un modelo num&eacute;rico que permite la simulaci&oacute;n del transporte de carga le&ntilde;osa junto con la hidrodin&aacute;mica. Asimismo, se analiza la incidencia de la carga flotante en la peligrosidad y el riesgo por inundaciones. Esta propuesta metodol&oacute;gica se ha puesto en pr&aacute;ctica en diversos r&iacute;os de la Sierra de Gredos (Sistema Central), present&aacute;ndose una s&iacute;ntesis de algunos de los resultados principales obtenidos. Como conclusi&oacute;n fundamental, se puede afirmar que una correcta gesti&oacute;n de los r&iacute;os requiere a su vez de una apropiada gesti&oacute;n de la vegetaci&oacute;n de ribera y el material le&ntilde;oso transportado y depositado en los mismos; y esta gesti&oacute;n debe encontrar el compromiso para mantener las buenas condiciones ecol&oacute;gicas, reduciendo en lo posible los potenciales riesgo

Two dimensional modelling of large wood transport during flash floods

Large woody material (LW) transported by rivers may be entrapped at critical stream geometry configurations (e.g. bridges) and therefore dramatically increase the destructive power of floods. This was the case in a Spanish mountain river where a flood event with a high degree of LW transport took place in 1997. The aim of this study was to simulate a bridge clogging process and reconstruct the wood deposit patterns, modelling individual pieces of wood moving with the water flow and interacting among them and with the bridge. A two dimensional numerical model was developed to simulate the transport of LW and its effect on hydrodynamics. Different scenarios for the wood transport rate allowed us to study the influence of inlet boundary conditions on bridge clogging. For the studied event, the scenario which best reproduced the bridge clogging effect and flood characteristics was one in which 60% of the total wood entered before the peak discharge. This dropped to 30% at the peak itself, and finally fell to 10% during the recession curve. In addition, the accumulation patterns of LW along the reach were computed and compared with post-event field photographs, showing that the model succeeded in predicting the deposition patterns of wood and those areas prone to form wood jams

Regulation of biotransformation systems and ABC transporters by Benznidazole in HepG2 cells: involvement of Pregnane X-Receptor

Background: Benznidazole (BZL) is the only antichagasic drug available in most endemic countries. Its effect on the expression and activity of drug-metabolizing and transporter proteins has not been studied yet. Methodology/Principal Findings: Expression and activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), Multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2), Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), and Glutathione S-transferase (GST) were evaluated in HepG2 cells after treatment with BZL. Expression was estimated by immunoblotting and real time PCR. P-gp and MRP2 activities were estimated using model substrates rhodamine 123 and dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione (DNP-SG), respectively. CYP3A4 and GST activities were evaluated through their abilities to convert proluciferin into luciferin and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene into DNP-SG, respectively. BZL (200 µM) increased the expression (protein and mRNA) of P-gp, MRP2, CYP3A4, and GSTπ class. A concomitant enhancement of activity was observed for all these proteins, except for CYP3A4, which exhibited a decreased activity. To elucidate if pregnane X receptor (PXR) mediates BZL response, its expression was knocked down with a specific siRNA. In this condition, the effect of BZL on P-gp, MRP2, CYP3A4, and GSTπ protein up-regulation was completely abolished. Consistent with this, BZL was able to activate PXR, as detected by reporter gene assay. Additional studies, using transporter inhibitors and P-gp-knock down cells, demonstrated that P-gp is involved in BZL extrusion. Pre-treatment of HepG2 cells with BZL increased its own efflux, as a consequence of P-gp up-regulation. Conclusions/Significance: Modifications in the activity of biotransformation and transport systems by BZL may alter the pharmacokinetics and efficiency of drugs that are substrates of these systems, including BZL itself.Fil: Rigalli, Juan Pablo. Universität Heidelberg; Alemania. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Perdomo, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Luquita, Marcelo Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Villanueva, Silvina Stella Maris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Arias, Agostina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Theile, Dirk. Universität Heidelberg; AlemaniaFil: Weiss, Johanna. Universität Heidelberg; AlemaniaFil: Mottino, Aldo Domingo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Ruiz, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; ArgentinaFil: Catania, Viviana Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas; Argentin

Two-dimensional numerical modeling of wood transport

The transport of wood material in rivers has been the subject of various studies in recent years. Most research has focused on the ecological and geomorphologic role of wood, its recruitment processes and spatial distribution in streams. In this study, we focused on wood transport dynamics, and we have developed a numerical model to simulate wood transport coupled with a two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic model. For this purpose, wood drag forces were incorporated as additional source terms into the shallow water equations, which are solved together with wood transport by using the finite volume method. This new tool has been implemented as a computational module into &lsquo;Iber&rsquo;, a 2D hydraulic simulation software. The new module analyzes the initial motion threshold of wood based on the balance of forces involved in the wood&#39;s movement, and computes the position and velocity of differently shaped logs using a kinematic approach. The method also considers the interaction between the logs themselves and between the logs and the channel walls or boundaries. Flume experiments were used in a straight channel with obstructions to validate the model&#39;s capacity to accurately reproduce the movement of floating logs