LSU New Orleans researcher Abigail Eckland and Melissa Foster of the Bureau of Reclamation are co-lead authors of a new study published in Nature Communications examining how sediment trapped behind dams affects water storage and the resilience of coastal deltas.
The study, “Reservoir sedimentation diminishes water storage and coastal delta resiliency,” analyzes data from more than 50,000 reservoirs across the United States. Researchers found that as sediment builds up behind dams, it reduces the amount of water reservoirs can hold while also preventing sediment from traveling downstream to coastal areas.
The findings have relevance for Louisiana and the Mississippi River Delta, where river sediment plays an important role in building and maintaining coastal land. When sediment is trapped farther upstream, less material is available to reach the coast and help vulnerable delta areas keep pace with rising sea levels.
The research highlights how managing sediment in reservoirs could have benefits beyond preserving water storage. In some areas, reconnecting sediment to rivers could also help support coastal resilience and restoration efforts.
Eckland’s study was published in Nature Communications, an international peer reviewed journal within the Nature Portfolio.
Read the full study in Nature Communications
