Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Sedimentological And Geomorphological Response Of A Glacially Conditioned Watershed To Event Induced Flooding: Insights From The Connecticut River And Hurricane Irene, Laura Kratz

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Tropical Storm Irene’s most extreme rainfall resulted in record-breaking sediment loads from upland tributaries to the Connecticut River. However, was the event exceptional with respect to resultant deposition downstream? Off-river waterbodies to the Lower Connecticut River, such as cut-off meanders and blocked valley lakes, are a particularly important floodplain environment, which have been shown to serve as a focal point for the trapping of sediment and associated contaminants. This study evaluates the relative role of extreme events like Tropical Storm Irene in infilling these off-river environments. To meet this objective we compare the magnitude and composition of resultant sedimentation from …