Methods of increasing suspended sediment deposition in the Nemunas delta

Abstract

Floods in the Nemunas delta inundate the bright areas of the valley, where the significant part of the sediments brought by water is deposited. It decreases the pollution of water getting into the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. Therefore, it is desirable to find the means for intensification of this deposition and put them in practice. The possibility to increase the discharge of water flowing through the flood plane was investigated; it could result in the part of suspended sediments getting into the valley and settled to be increased as well. The influence of road banks built across the floodplain and growing in the valley bushes was tested. It increases the depth and decreases the velocity of flow, which can change the sediment deposition. The results of mathematical hydraulic modeling performed investigating these means are discussed in the paper.