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Title: Effect of Rapidly Changing River Stage on Uranium Flux through the Hyporheic Zone

Abstract

At the Hanford Site, the flux of uranium contaminated groundwater into the Columbia River varies according to the dynamic changes in hydraulic gradient caused by fluctuating river stage. The river stage changes in response to operations of dams on the Columbia River. Piezometers were installed in the hyporheic zone to facilitate long term, high frequency measurement of water and uranium fluxes into the Columbia River in response to fluctuating river stage. In addition, measurement of the water level in the near shore unconfined aquifer enhanced the understanding of the relationship between fluctuating river stage and uranium flux. The changing river stage caused head fluctuations in the unconfined aquifer, and resulted in fluctuating hydraulic gradient in the hyporheic zone. Further, influx of river water into the unconfined aquifer caused reduced uranium concentration in near shore groundwater as a result of dilution. Calculated water flux through the hyporheic zone ranged between 0.3 and -0.5 L/min/m2. The flux of uranium through the hyporheic zone exceeded 30 ug/min/m2 during some time periods, but was generally on the order of 3 to 5 ug/min/m2 over the course of this study. It was also found that at this location, the top 20 cm of the hyporheicmore » zone constituted the most restrictive portion of the aquifer, and controlled the flux of water through the hyporheic zone.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
985046
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-52010
Journal ID: ISSN 0017-467X; ISSN 1745-6584; 830403000; TRN: US1006069
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Ground Water, Volume 45(6):753-760
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 45; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 0017-467X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
13 HYDRO ENERGY; AQUIFERS; COLUMBIA RIVER; DAMS; DILUTION; FLUCTUATIONS; FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT; HYDRAULICS; RIVERS; SHORES; URANIUM; WATER; hyporheic zone; uranium; flux

Citation Formats

Fritz, Brad G, and Arntzen, Evan V. Effect of Rapidly Changing River Stage on Uranium Flux through the Hyporheic Zone. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2007.00365.x.
Fritz, Brad G, & Arntzen, Evan V. Effect of Rapidly Changing River Stage on Uranium Flux through the Hyporheic Zone. United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2007.00365.x
Fritz, Brad G, and Arntzen, Evan V. 2007. "Effect of Rapidly Changing River Stage on Uranium Flux through the Hyporheic Zone". United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2007.00365.x.
@article{osti_985046,
title = {Effect of Rapidly Changing River Stage on Uranium Flux through the Hyporheic Zone},
author = {Fritz, Brad G and Arntzen, Evan V},
abstractNote = {At the Hanford Site, the flux of uranium contaminated groundwater into the Columbia River varies according to the dynamic changes in hydraulic gradient caused by fluctuating river stage. The river stage changes in response to operations of dams on the Columbia River. Piezometers were installed in the hyporheic zone to facilitate long term, high frequency measurement of water and uranium fluxes into the Columbia River in response to fluctuating river stage. In addition, measurement of the water level in the near shore unconfined aquifer enhanced the understanding of the relationship between fluctuating river stage and uranium flux. The changing river stage caused head fluctuations in the unconfined aquifer, and resulted in fluctuating hydraulic gradient in the hyporheic zone. Further, influx of river water into the unconfined aquifer caused reduced uranium concentration in near shore groundwater as a result of dilution. Calculated water flux through the hyporheic zone ranged between 0.3 and -0.5 L/min/m2. The flux of uranium through the hyporheic zone exceeded 30 ug/min/m2 during some time periods, but was generally on the order of 3 to 5 ug/min/m2 over the course of this study. It was also found that at this location, the top 20 cm of the hyporheic zone constituted the most restrictive portion of the aquifer, and controlled the flux of water through the hyporheic zone.},
doi = {10.1111/j.1745-6584.2007.00365.x},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/985046}, journal = {Ground Water, Volume 45(6):753-760},
issn = {0017-467X},
number = 6,
volume = 45,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}