Sediment contributions from a low‐head dam failure on the Big Blue River near Marysville, KS

The purpose of this research is to analyze the headcut propagation and downstream sediment yield as a result of a low‐head dam failure. While frameworks have been presented elsewhere to track headcut propagation from a dam failure/removal, little research has been conducted to calculate the downstream sediment yield of the resulting headcut. The sediment yield is of particular interest when a reservoir is located downstream of the headcut. This paper estimates the increased sediment yield to Tuttle Creek Lake as a result of a low‐head dam failure on the Big Blue River. From 2018 to 2022, the headcut contributed an estimated 859,000 m 3 of sediment to Tuttle Creek Lake. Erosion is unlikely to continue due to the presence of natural grade control provided by boulder riffles and bedrock.