Initial Analyses of Eagle River Flats Hydrology and Sedimentology, Fort Richardson, Alaska

• Main Authors: Lawson, Daniel E., Bigl, Susan R., Bodette, John H., Weyrick, Patricia
• Other Authors: COLD REGIONS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING LAB HANOVER NH
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1995
• Subjects: Ecology; Hydrology; Limnology and Potamology; Solid Wastes Pollution and Control; Water Pollution and Control; *HYDROLOGY; *ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; *WATER POLLUTION; *SOIL POLLUTION; *WETLANDS; *WHITE PHOSPHORUS; *SEDIMENTOLOGY; ARMY FACILITIES; ALASKA; WIND; COLD REGIONS; SEDIMENT TRANSPORT; GROUND WATER; SUSPENDED SEDIMENTS; DRAINAGE; SEASONAL VARIATIONS; CLIMATE; RIVERS; CONTAMINATION; EARTHQUAKES; WATER QUALITY; SOIL EROSION; MORTALITY RATE; FLOODING; RUNOFF; ARTILLERY; HIGH EXPLOSIVES; PONDS; SWAMPS; LEVEES; GLACIERS; ESTUARIES; DUCKS; EAGLE RIVER FLATS(ALASKA); FORTY RICHARDSON(ALASKA); SALT MARSHES; MUD FLATS; glaciers; Subarctic; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA298690; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA298690

The physical environment of Eagle River Flats (ERF), a subarctic tidal flat and salt marsh, is progressively changing because of the interactions of multiple physical processes, including a high tidal range, two primary sediment sources, cold climate and location within an active earthquake zone. In addition, ERF has been used by the U.S. Army as an artillery range, where high explosives or smoke-producing shells have been detonated, causing cratering and disrupting drainage. The physical environment of ERF needs to be understood to help remediate a problem of unusually high mortality rates in migrating waterfowl. This high mortality ot ducks is attributable to ingestion of elemental white phosphorus (P4) particles (from smoke-producing devices), which are now distributed within near-surface sediments of the ponds and marshes. The complexity of this dynamic environment makes it extremely difficult to predict what physical effects remedial measures fo(the P4 contamination will have and, conversely, what short- and long-term effects the physical system will have on the effectiveness and success of proposed remedies. Understanding both the system's response and the effects of remedial technologies is critical to deciding what measures are used. This report presents the initial analysis of the physical processes of erosion, sedimentation and sediment transport and the factors controlling activity within a portion of ERF. (MM)