Modeling of hydrodynamic circulation and cohesive sediment transport and prediction of shoreline erosion in Hartwell Lake, South Carolina/Georgia

This dissertation addresses hydrodynamics, sediment transport and shoreline erosion within the main pool of Hartwell Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir built on the Savannah River, between Anderson, South Carolina, and Hartwell, Georgia. The primary goal of the study was to document, through field measurements, and model, using a 3-D numerical model of flow and sediment transport, the fate of sediments within the main pool of Hartwell Lake.;To quantify the erosion rate of the shorelines, an approach that relates erosion rates to wind wave forces was developed. A simplified representation of the shape of beach profiles was employed. Historical shoreline change rates were quantified by comparing available digital aerial photos taken in different years, and the erosion prediction model was calibrated using these computed erosion rates.;The erosion prediction methodology was applied to an eroding peninsula on the east side of the lake. The estimated erosion rates agreed well with values obtained from aerial photo analysis after calibration of the methodology. Average erosion rates were estimated to be about one meter/year. Results were compared to two other approaches for prediction of erosion rates in the literature. It was concluded that the shape of the beach profiles is an important factor, and that methods used for erosion prediction should account for the variability of the beach profile slopes.;Sediments derived from shoreline erosion were introduced to the model as an additional sediment source along the model boundary, and the fate of the eroding sediments was investigated via numerical modeling. The results suggest that the eroding sediments have a localized and small impact on overall reservoir deposition patterns.;Hydrodynamic model results indicated likely zones of sediment deposition, potentially useful for mitigation of pollution problems as well as predictions of reservoir lifetime and development of maintenance schemes. The findings of the erosion prediction methodology can be used in the development of shoreline protection regulations, and assessment of setback requirements throughout reservoir lakeshores. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...