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Title:	Particle size distributions of bed sediments along the Mississippi River, Grafton, Illinois, to Head of Passes, Louisiana, November 2013
Authors:	United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Memphis District United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. Mississippi Valley Division Mississippi River Geomorphology and Potamology Program (U.S.) Gaines, Roger A. Priestas, Anthony M.
Keywords:	Bed Material Geomorphology Laser diffraction Meander cutoff Mississippi River Particle size analysis River engineering Sediments Sieve analysis
Publisher:	Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)
Abstract:	Changes in Mississippi River bed material gradations between Cairo, IL, and Head of Passes, LA, have been previously determined in 1932 and 1989. In November 2013, bed material samples were collected from the thalweg and across the channel width along a reach extending from Grafton, IL, to Head of Passes, LA. In all, 754 samples were collected at 496 locations, and results were compared to the earlier sampling programs. Results show that since 1932 the Lower Mississippi River bed sediments have become more uniform, the reach-averaged D₅₀ median grain diameter has reduced by approximately 50%, and the river has relatively fined upstream and coarsened downstream with little change since 1989.
Rights:	Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/7761
Appears in Collections:	MRG&P Report