River Flow Management as a Tool to Mitigate Salt Intrusion and Enhance Estuarine Sediment Transfer. The Ebro River Case (NW Mediterranean Sea)

TY - GEN

T1 - River Flow Management as a Tool to Mitigate Salt Intrusion and Enhance Estuarine Sediment Transfer. The Ebro River Case (NW Mediterranean Sea)

AU - Grifoll, Manel

AU - Berntsen, Jarle

AU - Cuthbertson, Alan

AU - Cavillo, Benjami

AU - Gracia, Vicente

AU - Sanchez-Arcilla, Agustin

PY - 2026/3

Y1 - 2026/3

N2 - This contribution aims to explore the role of river flow management in mitigating salt intrusion in the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean Sea) to establish flow thresholds for salt wedge regression and complete flushing; jointly with a preliminary interpretation of the sediment transfer dynamics through the estuary. Through the use of a hydrodynamic model we investigate the salt wedge intrusion dynamics and predict the initiation of sediment motion through estimation of the bed shear stresses. Using Ebro river flow data, which includes a regulated flushing flow release from an upstream dam, the numerical model results show evidence of complete removal of the salt wedge from the estuary and increased bed shear stressed capable of suspending and mobilizing all sediment size ranges measured in the estuary for river flows larger than 300 m ³ /s. This value closely approximates the critical flow at which a salt wedge is not observed and is therefore suggested as a threshold river flow for salt wedge prevention and sediment transfer from upstream to river mouth.

AB - This contribution aims to explore the role of river flow management in mitigating salt intrusion in the Ebro Delta (NW Mediterranean Sea) to establish flow thresholds for salt wedge regression and complete flushing; jointly with a preliminary interpretation of the sediment transfer dynamics through the estuary. Through the use of a hydrodynamic model we investigate the salt wedge intrusion dynamics and predict the initiation of sediment motion through estimation of the bed shear stresses. Using Ebro river flow data, which includes a regulated flushing flow release from an upstream dam, the numerical model results show evidence of complete removal of the salt wedge from the estuary and increased bed shear stressed capable of suspending and mobilizing all sediment size ranges measured in the estuary for river flows larger than 300 m ³ /s. This value closely approximates the critical flow at which a salt wedge is not observed and is therefore suggested as a threshold river flow for salt wedge prevention and sediment transfer from upstream to river mouth.

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-032-15477-4

DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-15477-4

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9783032154767

VL - 2

T3 - Coastal Research Library

SP - 543

EP - 547

BT - Coastal Dynamics 2025

A2 - Coelho, Carlos

A2 - Hallin, Caroline

A2 - Sancho, Francisco

A2 - Silva, Paulo A

ER -