Sediment budget for the Upper Mississippi River

A system of locks and dams to improve navigation was constructed along the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) about 60 years ago. The system has influenced the physical and ecological characteristics of the river in many ways. One of the most significant influences of the system has been its effect on sediment transport along the river. Altered sediment transport conditions are evident both as system-wide and localized impacts. A sediment budget encompassing about 670 km of the UMR was developed to quantify the sediment transport conditions within the lock and dam system (Pools 11 to 26). The magnitude of major sources and sinks of sediment within the system were quantified. By combining the results of the sediment budget with data derived from the analysis of historic fiver plan form information, an estimate of sedimentation rates within the backwater areas of the navigation pools was obtained.