Check dams matter: Six years of particle tracking experiment in a check-dam-managed and near-natural pool-riffle stream

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61988987%3A17310%2F25%3AA2603B48" target="_blank" >RIV/61988987:17310/25:A2603B48 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0341816225003881" target="_blank" >https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0341816225003881</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109086" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.catena.2025.109086</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Check dams matter: Six years of particle tracking experiment in a check-dam-managed and near-natural pool-riffle stream

Original language description

A widely applied approach to stabilizing mountain streams and reducing bedload transport rates involves the systematic construction of transverse structures, such as check dams or bed sills, often in combination with bank stabilization measures. However, the precise quantification of their impact on downstream sediment transport, particularly in comparison to unmanaged conditions, remains insufficiently explored. To address this gap, we conducted a six-year field study utilizing passive integrated transponder (PIT)-tagged gravel and cobble particles to assess sediment transport dynamics in a check-dam-managed reach (Bystry) versus a neighboring near-natural pool-riffle reach (Bastice) with similar catchment-scale characteristics in the Czech Western Carpathians. Based on 14 transport-effective flow events (with critical flow durations of 7-78 h and peak unit stream power ranging from 32 to 402 W/m2), Bystry exhibited higher mobilization rates and travel distances nearly twice as long as those in Bastice, whereas Bastice demonstrated greater sediment retention, particularly within bar units. The study underscores the key role of hydrological drivers-including peak discharge, unit stream power, and cumulative geomorphic work derived from excess critical stream power-in regulating coarse sediment transport, with stronger correlations observed in the near-natural reach. These findings support earlier observations of limited sediment trapping by low transverse structures and align with conceptual models predicting enhanced sediment transport in unconfined valley settings subjected to artificial channel straightening and stabilization through consolidation check dams. The study also provides critical insights into the long-term geomorphic effects of torrent control works and their implications for evaluation of sediment (dis)connectivity at the catchment scale.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10508 - Physical geography

Project

<a href="/en/project/EH22_008%2F0004605" target="_blank" >EH22_008/0004605: Natural and anthropogenic georisks</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

CATENA

ISSN

0341-8162

e-ISSN

1872-6887

Volume of the periodical

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Issue of the periodical within the volume

August 2025

Country of publishing house

NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

Number of pages

13

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

001483767100001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105003707555