Lindenschmidt, Karl-ErichGutwin, Carl2024-07-2520242024-072024-07-24July 2024https://hdl.handle.net/10388/15871River deltas formed by the uninterrupted flow of water carrying sediments and nutrients bring benefits to humans, including natural resources (e.g., water, aquatic and terrestrial species) and fertile land. However, the sustainability of river deltas is threatened by large hydraulic infrastructure (e.g., upstream dams) and other human activities. For example, the Saskatchewan River Delta in northern Canada is threatened because dams upstream interrupt the sediment transport, resulting in declining sediment levels. Sediment transport is a complex, multi-dimensional, and dynamic process. In recent decades, the development of computer applications and computing capacities has made it possible to analyze soil erosion and sediment transportation through sophisticated simulations. This study’s primary goal was to understand how human activities influence sediment transport in the Saskatchewan River below the E.B. Campbell Dam and into the Saskatchewan River Delta. The Hydrologic Engineering Center’s-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) was used to determine the sediment transport capacity. Sediment transport and hydraulic models were developed through HEC-RAS using cross-sectional data, historical flow data, elevation, and sediment data. The findings of this research offered an important understanding of the larger patterns of the overall sediment transport along the Saskatchewan River, particularly downstream of the E.B. Campbell Dam, which is significant for the local communities (e.g., Cumberland House). The findings corroborated that human activities have affected the river and its delta. The river channel experienced alterations due to fast-moving water released from the dams along its course. Several mitigation strategies aimed at facilitating the movement of reservoir sediment provided valuable perspectives on sediment management strategies. The alterations observed in the riverbed, such as erosion or deposition resulting from inadequate sediment transport, served as useful indicators of how dam construction and operation have influenced the hydrological patterns of the Saskatchewan River.application/pdfenDam effects, Hydrological outcomes, Human activities, Hydrological models, Sediment transport, HEC-RAS modelThesis2024-07-25