CASCADE toolbox : a framework for network-scale sediment connectivity assessment

CASCADE_toolbox is an open source MATLAB™ toolbox for the application of the CASCADE model.

CASCADE (CAtchment Sediment Connectivity And DElivery) is a flexible modelling framework for the simulation of river sediment transport and connectivity. It also allows for the integration of dams and barriers as well as for consideration of external sediment contribution to the network.

Applications include impact assessment of dam portfolios, localization of dominant sources of sediment for downstream river reaches and visualization of basin-scale sediment connectivity under alternative sediment management strategies. The toolbox is equipped with interactive visualization tools for displaying the model outputs and exploring the alteration caused by disturbances.

Requirements

CASCADE toolbox requires MATLAB™ R2017b or newer version, with the Text Analytics Toolbox™ and the Bioinformatics Toolbox™. For the river network extraction from a Digital Elevation Model, it is required the MATLAB toolbox TopoToolbox 2.2.

Documentation

CASCADE toolbox comes with an user guide for the implementation of the toolbox, fully commented code and interactive functions for first time users. Refer to the user guide for more informations.

References

• Schmitt, R. J., Bizzi, S., & Castelletti, A. (2016). Tracking multiple sediment cascades at the river network scale identifies controls and emerging patterns of sediment connectivity. Water Resources Research, 52(5), 3941-3965. DOI: 10.1002/2015WR018097
• Schmitt, R. J., Bizzi, S., Castelletti, A., & Kondolf, G. M. (2018). Improved trade-offs of hydropower and sand connectivity by strategic dam planning in the Mekong. Nature Sustainability, 1(2), 96. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0022-3
• Schmitt, R. J., Bizzi, S., Castelletti, A. F., & Kondolf, G. M. (2018). Stochastic modeling of sediment connectivity for reconstructing sand fluxes and origins in the unmonitored Se Kong, Se San, and Sre Pok tributaries of the Mekong River. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 123(1), 2-25. DOI: 10.1002/2016JF004105
• Schmitt, R. J., et al. (2019). Planning dam portfolios for low sediment trapping shows limits for sustainable hydropower in the Mekong. Science advances 5.10 : eaaw2175. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw2175