Publication Summary

Title

Lower Duwamish Waterway: Tracing Short-Term Movements of Suspended Sediment, Summary Report

Month-Year PublishedSeptember 2009
Online Availability
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Short Description

This field study involved the release and recovery of sediment tracer particles in the Lower Duwamish Waterway, a sediment cleanup site in Seattle. The tracers were labeled with both fluorescent and magnetic properties.

In February 2009, the sand-sized and silt-sized tracers were released upstream of the cleanup site. During the two months following release, tracer particles were recovered from the water column and surface sediments. Samples were analyzed to determine mass of tracer particles present.

Results generally supported two modeled predictions: (1) sand-sized particles accumulate in the site, and (2) approximately one-half of the silt-sized particles pass through the site.

(Also see abstract below)
Publication Number09-03-048
Author(s)Sloan, J. and T. Gries
Print Availability
Request from the program.
Number of pages 24 + attachments (194 total)
Keywords Ecology, Green River , Lower Duwamish Waterway, model, river, suspended sediment, water, waterway
Subject Waterbodies
Duwamish Waterway,
River
map of Washington state showing locations of subject waterbodies
Related Publications TitleRelationship    
Quality Assurance Project Plan: Loading of Contaminants to the Lower Duwamish Waterway from Suspended Sediments in the Green Riversupporting publication
POSTER: Use of Fluorescent Tracer Particles in the Lower Duwamish Waterwayposter
Quality Assurance Project Plan: Tracking Short-Term Movements of Suspended Sediments in the Lower Duwamish Waterway.supporting publication
Abstract Long Description

During 2009, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) conducted a field study at the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW) sediment cleanup site in Seattle. The study involved the release and recovery of sediment tracer particles having both fluorescent and magnetic properties. The main goal of this short-term study was to assess the movement and fate of incoming suspended sediments from the Green River. Ecology contracted with Partrac Ltd. to manufacture and analyze these tracer particles.

This summary report describes the study methods, major findings, and recommendations presented in two attached Partrac Ltd. reports produced as a result of the field study: 1. Assessment of the Hydraulic Characteristics of Native Sediments (Lower Duwamish Waterway) and Tracer Design and Testing. 2. Tracking Short-Term Movements of Suspended Sediment in the Lower Duwamish Waterway.

In February 2009, Ecology released sand-sized and silt-sized tracers upstream of the cleanup site. During the two months following release, tracer particles were recovered from the water column and surface sediments. Samples were analyzed to determine mass of tracer particles present.

Overall, the manufactured tracers successfully mimicked native suspended sediments. Tracers were released with little difficulty and did not alter concentrations of total suspended solids in the Green River. Tracers were recovered in a variety of samples collected from the LDW over a two- month period.

The distribution of the tracer types and their masses generally confirmed sediment transport model (STM) predictions:

  • Sand-size tracers were transported and accumulated in upstream areas of the LDW cleanup site.
  • Sand-size tracers underwent sorting (mean size decreased with distance traveled).
  • Silt-size tracers released into the LDW from the Green River were easily transported throughout the LDW and beyond.
  • Silt-size tracers were diluted with distance traveled, deposited throughout the LDW, resuspended (present in the LDW water column after two months), and transported upstream of the release site during flood tides.

    Link to EIM data for User Study ID LDW_08

  • This page last updated November 17, 2009