Suspended Sediment Dynamics of Lake Cumberland, Kentucky.
Abstract
Lake Cumberland receives a heavy sediment load during storm events. In some years significant amounts of suspended sediments have traversed the entire length of the reservoir to cause high turbidity levels in the lake and in outflows from Wolf Creek Dam. In other years most of the particles have settled out of the water column and outflows have remained relatively clear. The release of turbid water has a detrimental impact on water quality conditions in the tailwaters and downstream navigation impoundments. The survey included the collection of data from the Lake Cumberland at monthly intervals during the March through August period in 1983. Samples were collected from six sites on the lake and one site in the tailwaters. Parameters measured in situ or elsewhere on the same day the sample was collected include temperature, turbidity, number and size of particles, and particle change or zeta potential. Samples returned to the laboratory were routinely analyzed for total, dissolved, and suspended solids. In addition, samples from the more turbid layers were analyzed for volatile suspended solids and x-ray diffraction tests were performed to characterize the nature of the particles comprising the suspended sediments. The information acquired about sediment dynamics was evaluated with knowledge of lake hydrodynamics to describe the movement of suspended sediments in the impoundment and effects on turbidity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA141774
Entities
People
- J. A. Gordon
- R. M. Behel Ii
Organizations
- Tennessee Technological University