River deltas display a wide range of morphologic patterns that influence how nutrients interact in channels and wetlands on their way to the coast. To quantify the role of delta morphology on nitrate fate, we simulated reactive nitrate transport over steady base flow conditions for six synthetic, morphologically unique river‐dominated deltas created in Delft3D by varying incoming grain size distributions. We parameterized nitrate removal kinetics using an observed relationship with elevation from Wax Lake Delta (Louisiana, USA). Total nitrate retention across the six synthetic deltas and Wax Lake Delta ranged from 1.3%‐13%, suggesting that these river‐dominated deltas have limited ability to remove nitrate from incoming river water. Nitrate removal is constrained by limited hydrologic connectivity with the areas of greatest nitrate demand, which are found at higher elevation. In these synthetic numerical experiments, the efficiency of nitrate removal is greatest for deltas with more topologic complexity and greater proportions of the delta plain at higher elevation, which are both common characteristics of coarser‐grained deltas. The positive relationship between grain size and nitrate removal may help guide land reclamation projects if project goals include minimizing nitrate export to the sea.
Human activities have increased nitrate export from rivers, degrading coastal water quality. At deltaic river mouths, the flow of water through wetlands increases nitrate removal, and the spatial organization of removal rates influences coastal water quality. To understand the spatial distribution of nitrate removal in a river‐dominated delta, we deployed 23 benthic chambers across ecogeomorphic zones with varying elevation, vegetation, and sediment properties in Wax Lake Delta (Louisiana, USA) in June 2018. Regression analyses indicate that normalized difference vegetation index is a useful predictor of summertime nitrate removal. Mass transfer velocity were approximately three times greater on a vegetated submerged levee (13 mm hr−1), where normalized difference vegetation index was greatest, compared to other locations (4.6 mm hr−1). Two methods were developed to upscale nitrate removal across the delta. The flooded‐delta method integrates spatially explicit potential removal rates across submerged portions of the delta and suggests that intermediate elevations on the delta—including submerged levees—are responsible for 70% of potential nitrate removal despite covering only 33% of the flooded area. The channel network method treats the delta as a network of river channels and suggests that although secondary channels are more efficient than primary channels at removing received nitrate, primary channels collectively contribute more to overall removal because they convey more of the total nitrate load. The two upscaling methods predict similar rates of nitrate removal, equivalent to less than 4% of nitrate entering the delta. To protect coastal waters against high nitrate loads, management policies should aim to reduce upstream nutrient loads.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1812019
- PAR ID:
- 10449656
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Water Resources Research
- Volume:
- 56
- Issue:
- 8
- ISSN:
- 0043-1397
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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