Applying and Comparing Empirical Sediment Transport Modeling Approaches In Michigan Rivers

Excess or limited fluvial sediment transport can contribute and exacerbates many environmental issues including nutrient loading, aquatic habitat degradation, flooding, channel navigation, dam operation, and stream degradation or aggradation. However, fluvial sediment transport is difficult and expensive to comprehensively characterize because it can vary substantially both temporarily and spatially. Having better estimates of fluvial sediment transport is important for understanding and solving these environmental issues when it is not possible to collect fluvial sediment samples. Different modeling approaches can be used to help provide estimates of suspended sediment when sampling data is not available. Two empirical modeling approaches that have been used successfully in Minnesota will be applied to rivers in Michigan. We will compare the suspended sediment estimates from dimensionless sediment rating curve models developed in Colorado, Minnesota, and Michigan and a machine learning model developed in Minnesota to suspended sediment samples collected in Michigan. The results will compare two different modeling approaches and compare how empirical models developed in different regions and rivers compares to Michigan’s rivers.