The assessment of suspended sediment inputs to Volta Lake

Information on a river basin's sediment yield is an important requirement for water resources development and management. In the Volta River basin of Ghana, data on suspended sediment yield are limited due to the lack of logistic support for systematic sediment sampling activities. This paper presents the results of a study using the available measurements of suspended sediment transport for eight monitoring stations in order to develop a simple predictive tool for estimating the suspended sediment yields for catchments for which no sediment measurements had been undertaken. Regression analysis was used to establish a relationship between specific suspended sediment yield and both the mean annual run‐off and the drainage basin area. The prediction model was used to estimate the sediment loads of the Volta River and its main tributaries (Black Volta, White Volta and Oti Rivers) in order to estimate the total suspended sediment input to the reservoir and the equivalent specific suspended sediment yield from the catchment surface. Although these sediment yield values are relatively low by world standards, the results obtained provide a basis for assessing future sedimentation problems in Lake Volta and for underpinning the development of sediment control and management strategies for the reservoir.     

The storage and provenance of fine sediment on the channel bed of two contrasting lowland permeable catchments,UK

Fine sediment (<63 µm) storage in river channels frequently represents a significant term in catchment sediment budgets and plays an important role in diffuse pollution problems. A combination of a sediment remobilization technique and the fingerprinting approach was used to examine the storage and provenance of fine sediment on the channel bed of two contrasting lowland permeable catchments in the UK. In the upper Tern (∼231 km²) study catchment, estimates of mean fine sediment storage on the channel bed ranged between 860–5500 g m⁻², with an overall average of 2391 g m⁻², compared to 470–2290 g m⁻² and 1065 g m⁻² in the Pang (∼166 km²) and 770–1760 g m⁻² and 1255 g m⁻² in the Lambourn (∼234 km²) sub‐catchments. Mean total fine sediment storage on the bed of the main channel was equivalent to 37% (upper Tern), 38% (Pang) and 21% (Lambourn) of the mean annual suspended sediment loads measured at the catchment outlets. Over the study period, the total gain (1427 t) and loss (1877 t) to fine sediment storage on the channel bed in the upper Tern catchment were equivalent to 82% and 108% of the mean annual suspended sediment load, respectively, compared to 149% (740 t) and 136% (678 t) in the Pang sub‐catchment, and 39% (422 t) and 49% (528 t) in the Lambourn sub‐catchment. The source of the fine sediment stored on the channel bed within each study area varied. In the upper Tern catchment, the weighted mean relative contributions from individual source types were estimated to be 35 ± 5% (pasture), 51 ± 5% (cultivated) and 14 ± 3% (channel banks and subsurface sources). The corresponding estimates were 49 ± 8%, 33 ± 5% and 18 ± 5% for the Pang sub‐catchment, compared to 19 ± 6%, 64 ± 5% and 17 ± 5% for the Lambourn sub‐catchment. These sediment source estimates have important implications for the design and implementation of targeted sediment control policies within the study areas. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Human impacts on suspended sediment and turbidity in the River Murray,South Eastern Australia: Multiple lines of evidence

European settlement has led to increased loads of fine suspended sediment (SS) entering the River Murray, Australia's largest, and arguably, most important river. The River Murray's anthropogenic sediment history can be divided into four periods with varying source areas, sediment loads, and seasonal patterns. The Aboriginal period (before 1840) was characterized by clear water at summer low‐flows in the River Murray and its southern tributaries, with more sediment coming from the northern catchment than the southern, and the Darling River being turbid at all flows. There is little evidence that Aboriginal burning resulted in any measurable increase in SS. SS loads peaked in the 1870s and 1880s (the gold and gully period, 1850–1930) as valley floors were incised by gullies (mostly in northern tributaries), and gold sluicing flushed huge amounts of sludge into southern tributaries. Sedimentation in wetlands and on floodplains increased by 2–10 times in this period, and the biota in wetlands switched from clear water to turbid water communities. In the hiatus period (1930–1960) sediment supply from gullies and gold mining waned and low flow SS concentrations returned to low levels. Dam construction through the 1960s and 1970s (the regulation period, 1960 on) disconnected the River Murray from catchment derived sediment. Despite this, SS levels increased again: now largely derived from instream sources including bank erosion from long duration summer irrigation flows, the spread of bottom‐feeding carp (Cyprinus carpio), and wave erosion from boats. Erosion switched from winter to summer dominated. Significant investment in securing water for the environment in the Murray‐Darling Basin could be complemented by addressing in‐channel sediment sources in the River Murray itself to reduce turbidity. Overall, European era SS concentrations remain relatively low with small sediment delivery to the ocean (0.1 Mt per annum), despite high catchment erosion rates. This is due to poor sediment delivery efficiency through the low‐gradient landscape.     

泥沙源区沟道输沙能力的计算方法

小流域沟道是泥沙进入江河的初级通道，在洪水流量较大时，沟道挟沙力强，其输沙量往往接近断面以上流域侵蚀量，进入江河的沙量取决于流域内的补给沙量，但在洪水流量较小时，沟道水流挟沙力下降，其输沙量小于断面以上流域侵蚀量，进入江河的沙量取决于各级沟道的挟沙能力。黄土地区小流域沟道纵坡陡，固体物质补给又十分丰富，虽然沟道尺度不大，但水流含沙量却很高，已有各种基于低含沙水流的挟沙公式不能表达沟道中高含沙水流的输沙特性。作者通过分析及试验研究，求得在输沙平衡条件下水流泥沙因子间的关系，提出小流域沟道挟沙力公式，经初步验证结果满意，这为估算分析不同条件下流域输沙量提供依据，也对水土保持规划有一定的指导意义。     

GIS Based Estimation of Sediment Discharge and Areas of Soil Erosion and Deposition for the Torrential Lukovska River Catchment in Serbia

In the present study the SHETRAN river basin modelling system was used in conjunction with Geographic Information System (GIS) to estimate potential erosion and deposition rates within the catchment and the concentrations of sediment in a flow at the catchment outlet on the example of the 114.31 km² mountainous torrential Lukovska River catchment in Serbia. The streams in the Lukovska River catchment are short, steep and often produce hazardous torrential floods as a consequence of strong rainfall of short duration. The soil erosion and sediment discharge were analysed in view of the catchment response to physical characteristics of the catchment. Considering that the most of total annual sediment discharge in watersheds of torrential character is achieved during storm events, the SHETRAN modelling system was calibrated on the example of a storm event in 1986 and validated for three other storm events in 1974, 1976 and 1979. The simulated results of discharges and sediment concentrations at the catchment outlet for both calibration and validation events were compared with the observed data and found to be reasonable. The changes of erosion and deposition rates within the catchment and in the course of time were estimated for the calibration event in 1986. The simulated erosion rates were within the range of 1 to 10.5 t/ha and corresponded to the observed rates of erosion in Europe during extreme rain events. The presented methodology is useful in identifying the erosion vulnerable regions in a catchment where erosion control measures should be implemented.     

长江泥沙的来源,输移和沉积特性分析

本文依据大量原型观测资料和分析研究成果,论述了长江泥沙的来源、输移及沉积特性。文中对影响流域产沙的气候条件、下垫面条件及人类活动等项主要因素进行了分析,并根据近期资料统计,长江流域的土壤侵蚀总量为22.39亿t。流域产沙具有泥沙输移比小和产沙地区集中两个基本特征。河流泥沙的沉积主要为水库淤积、湖泊沉积和河床的冲淤。     

应用输沙量推演流域侵蚀量的方法探讨

鉴于至今还没有一个有效获取流域侵蚀产沙量的方法,在分析悬移质泥沙与侵蚀泥沙之间的数量与粒配关系的基础上,阐述了应用输沙量推演流域侵蚀量在理论上的可能性,但却存在着难点,且主要表现在水文站数量不足与区域分布不均、流域内的生态环境复杂与区域差异大、水文站输沙量观测记录起始时间不同步、及新技术应用存在时空条件的局限性。结合与侵蚀产沙和泥沙输移比相关的定性与定量指标,提出了应用输沙量推演流域侵蚀量的方法,即"层次类剔法",来计算与评估流域侵蚀量和泥沙输移比,具体的操作过程是首先制作一幅流域地貌类型地块图,然后是逐类型、逐类型地块的侵蚀量计算和沟道流域泥沙输移比的判断,最终获取流域不同地块的侵蚀强度和流域泥沙输移比。本研究结果可为水土流失监测点的选择提供科学依据,同时对解决流域的泥沙问题也有重要的启迪作用。     

Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi‐quantitative approaches

Reservoir siltation is a serious problem that threatens the productivity and sustainability of water‐harvesting schemes. Quantification of sediment deposition in reservoirs and understanding of its major drivers are needed to apply targeted management interventions. Most of the techniques used to estimate sediment deposition in reservoirs require extensive measurements on a frequent time basis, as well as being costly and time‐consuming. Thus, a rapid and relatively economical means of assessing the erosion susceptibility of catchments and predicting their sediment yield potential is necessary. In this study, expert‐based rankings and semi‐quantitative factorial scoring approaches were applied to assess the siltation severity of 25 reservoirs in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. The results were then correlated with quantitative sediment yield estimates acquired for representative sites, and a sediment yield predication model was developed for the region. The calibrated model has an efficiency and relative root mean square error (RRMSE) of 79 and 36%, respectively, which is considered adequate to assess erosion susceptibility and siltation risk of reservoirs in similar environments. The study demonstrates that expert knowledge and rapid characterization of catchments, in terms of susceptibility to erosion, are viable options for assessing siltation risks and for analysing controlling factors at a larger number of sites, with minimum costs and acceptable accuracy.     

Spatio‐temporal variability of suspended sediments in rivers and ecological implications of reservoir flushing operations

High suspended sediment concentrations during reservoir flushing are known to be harmful to biota in downstream river stretches. Therefore, it is common practice to set legal concentration limits for upstream reservoir management operations such as flushings or controlled drawdowns. However, as shown by measurements, there is a considerable spatio‐temporal variability of suspended sediment concentrations both in the longitudinal profile of rivers and in river cross‐sections. To consider this variability in management operations, SED‐FISH—a three‐dimensional modelling approach—was developed to study this variability in a wider context by upscaling cross‐sectional measurements of suspended sediments to high‐resolution three‐dimensional information on the reach scale in an alpine river. The resulting patterns of suspended sediment concentrations were integrated over their respective time of occurrence for various scenarios in order to calculate severity of harmful impacts for target fish species. The modelling results identified refugial habitats with reduced negative impacts in near‐bank zones even for relatively high suspended sediment concentrations in the centre of the river. Moreover, a substantially larger variability of both suspended sediment concentrations and associated harmful impacts was found for a winding riverbed morphology as compared with a straight reach. Both these findings and the developed modelling tool could assist in establishing individual case‐based concentration limits for reservoir management operations in the future and should also be taken into account when planning river regulation or restoration measures.     

示踪技术在流域泥沙研究中的应用

介绍并评价了流域产沙的估算及流域泥沙来源的确定方法。分别突出了核素示踪技术与现代地球化学方法在流域沙帐，现代河流悬浮泥沙及历史泥沙来源的确定等方面的优势，百年来流域泥沙来源的历史信息可以通过核素示踪技术与组合指纹法的结合重现，这为研究百年来侵蚀环境变化及其与土壤侵蚀，泥沙产量变化之间的关系提供了基础。可以进一步解释历史沉积泥沙中所包含的环境信息。为环境治理措施的选择提供依据。     

Analysis of Bed Load Equations and River Bed Level Variations Using Basin-Scale Process-Based Modelling Approach

Bed load transport is a key process in maintaining the dynamically stable channel geometry for restoring the form and function of river ecosystems. Bed load consists of relatively large sediment particles that are moved along the streambed by rolling, sliding or saltation. Currently, various empirical correlations are used to estimate bed load transport rates since no single procedure, whether theoretical or empirical, has yet to be universally accepted as completely satisfactory in this aspect. Bed load particles are primarily sourced from river bed materials or banks. The amount of bed load and its spatial distribution contributes significantly to river bed level changes. Hillslope sediment contribution, mostly available to the river in the form of suspended load, also plays an important role in river bed level changes. This study aims to analyse different bed load equations and the resultant computations of river bed level variations using a process-based sediment dynamic model. Analyses have revealed that different bed load equations were mainly deduced from the concept of relating bed shear stresses to their critical values which are highly factored by the slope gradient, water discharge and particle sizes. In this study, river bed level variations are calculated by estimating total surplus or deficit sediment loads (suspended loads and bed loads) in a channel section. This paper describes the application of different widely used bed load equations, and evaluation of their various parameters and relative performances for a case study area (Abukuma River Basin, Japan) using a basin-scale process-based modelling approach. Relative performances of river bed level simulations obtained by using different bed load equations are also presented. This paper elaborates on the modelling approaches for river bed load and bed level simulations. Although verifications were not done due to unavailability of field data for bed load, qualitative evaluations were conducted vis-à-vis field data on flow and suspended sediment loads as well as the bed loads presented in different past studies.     

Estimation of Potential Soil Erosion for River Perkerra Catchment in Kenya

River Perkerra catchment with an area of 1207 km² is drained by River Perkerra, which is one of the rivers flowing into Lake Baringo whose drainage area is 6820 km². The lake is in a semi-arid area of Kenya. Its depth has reduced from 8 m in 1972 to 2.5 m in 2003 due to siltation resulting from high erosion rates in the catchment. The entire catchment is characterised by very steep slopes on the hillsides and gentle slopes in the middle and lower reaches where the surface is bare with very little undergrowth. Interventions to control soil erosion in this fragile ecosystem have been limited partly because of lack of data on erosion and its spatial distribution. In the present study, Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was used in conjunction with GIS Arc/Info and Integrated Land and Water Information Systems (ILWIS) to estimate potential soil loss from River Perkerra catchment. Various physical parameters of the equation were derived by analysing spatial data and processing Landsat TM satellite imagery of the catchment. The estimated potential soil erosion from the catchment was 1.73 million tonnes/year while the sediment yield at the catchment outlet was found to be 1.47 million tonnes/year. The sediment delivery ratio derived using an empirical equation was 0.83. This figure indicates that a higher proportion of sediments generated in the catchment is delivered at the outlet. The use of GIS enabled the results of erosion potential to be mapped back onto the catchment. This is useful in identifying priority areas that require urgent management interventions in controlling soil erosion.     

Considerations on the influence of extreme events on the phosphorus transport from river catchments to the sea.

In this paper, results from rivers of different sizes in Romania, Hungary and Austria are presented. The paper shows the dynamics of extreme events and their contribution to the total P and suspended solids transported in these rivers. Special attention is paid to the influence of the size of the catchment and the event probability on the relative contribution of a single event to the total loads transported in the river. Further, the development of phosphorus loads along the Danube River at a flood event is shown. From the results it can be concluded that there is no immediate influence of high flow and flood events in upstream parts of the Basin on the transport of phosphorus from the catchment to the receiving Sea. Particle-bound phosphorus is mobilised from the catchment (through erosion) and the river bottom to a high extent at high flow events and transported at peak discharges to downstream, where retention by sedimentation of particles takes place. On the one hand this retention is a transport to flooded areas. In this case it can be considered as more or less long term retention. On the other hand sedimentation takes place in the riverbed, in case the tractive effort of the river is reduced. In this second case the P-pool in the sediments of the sedimentation area will be increased. If anaerobic conditions in the sediment appear, part of the phosphorus will be transformed to soluble ortho-phosphate and will continuously contribute to the phosphorus transport to the receiving sea. Part of the P-retained in the river sediment will be mobilised by resuspension at the next biggest high flow event. Altogether, these alternating processes of suspension, transport, export to flooded areas or sedimentation in the river bed with partly solution and partly resuspension at the next event decrease the share of the phosphorus transport during high flow events on the total loads transported in the more downstream parts of a catchments as compared to the more upstream parts. In the year of occurrence of an extreme flood event the P-transport of this year is dominated by the flood event. As an average over many years the contribution of high flow events to the total P-transport still may be between 7 and 20% in smaller catchments (around 1,000 km2). In a big catchment (e.g. river Danube) much smaller contributions of flood events on the total P-transport can be expected as an average over many years.     

Estimation of Soil Erosion and Sediment Yield Using GIS at Catchment Scale

A GIS-based method has been applied for the determination of soil erosion and sediment yield in a small watershed in Mun River basin, Thailand. The method involves spatial disintegration of the catchment into homogenous grid cells to capture the catchment heterogeneity. The gross soil erosion in each cell was calculated using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) by carefully determining its various parameters. The concept of sediment delivery ratio is used to route surface erosion from each of the discritized cells to the catchment outlet. The process of sediment delivery from grid cells to the catchment outlet is represented by the topographical characteristics of the cells. The effect of DEM resolution on sediment yield is analyzed using two different resolutions of DEM. The spatial discretization of the catchment and derivation of the physical parameters related to erosion in the cell are performed through GIS techniques.     

Estimating Sediment Budget at a River Basin Scale Using a Process-Based Distributed Modelling Approach

The paper presents a process-based distributed modelling approach for estimating sediment budget at a river basin scale with partitions of suspended and bed loads by simulating sediment loads and their interactions. In this approach, a river basin is represented by hillslopes and a network of channels. Hillslopes are divided into an array of homogeneous grid cells for modelling surface runoff and suspended sediments. Channels are defined by incorporating flow hydraulic properties into the respective hillslope grids as sub-grid attributes for modelling both suspended and bed loads. Suspended sediment transport is modelled using one dimensional kinematic wave approximation of Saint-Venant’s principles of conservation of mass and momentum. Transport capacity of runoff or streamflow is used to set the limit of suspended sediment transport rate. Bed load in channels is estimated based on the instantaneous water and hydraulic parameters. Fractional interchange between suspended load and bed load is then back calculated. The performance of the model was evaluated through a case study application in a large river basin in Japan. The model satisfactorily calculated the sediment transport and total sediment budget in the basin. The simulated bed load was found to be reasonable and consistent with the water flow and suspended sediment flux. The results showed the bed load can be expressed as a linear function of the suspended load. The fractions of different sediment loads also exhibit linear relationships with water discharge for the rising and recession limbs of the flood hydrographs. The case study has demonstrated that the process-based distributed modelling approach can efficiently describe the basin-scale sediment budgets with due consideration of the suspended and bed loads and their interactions in the hillslopes and channels.     

河流输沙量变化的主要驱动因素

鉴于河流输沙量的大小和变化对河流系统的功能发挥具有重要意义,且河流输沙量的变化受多种因素驱动,在总结近些年我国河流输沙量变化研究的基础上,分析河流输沙量变化的主要驱动因素。认为我国主要河流除松花江多年水沙量无明显趋势性变化外,其他河流的年输沙量均呈明显下降趋势,主要河流总入海输沙量从1955—1968年的20.3亿t/a降至1997—2010年的5.0亿t/a。研究表明:大坝建设、水土保持措施、流域扰动、河道采砂和气候变化等是输沙量变化的主要驱动因素;长江流域修建大量水库是长江入海沙量降低的主要驱动因素;水土保持措施是黄河入海沙量大幅降低的主要驱动因素之一;流域扰动为澜沧江清盛站输沙量的降低幅度远低于嘎旧站的原因;农业增产减沙可能是淮河入海沙量降低的主要驱动因素;珠江输沙量的降低受到河道采砂的影响;海河流域气候变化是海河诸河输沙量大幅降低的主要驱动因素之一。     

Sediment load estimates and variations in the Lower Mekong River

Although sediment issues have critical implications for aquatic ecology, agriculture, water supply and river navigation, studies regarding the sediment production, deposition and transportation in the Lower Mekong River are relatively sparse. With the construction and operation of dams in the Upper Mekong River, this issue has attracted more attention in recent years. The estimation of sediment loads has been hindered by the serious lack of sediment measurements in the Lower Mekong River. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of estimating the sediment loads for the years without good quality SSC measurements in the Lower Mekong River. To make this estimate, this study classified the rating curves on the basis of the synchronous nature of the suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and the water discharge among the adjacent stations (e.g. Chiang Saen, Luang Prabang, Nong Khai, Mukdahan and Khong Chiam). Together with other methods, it was possible to estimate the yearly sediment loads for the period of 1962–2003 at the five mainstream Lower Mekong River stations. Consequently, the spatial and temporal variations in the sediment loads and water discharge in the Lower Mekong River were examined. In addition, the possible impacts of Chinese dams as well as the annual sediment load of the Mekong River into the sea were also investigated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Measurement and quantification of a sedimentation budget for a reservoir with regular flushing

This paper provides a case study of successful removal of reservoir sediment by empty flushing. The main aim of this study was to determine: (i) sediment inflow to the Cachí reservoir; (ii) the pattern and rate of deposition in the reservoir; (iii) the erosion within the reservoir during flushing; and (iv) sediment outflow at a downstream hydrological station during flushing. The results are integrated as a sediment budget for the reservoir. The drainage basin of the Cachí reservoir in Costa Rica is 785 km². The sediment budget for the period between two flushings indicates a sediment inflow to the reservoir of c. 930 000 tonnes and a net accumulation of c. 133 000 tonnes, or 14.3% of the sediment inflow. The sediment throughflow was also c. 133 000 tonnes up to the erosion phase of the flushing, and the outflow during flushing including bed load was 663 000 tonnes, i.e. 71.4% of the sediment inflow. Thus, the flushing of the reservoir was highly effective in releasing sediment. The balance of the sediment budget makes it probable that the major components of the sediment budget are of the right order of magnitude. The main principle to obtain correct sediment loads by the rating‐curve technique was to collect sediment data from a large number of storm events at equal time intervals during rising and falling stages. This was achieved by turbidimeter recordings. Because of the wide scatter of data, sediment rating curves were developed on mean sediment loads in discharge classes to avoid the bias of log regressions. The trap efficiency and sediment throughflow were determined with Sundborg's physically based sedimentation model. The throughflow amounted to 20% of the suspended sediment inflow, which compares well with the empirical budget. The depositional pattern in the Cachí reservoir was surveyed with side‐scan sonar, repeated echo‐soundings, and by excavating pits in deposits when the reservoir was empty. Deposition occurred mainly in the old river channel, indicating that the major part of the sediment is transported by density currents. The volume of eroded material in the reservoir during scour valve release was estimated by echo‐soundings before and after the flushing. Dry bulk density of the reservoir deposits was determined by X‐ray radiographic and densitometric analysis. The radiographic analyses indicated a dry bulk density of 0.4 g cm⁻³ of the loose material in the thalweg, and 0.7 g cm⁻³ of the whole deposition depth on the terraces. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diffuse Surface Water Pollution: Driving Factors for Different Geoclimatic Regions

The quantification of point and non-point losses of Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) to surface waters is currently a major issue for the implementation of Environmental Directives, such as the Water Framework Directive in Europe. However, the drivers behind nutrient pollution are location specific and are affected by regional hydroclimatic and geomorphological characteristics. In this study the river basin model SWAT was used in order to improve the process-based understanding of mechanisms behind nutrient transport from land to water recipients in two European catchments with significantly different meteorological conditions: the Greek catchment of Ali Efenti, representative of the Mediterranean climate, and the Norwegian catchment of Vansjø-Hobølv, representative of the cold climate typical in Scandinavia. The models were firstly calibrated according to measured river flows and nutrient loads, and then four Best Management Practices (BMPs), related to nutrient application and soil management were applied in order to examine their effectiveness under the different geoclimatic conditions of the two catchments. The results of the baseline indicated that diffuse agricultural sources were the largest contributor of N losses in both catchments and of P losses in the Greek catchment, while point sources were significant contributors to P levels in Norwegian rivers. Nutrient losses to surface waters in Ali Efenti exhibited high seasonal variation, attributed to the extremeness of precipitation events that is typical in the Mediterranean, as well as to the temporal distribution of sediment losses to waters. On the other hand, in Scandinavia, the losses of N and P occurred with less deviation throughout the year and independently of the freezing of soils. The values of the calibrated parameters that mainly governed the hydrological and erosion processes in the catchments demonstrated the natural driving forces of nutrient losses to waters and their temporal distribution indicating that these forces are also crucial in determining the appropriate implementation of agricultural management practices in various geoclimatic regions.     

Physical habitat structure in Danish lowland streams

Dredging or channelization has physically modified the majority (90%) of the 64 000 km of Danish stream network with substantial habitat degradation as a result. Analyses of physical habitat structure in streams, biota, catchment features and regional differences in hydrology, topography and geology have never been carried out in Denmark. Therefore, there is little knowledge of processes, interactions and patterns across the different scales. Physical habitats, catchment parameters and macroinvertebrates were sampled at 39 sites in three major river systems during summer and winter 1993. In‐stream physical conditions and catchment attributes affect the physical habitat structure in Danish lowland streams. Local differences in hydrology, land use, catchment topography and soil types correlated to the in‐stream physical habitat parameters. Local differences in hydrology and topography resulted in a separation of the Suså streams with respect to physical habitats. Mud deposition was pronounced at sites with low discharge and low near‐bed current velocity. Low mud cover was primarily associated with streams with high discharge located in pristine catchments. Stability in the streams was therefore closely linked to in‐stream deposition of fine sediment. Generally, macroinvertebrate community diversity increased as discharge increased. Mud cover negatively affected macroinvertebrate diversity and EPT taxon richness. Regional physical habitat structure and macroinvertebrate community structure were primarily associated with local variations in hydrology, geology and topography. Low‐energy streams were primarily located in the Suså river system and the high‐energy streams in the Gudenå and Storå river systems, leading to extensive deposition of mud during summer. Streams in the Suså river system generally had lower diversity and species richness compared to the streams in the Gudenå and Storå river systems. Hydraulic conditions and substratum dynamics in streams are important when managing lowland streams. This study therefore analysed interactions and parameter correlations between physical habitats, stream stability and catchment attributes as well as macroinvertebrate community structure across multiple scales. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.