Sediment and Habitat Dynamics


Sediment and flow dynamics determine the morphology of rivers and their ecological functioning. In Switzerland, the sediment dynamics of many rivers are impaired. Humans have influenced sediment dynamics strongly by dams, lateral embankments and channelisation, with numerous ecological consequences. The re-initiation of flow and sediment dynamics as well as ecological functions is a prerequisite for the successful evaluation of our rivers (river restoration and hydropower mitigation) and an important objective of both the Hydraulic Engineering Act and the revised Water Protection Act. The research project "Sediment and habitat dynamics" investigated the human influence on sediment dynamics in rivers. It also studied measures to re-initiate the dynamics in degraded rivers and the effects on the structure and function of biological assemblages.

The following two main topics were investigated:

1. Re-initiation of sediment dynamics

2. Restoration of floodplains

An overview of this topic is provided by the model landscape of a river network including human impacts on sediment dynamics as well as measures to re-initiate the dynamics.

Overview article on the content and structure of the project for download

Sediment and Habitat Dynamics Project Schleiss, A., Boes, R., Brodersen, J., Doering, M., Franca, M.J., Nadyeina, O., Pfister, M., Robinson, C., Scheidegger, C., Vetsch, D., Weber, C., Weitbrecht, V., Werth, S., 2014, Wasser Energie Luft 106 (2): 117-122 [pdf, 285 KB]

Project phase

Concluded
2013-2017

Project leaders' team

Anna Belser (FOEN, project coordination)
Mario Franca (LCH)
Christoph Scheidegger (WSL)
David Vetsch (VAW)
Christine Weber (Eawag)

Advisory group

FOEN: Rémy Estoppey, Susanne Haertel-Borer, Stephan Lussi, Manuel Nitsche, Diego Tonolla
Cantonal authorities: Josef Hartmann (GR), Norbert Kräuchi (AG), Christian Marti (ZH), Vinzenz Maurer (BE), Sandro Ritler (LU), Thomas Stucki (AG)
Other institutions: Raimund Hipp (KBNL), Roger Pfammatter (SWV), Luca Vetterli (Pro Natura)

Steering board

FOEN: Hugo Aschwanden, Andreas Knutti, Evelyne Marendaz, Stephan Müller, Olivier Overney, Carlo Scapozza, Hans Peter Willi
Research institutions: Robert Boes (VAW), Christoph Hegg (WSL), Anton Schleiss (LCH), Bernhard Wehrli (Eawag)

Products & Publications

  • Merkblatt-Sammlung

    The following products are available in German (below), French and Italian (change language on top of website).

    Einzelne Merkblätter

    Practice questions

    • Within the framework of the project Sediment and Habitat Dynamics 12 questions from authorities and practice were answered. Link

    • Scheidegger, C., Weber, C., Schleiss, A., Vetsch, D., Boes, R., Brodersen, J., Doering, M., Franca, M.F., Nadyeina, O., Pfister, M., Robinson, C., Weitbrecht, V., Werth, S., 2014: Forschungsprogramm «Wasserbau und Ökologie»: Geschiebe- und Habitatsdynamik. Inside 14: 20-24. pdf

    • Scheidegger, C., Ziegler, M., Helbling, L., 2014: Artenförderung per Transplantation. Pro Natura Magazin 1/2014: 32-33. pdf

    • Schleiss, A., Boes, R., Brodersen, J., Doering, M., Franca, M.J., Nadyeina, O., Pfister, M., Robinson, C., Scheidegger, C., Vetsch, D., Weber, C., Weitbrecht, V., Werth, S., 2014: Geschiebe- und Habitatsdynamik - Forschungsprogramm «Wasserbau und Ökologie». Wasser Energie Luft 106 (2): 117-122. pdf

    • Vetsch, D., Weber, C., Scheidegger, C., Franca, M.F., 2016. Freier Lauf für Fliessgewässer. Der Bauingenieur 4: 10-11. pdf

    • Vetsch, D., Di Giulio, M., Franca, M.F., Juez, C., Scheidegger, C., Weber, C. 2018. Erkenntnisse aus dem Projekt "Geschiebe- und Habitatsdynamik". Wasser Energie Luft 110:195-200. pdf

    • Battisacco, E., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J, 2015: Physical modelling of artificial river replenishment techniques to restore morphological conditions downstream of dams. Proceedings of the 36th IAHR World Congress, The Hague, the Netherlands, 28. June – 3. July 2015.

    • Battisacco, E., Franca, M.J., Schleiss A.J., 2015: Physical modeling of artificial river replenishment techniques to restore morphological conditions downstream of dams. EGU General Assembly, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 17, Vienna, Austria.

    • Battisacco, E., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J, 2016: Laboratory experiments on the influence of the length of a replenishment volume applied with alternated geometrical configuration. Proceedings of ISRS 2016, Stuttgart, Germany, 19.-22. September 2016, p. 121.

    • Battisacco, E., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J., 2016: Sediment replenishment: influence of the geometrical configuration on the morphological evolution of channel-bed. Water Resources Research 52 (11): 8879–8894, doi/10.1002/2016WR019157

    • Battisacco, E., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J., 2016: Effect of geometrical configuration of sediment replenishment on the development of bed form patterns in a gravel bed channel. EGU General Assembly, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 18, Vienna, Austria.

    • Battisacco, E., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J., 2016: Laboratory experiments on the influence of the length of a replenishment volume applied with alternated geometrical configuration. Proceedings of ISRS 2016, Stuttgart, Germany, 19.-22. September 2016, p.121.

    • Bösch, L., Battisacco, E., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J., 2016: Influence of consecutive sediment replenishment on channel bed morphology. Proc. of River Flow 2016, St. Louis, USA, 11.-14. July 2016, pp. 1147-1155.

    • Facchini, M., Siviglia, A., Boes, R.M., 2015: Downstream morphological impact of a sediment bypass tunnel – preliminary results and forthcoming actions. Proc. First International Workshop on Sediment Bypass Tunnels. VAW-Mitteilungen 232: 137-146.

    • Fink, S., Lanz, T., Stecher, R., Scheidegger, C., 2017. Colonization potential of an endangered riparian shrub species. Biodiversity and Conservation, 26(9): 2099-2114.

    • Fink, S., Senn-Irlet, B., 2016: Pilzvorkommen voraussagen. Wie weit helfen Modellierungen des Lebensraums? Schweiz. Z. Pilzkd. / Bull. Suisse Mycol. 94, 2: 12-14.

    • Friedl, F., Weitbrecht, V., Boes, R. M., 2015: The role of bank erosion in restoration works in gravel-bed rivers. Proceedings of the 36th IAHR World Congress 28. June – 3. July 2015, The Hague, the Netherlands.

    • Friedl, F., Weitbrecht, V., Boes, R.M., 2016: Laboratory Experiments on Gravel Deposit Erosion. Proc. Intl. Symp. River Sedimentation. In: Wieprecht, Haun, Weber, Noack, Terheiden (eds.). Taylor & Francis Group, London. pp. 603-610.

    • Friedl, F., Weitbrecht, V., Boes, R.M., 2016: Erosion Pattern of Artificial Gravel Deposits. International Journal of Sediment Research 2017, doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2017.08.003

    • Juez, C., Battisacco, E., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J., 2016: Modeling sediment pulses on an armored channel. Proc. of River Flow 2016, St. Louis, USA, 11.-14. July 2016. pp. 1314-1320.

    • Juez, C., Battisacco, E., Schleiss, A.J., Franca, M.J., 2016: Assessment of the performance of numerical modeling in reproducing a replenishment of sediments in a water-worked channel. Advances In Water Resources 92: 10-22, doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.03.010

    • Martín Sanz, E.J., Doering, M., Robinson, C.T., 2017: Ecological assessment of a sediment bypass tunnel on a receiving stream in Switzerland. River Research and Applications, 33 (6): 925-936.

    • Martín Sanz, E.J., Ryo, M., Doering, M., Robinson, C.T., 2018. Evaluation of Restoration and Flow Interactions on River Structure and Function: Channel Widening of the Thur River, Switzerland. Water, 10(4): 439.

    • Rachelly, C., Weitbrecht, V., Vetsch, D. F., Boes, R. M., 2018. Morphological development of river widenings with variable sediment supply. River Flow 2018 - Ninth International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics, Lyon-Villeurbanne, France. Web of Conferences. 40: 02007.

    • Schwindt, S., Franca, M. J., Schleiss, A.J., 2016: The influence of the opening width of check dams on bedload continuity of mountain rivers. In: Constantinescu, G., Garcia, M., Hanes, D. (eds.) River Flow 2016, pp. 1156–1160.

    • Schwindt, S., De Cesare, G., Boillat, J.-L., Schleiss, A.J., 2016: Physical modelling optimization of a filter check dam in Switzerland. In: Koboltschnig, G. (ed.) Proceedings of INTERPRAEVENT: Hazard and risk mitigation, volume 13: 828-836.

    • Schwindt, S., Piton, G., De Cesare, G., Recking, A., Schleiss, A.J., 2016: Study of the effects of a distanced retention basin combined with an open check dam on a physical model. In: Koboltschnig, G., (ed.) Proceedings of INTERPRAEVENT: Hazard and risk mitigation, volume 13: 322-323.

    • Schwindt, S., Franca, M. J., De Cesare, G., Schleiss, A.J., 2017: Analysis of mechanical-hydraulic deposition control measures. Geomorphology 295 (Supplement C): 467-479, doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.07.020

    • Schwindt, S., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J., 2017. Bottom slope influence on flow and bedload transfer through contractions. Journal of Hydraulic Research, [under revision]: 20.

    • Schwindt, S., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J., 2017. Effects of lateral and vertical constrictions on flow in rough steep channels with bedload. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 143 (12), doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001389

    • Schwindt, S., Franca, M.J., Schleiss, A.J., 2017: New element for optimizing the functioning of sediment traps. EGU General Assembley 2017, Vienna, Austria, p. 2059.

    • Schwindt, S., Franca, M.J., Reffo, A., Schleiss, A.J., 2017: Experimental study of sediment traps permeable for frequent floods. Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. [in review]. doi: 10.5194/nhess-2017-376

    • Vonwiller, L., Vetsch, D.F., Boes, R.M., 2015: On the role of modelling approach for simulation of bank erosion in straight, trapezoidal channel. Proceedings of the 36th IAHR World Congress, 28. June – 3. July, 2015, The Hague, the Netherlands.

    • Vonwiller, L., Vetsch, D.F., Boes, R.M., 2016: Numerical simulation of gravel deposit erosion. Proc. of 13th International Symposium on River Sedimentation (ISRS 2016), 19.-22. September, Stuttgart, Germany

    • Vonwiller, L., Vetsch, D.F., Boes, R.M., 2018: Modeling streambank and artificial gravel deposit erosion for sediment replenishment. Water, 10 (4): 508. pdf

    • Battisacco, E., 2016: Replenishment of sediment downstream of dams: erosion and transport processes. Thèse EPFL, n° 7239. pdpdf

    • Baumann, A., 2015: The effects of altered sediment regimes on Brown Trout Salmo trutta and their diet. Master thesis, Eawag. pdf

    • Bianco, L., Facchini, M., Siviglia, A., Colombini, M., 2016: 1D Modeling of morphological changes induced by repeated sediment bypass tunnel operations. Master Thesis, DICCA, University of Genova (in Italian).

    • Breitenmoser, T., 2014: Flechtenvorkommen in Grauerlenauen im Kanton Graubünden. BSc, ETHZ, Zürich, WSL, Birmensdorf.

    • Buhlmann, I., 2016: Influence of bank macro-roughness elements on suspended sediment transport in open-channel flows. Master Thesis, LCH-EPFL, Lausanne.

    • Deflorin, R., Facchini, M., Boes, R.M., 2014: Preliminary analysis of the first sediment bypass tunnel operation at the Albula River. Project Thesis, VAW, ETH Zürich.

    • Facchini, M., 2017: Downstream morphological effects of SBT operations. PhD thesis, ETH Zürich. pdf

    • Maechler, G., 2016: Influence of bank macro-roughness elements on suspended sediment transport in open-channel flows. Master Thesis, LCH-EPFL, Lausanne.

    • Martín Sanz, E.J., 2017: Flow-sediment interactions in managed rivers: influence on ecosystem structure and function. PhD thesis, ETH Zürich. pdf

    • Mörz, S., 2017: Einfluss des Keimsubstrates auf die Etablierung und das Konkurrenzverhalten von auentypischen und invasiven Pflanzenarten. BSc Arbeit, Hochschule Weihenstephan – Triesdorf, WSL Birmensdorf.

    • Nef, D., 2014: Diversität epiphytischer Flechtenarten in Grauerlenwäldern entlang der Zuflüsse des Rheins im Kanton Graubünden. BSc, ETHZ, Zürich und Birmensdorf.

    • Schenkel, P., 2015: Hydraulische und morphologische 2d Modellierung einer eigendynamischen Flussaufweitung. Master thesis, VAW, ETH Zurich.

    • Schwindt, S., 2017: Hydro-morphological processes through permeable sediment traps at mountain rivers. Thèse EPFL, n° 7655, doi 10.5075/epfl-lchcomm-71 pdf

    • Vonwiller, L., 2017: Numerical Modeling of Morphological Response of Gravel-Bed Rivers to Sediment Supply. PhD thesis, ETH Zürich, pdf

    • Zoderer, A., 2016: Ufererosion im Rahmen von Revitalisierungsprojekten. Master Thesis, VAW, ETH Zürich.