The effect of weirs on nutrient concentrations

Cisowska, I.; Hutchins, M.G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3764-5331. 2016 The effect of weirs on nutrient concentrations. Science of the Total Environment, 542 (A). 997-1003. 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.064

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.064

Abstract/Summary

The removal of a weir in 1999 from the River Nidd in Yorkshire, UK, was assessed in terms of its impact on in-stream nitrate removal along a 15.8 km long stretch of river. Models of channel hydraulics and denitrification quantified the impact on an annual basis, using, as inputs, river flow, water temperature, water quality data and cross-section geometry collected both before and after the weir was removed. To remove the confounding influences of year-specific conditions, two counterfactual simulations were set up whereby the pre-removal configuration was driven by data from the post-removal period (and vice versa). Results revealed the removal of the weir to have reduced the annual fraction of the upstream nitrate load being retained along the stretch by 2.6% (i.e. 812 kg) and 1.8% (382 kg) for the years 1997 and 2000 respectively. Differences resulting from the presence or absence of the weir were most marked during low flow summer conditions.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.064
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Rees (from October 2014) Reynard
ISSN:	0048-9697
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	weir removal, nutrient concentration, denitrification, surface water, modelling, UK
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Hydrology
Date made live:	27 Nov 2015 16:21 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/512291

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.064

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Rees (from October 2014)
Reynard

ISSN:

0048-9697

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

weir removal, nutrient concentration, denitrification, surface water, modelling, UK