Stream Flow, Sediment Concentration and Particle-Size Analysis Of Selected Channel Reach Of River Yedzeram At Wuro-Gude, Northeast Nigeria

Abstract

Sediment Concentrations and Particle-Size Analysis for Selected Channel Section of River Yedzeram at Wuro-Gude, North eastern Nigeria was the main objective of the research. Equipment required for field measurements of suspended load sediment and bed load sediment included improvised suspended load sampler, Helley-Smith bed load sampler, inventory checklist, Sample ID forms (sampling information and identification) and labels, G.P.S, Camera, Ranging pole, Staff, tape, and Personnel. The sampling procedure used was area sampling technique through equal increment of width, using the same transit rate for all verticals and the same bill along the same cross-section. The cross-section of the river was divided in to fifteen (15) sections (2m) each with their definite boundaries, after which the use of systematic sampling technique was adopted and draws one sample from each section resulted to the total samples of fifteen (15) for the whole cross-section. The samples were subjected to laboratory analysis. The results obtained
indicated that the mean volume of sediments that passed through Wuro-Gude station was 4658g within 20 second. The major particle of the channel bed was medium sand consisting of 25.10%, then gravel 17.45%, fine sand 15.56%, pebbles 7.14%, cobbles 2.32%, boulders 1.61%, silt 1.60%, and 0.02% clay contents. The Cu was 0.146 which was less than 4-6, while Cc was 0.896 below the
range 1-3, which indicated that the sediment sizes were not well graded. The volume of 12,033.360g of suspended load passed through River Yedzeram at Wuro-Gude channel section. This result indicated that the volume of water that passed through Wuro-Gude was averagely turbid. It was recommended that; Awareness on the turbid nature of water that pass through Yedzeram channel around Wuro-Gude should be done, so as to reduce the level of negative effects of contaminated water on human and properties, secondly, there is a serious lack of hydrologic and morphometric records and data in the area. Therefore, much data gathering by appropriate
agencies in the areas like Geomorphology, Hydrology, Geology, Soil science and Soil engineering required from relevant related fields is required. Dredging of the river channel should be done so as to remove the accumulated bed load particles that are presently cemented in the river. This will result to smooth flow of the water in the river.