Rivers and DrainageRivers and Drainage

Dr. R. B. Dr. R. B. SchultzSchultz

Streams and DrainageStreams and Drainage

It is important that we make a review of the hydrologic cycle. *97% of all water is oceans (salt water)*2% of all water is in ice caps/polar ice*0.6% is groundwater (fresh)*0.2% is rivers and lakes (fresh)*0.16% is atmospheric water (fresh) Streams: Gaining streamsGaining streams are those that take in water with time and tend to widen.Losing streamsLosing streams are those that lose water with time and tend to become

narrower.Intermittent streamsIntermittent streams are those that are wet during the wet season and

dry in drier times. There are several drainage patterns that develop based on rock type:• 1.      DendriticDendritic -- branching• 2.     RadialRadial -- associated with uplifts/hills• 3.     RectangularRectangular -- associated with resistant rock• 4.     TrellisTrellis -- associated with resistant ridges 

Drainage TypesDrainage Types

There are several stages of stream development:There are several stages of stream development:a.      Early (adolescent)Early (adolescent) -- waterfalls and rapids presentb.     Middle (adult)Middle (adult) -- widening floodplainsc.      MatureMature -- meandering streams presentd.      Old ageOld age -- very broad, wide valley, Yazoo stream tributaries

and oxbow lakes present *Materials carried by the stream is referred to as bedload.bedload.*The larger the particles, the less they are moved by water.

Water tends to round particles with time.  Three (3) types of materials in streams:Three (3) types of materials in streams:1.        Bedload/Traction LoadBedload/Traction Load -- that which is heavy and pushed

by the water2.     SaltationSaltation – bouncing effect of grains Suspended loadSuspended load -- that which is carried and bounced by the

water3.       DissolvedDissolved -- actually dissolved in the water

Head Head of stream is starting point; mouthmouth of stream is “end”.

Stages of Stream DevelopmentStages of Stream Development

Initial Stage:Initial Stage:

Fast moving Fast moving stream, narrow stream, narrow valleyvalley

Second Stage:Second Stage:

Meanders Meanders develop, widening develop, widening floodplainfloodplain

Last Stage:Last Stage:

Wide floodplain, Wide floodplain, yazoo streams, yazoo streams, and oxbow lakes and oxbow lakes developdevelop

*Channel shape is based on the velocity of the stream and resistance of rock it is cutting into.

*Water in streams tends to move quicker in the center of the stream and slower towards the outside.

*Wider streams move slower than narrow streams.*Outside of meander is called a CutbankCutbank and is associated with erosion.*Inside of meander is called a Point BarPoint Bar and is associated with deposition. *Much (~45%) of the eastern portion of the U.S. is drained by the Mississippi

River, whereas the western portion of the U.S. is predominantly drained by the Colorado River.

*The point between where drainage shifts is called a dividedivide. *As water from a river (stream) empties into a large body of water like an

ocean, it forms a structure called a deltadelta. *The Mississippi River emptying into the Gulf of Mexico is the type example

of a delta.*Deltaic switching occurs when no more sediment can be added to a given

area. Thus, the river takes the path of least resistance and moves or migrates.

 

Cutbanks and Point BarsCutbanks and Point Bars

Mississippi River Drainage Mississippi River Drainage BasinBasin

Development of Development of DeltaDelta

Deltaic Lobe SwitchingDeltaic Lobe Switching

Key TerminologyKey Terminology

Gaining stream Losing streamIntermittent stream DendriticRadial RectangularTrellis BedloadTraction load SaltationSuspended load Dissolved loadHead MouthFloodplain Yazoo streamOxbow lake MeanderCutbank Point barDivide DeltaDeltaic lobe switching Drainage basin

Pertinent Web SitesPertinent Web SitesDartmouth Flood Observatory

This Web site is a research tool for early detection, mapping, measurement, and analysis of extreme flood events worldwide using remote sensing.

Disaster Finder (NASA) A complete index to the best disaster Web sites on the Internet.

Discharge Data United States Geological Survey (USGS) real-time and historical river discharge data by state.

Envirofacts (EPA) Envirofacts is a single point of access to select U.S. EPA environmental data.

Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Water Office United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water includes links to related federal and state agencies.

Flood Links Links to various types of flood information.

Floodplain Management Floodplain management from the Floodplain Management Association (FMA).

Global Hydrology and Climate Center (NASA) The Global Hydrology and Climate Center (GHCC) is a joint venture between government and academia to study the global water cycle and its affect

on climate.

Hazards (USGS) Information obout several types of environmental hazards from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Historical Streamflow Data (USGS)

Access to records of almost 19,000 stations that are part of the United States Geological Survey stream gaging network; some records go back more than a century.

Hydrologic Calculations Online hydrologic calculators from LMNO Engineering, Research, and Software, Ltd.

Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center The National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center of the National Weather Service.

Hydrology Web The Hydrology Web is a site that hosts a comprehensive list of links to Hydrology and related Hydrology resources.

International Rivers Network The International River Network (IRN) supports local communities working to protect their rivers and watersheds. It works to halt destructive river

development projects, and to encourage equitable and sustainable methods of meeting the needs for water, energy and flood management.

Landform Atlas of the United States The color landform atlas of the United States includes shaded relief maps and satellite image maps of each state.

River Data Links This Central Michigan University site maintained by Dr. Mark Francek lists several good links to websites containing information relative to

topics discussed in the chapter.

River Systems and Flooding Excellent class notes on river systems and flooding from Tulane University.

Running Water Links (Houghton Mifflin) Links to several running water sites, including class lecture notes, arranged by topic.

Stream and River Landforms Text and images about how water shapes the land from the Geological Survey of Canada.

Streams and Mass Wasting Links (NAGT) An extensive listing of streams and mass wasting links arranged by topic from the National Association of Geology Teachers (NAGT).

TopoZone The TopoZone bills itself as the Web's center for recreational and professional topographic map users. Here you can interactively view

topographic maps from the entire United States.

Water Data, Real Time (USGS) Real-time water data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Water Pollution Links This Central Michigan University site maintained by Dr. Mark Francek lists several good links to websites containing information relative to

topics discussed in the chapter.

Water Quality Information Center The Water Quality Information Center collects, organizes, and communicates the scientific findings, educational methodologies, and public

policy issues related to water quality and agriculture.

Water Resources Links This Central Michigan University site maintained by Dr. Mark Francek lists several good links to Web sites containing information relative to

topics discussed in the chapter.

Water Resources of the United States (USGS) Information about water resources in the United States from the United States Geological Survey.

Watershed, Locate Your This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site alllows you to locate and obtain information about the watershed you live

in, including a small map of the watershed.

Watershed Resources Links An extensive listing of watershed links from the Global Rivers Environmental Education Network.

Water Resource Terms (Glossary of) A glossary of water resource terms from the Edwards aquifer home page.

Water Use (USGS) The National Water-Use Informational Program from the USGS.

World's Water, The The World’s Water is a site dedicated to providing up-to-date water information and data, and web connections to

organizations, institutions, and individuals working on a wide range of global freshwater problems and solutions.