Morphodynamics, stratigraphy, and sediment transport patterns of the Kennebec River estuary, Maine, USA

Abstract

Sediment transport and circulation patterns within the lower Kennebec River estuary, Maine (?20 km) have been investigated over a two year and nine month period using fathometer profiles and side-scan sonograms in conjunction with flow measurements, fresh-water discharge data, and grain-size data. The geologic history of the estuary is inferred from high-resolution seismic profiles and bridge borings. Subbottom data corroborate a five-stage evolutionary history that has been determined for other areas of the west-central Maine coast. Scattered deposits of glacial till (diamict) and stratified drift overly a Precambrian to Paleozoic metasedimentary bedrock basement. The glacio-marine blue clay of the Presumpscot Formation unconformably overlies the diamict and drift and drapes the basement, where till is absent. The clay surface is an erosional unconformity formed during the last sea-level lowstand. During subsequent sea-level rise, a relatively coarse-grained estuarine fill was deposited within a flood-dominated, relatively large paleo-Kennebec River estuary. As the rates of sea-level rise slowed, the system shifted to an ebb-dominated estuary in which the estuarine fill underwent reworking and downstream net transport. Bathymetric data show a hierarchical arrangement of bedforms ranging in size and morphology from well-developed, ebb-oriented transverse bars to superimposed simple, straight-crested megaripples. The transverse bars were stable over the study period. The reworking and migration of the smaller forms are closely linked to seasonal variations in the relative contributions between tidal flow and fresh-water discharge. During the spring, large-magnitude discharge events augment ebb-tidal flows. The ebb-reinforced flows dominate the system and result in a net downstream transport of medium- to coarse-grained sand. Estuarine stratification plays an important role in sediment transport during non-spring months. From mid-summer to fall, salinity gradients enhance flood-tidal flows and result in minor quantities of upstream transport. In addition, bedrock bathymetric highs and abrupt changes in channel geometry may influence sediment transport within the estuary.