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STREAM CLASSIFICATION & STREAM CLASSIFICATION & RIVER ASSESSMENTRIVER ASSESSMENT

Seneca Creek, Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia

Greg BabbitGreg BabbitGraduate Research AssistantGraduate Research AssistantDept. Forestry, Wildlife & FisheriesDept. Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

Introduce basic concepts of river process, Introduce basic concepts of river process, form & functionform & functionIntroduce some common geomorphic Introduce some common geomorphic classification systemsclassification systemsRosgenRosgen classification systemclassification systemDiscuss methods of morphological Discuss methods of morphological assessmentassessment

Fluvial Geomorphology?Fluvial Geomorphology?

Geomorphology Geomorphology -- The study of landscapes and their The study of landscapes and their evolutionevolutionFluvial Geomorphology Fluvial Geomorphology –– The study of The study of erosionalerosional and and depositional processes from running water that forms depositional processes from running water that forms the landscapethe landscapeThe term "fluvial" was derived from the Latin word The term "fluvial" was derived from the Latin word ""fluviusfluvius" meaning river. " meaning river. Fluvial geomorphology examines the processes that Fluvial geomorphology examines the processes that operate in river systems and the landforms which they operate in river systems and the landforms which they ultimately create, or have created. ultimately create, or have created. -- J.R. Miller J.R. Miller

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Streams transport Streams transport water, sediment & water, sediment & energyenergy

Geographic Unit = Geographic Unit = WatershedWatershed

Physical, Biological, Physical, Biological, and Chemicaland Chemical

Stream channel shape, Stream channel shape, size, and patternsize, and pattern

Climate Climate (Precipitation)(Precipitation)TopographyTopographyGeologyGeologySoilsSoilsVegetationVegetationLanduseLanduse

MAJOR REGIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING MAJOR REGIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING RIVER SYSTEM PROCESS, FORM & RIVER SYSTEM PROCESS, FORM &

FUNCTION:FUNCTION:

DOMINANT PHYSICAL DOMINANT PHYSICAL PROCESSESPROCESSES

PHYSICALPROCESSES

HYDROLOGIC PROCESSES

HYDRAULICPROCESSES

GEOMORPHICPROCESSES

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HYDROLOGIC PROCESSESHYDROLOGIC PROCESSES

Hydrologic CycleHydrologic CyclePrecipitationPrecipitationInterceptionInterceptionInfiltrationInfiltrationRunoffRunoffPercolationPercolationEvaporationEvaporation

(FISRWG 1998)

WATER PATHWAYSWATER PATHWAYS

(FISRWG 1998)

HYDROGRAPHHYDROGRAPH

(FISRWG 1998)

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TYPES OF WATER MOVEMENTTYPES OF WATER MOVEMENT

(FISRWG 1998)

Bankfull Width

Bankfull Depth

Velocity

Bankfull Discharge

Size of sediment

Concentration of sediment

Water surface slope

Roughness of boundary

8 INTERRELATED 8 INTERRELATED HYDRAULIC VARIABLESHYDRAULIC VARIABLES

STREAM SCALESTREAM SCALE

(Lane, 1955; FISRWG, 1998)

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STREAM CHANNEL STABILITYSTREAM CHANNEL STABILITY

Ability of a stream over time, in the present Ability of a stream over time, in the present climate, to effectively transport the flows and climate, to effectively transport the flows and sediment from its watershed while neither sediment from its watershed while neither aggrading or degrading and maintaining a stable aggrading or degrading and maintaining a stable dimension, pattern and profile. dimension, pattern and profile. –– RosgenRosgen (1996)(1996)For instance, during droughts there is an For instance, during droughts there is an increase in change to the river due to climatic increase in change to the river due to climatic change, vegetative influence, high intensity change, vegetative influence, high intensity convective thunder stormsconvective thunder storms

CONTINUITY EQUATIONCONTINUITY EQUATION

DISCHARGE (cfs) Q = V x AV = Velocity (ft/s)A = Cross-sectional Area (ft2)

V = related to slope, channel shape & boundary roughness

(FISRWG 1998)

CALCULATING DISCHARGECALCULATING DISCHARGE

MANNING’S EQUATION

Q = 1.49 R2/3 S1/2

n

R = Hydraulic RadiusS = Water Surface Slopen = Manning’s Roughness

Coefficient

(FISRWG 1998)

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GEOMORPHIC PROCESSESGEOMORPHIC PROCESSES

3 PRIMARY PROCESSES INVOLVED WITH 3 PRIMARY PROCESSES INVOLVED WITH FLOWING WATER:FLOWING WATER:

ErosionErosion –– detachment of soil particlesdetachment of soil particles

Sediment transportSediment transport –– movement of eroded particles movement of eroded particles in flowing waterin flowing water

Sediment depositionSediment deposition –– settling of eroded particles settling of eroded particles to the bottom of a to the bottom of a waterbodywaterbody or left behind in the or left behind in the stream bed as substrate or point bar stream bed as substrate or point bar ((SchummSchumm, 1977), 1977)

RIVER FORM ORRIVER FORM ORMORPHOLOGICAL CONDITIONMORPHOLOGICAL CONDITION

Valley typeValley type

Drainage AreaDrainage Area

Dimension (width & Dimension (width & depth)depth)

Pattern (sinuosity)Pattern (sinuosity)

Profile (Profile (bedformbedform))

Channel materialsChannel materials

Effective or Effective or Bankfull Bankfull dischargedischarge (FISRWG 1998)

STREAM CORRIDORSTREAM CORRIDORCROSS SECTIONCROSS SECTION

(FISRWG 1998)

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STREAM CORRIDOR STREAM CORRIDOR LONGITUDINAL PLANFORMLONGITUDINAL PLANFORM

(FISRWG 1998)

CROSSCROSS--SECTIONAL PROFILESECTIONAL PROFILE

(FISRWG 1998)

PLANFORMPLANFORM

(FISRWG 1998)

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EFFECTIVE DISCHARGEEFFECTIVE DISCHARGE

Fluvial Fluvial geomorphologistsgeomorphologists refer to effective discharge as therefer to effective discharge as the

stream flow that most efficiently moves sediment through a stream flow that most efficiently moves sediment through a

stream channelstream channel

(Rosgen 1996)

BANKFULL DISCHARGEBANKFULL DISCHARGE

““Bankfull stage corresponds to the discharge at Bankfull stage corresponds to the discharge at which channel maintenance is the most effective, which channel maintenance is the most effective, that is, the discharge at which moving sediment, that is, the discharge at which moving sediment, forming or removing bars, forming or changing forming or removing bars, forming or changing bends and meanders, and generally doing work bends and meanders, and generally doing work that results in the average morphological that results in the average morphological characteristics of channels.characteristics of channels.”” –– Dunne & LeopoldDunne & Leopold

The flow that fills the active channel and begins to The flow that fills the active channel and begins to spread onto the floodplainspread onto the floodplain

BANKFULL FLOW CONTINUEDBANKFULL FLOW CONTINUED

Represents the break between channel processes and Represents the break between channel processes and floodplain processesfloodplain processesAverage bankfull discharge recurrence interval 1.5Average bankfull discharge recurrence interval 1.5--yearsyearsAssumed to equal the dominant discharge and effective Assumed to equal the dominant discharge and effective dischargedischargeBankfull stage is identified from geomorphic features in the Bankfull stage is identified from geomorphic features in the fieldfieldBankfull discharge is the stream flow that is found to Bankfull discharge is the stream flow that is found to govern channel shape and formgovern channel shape and formEffective discharge of sediment is highly correlated with Effective discharge of sediment is highly correlated with bankfull dischargebankfull discharge

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BANKFULL EVENTBANKFULL EVENT

East Fork Little Sandy River, E. Kentucky

PINE CREEKPINE CREEK

STREAM STREAM CLASSIFICATIONCLASSIFICATION

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STREAM CLASSIFICATON STREAM CLASSIFICATON SYSTEMSSYSTEMS

Davis (1899) youthful, mature and old age stage of adjustmentDavis (1899) youthful, mature and old age stage of adjustmentStrahlerStrahler’’ss (1957) Stream order(1957) Stream orderLeopold & WolmanLeopold & Wolman’’s (1957) early work on natural alluvial channel s (1957) early work on natural alluvial channel patternspatternsSchummSchumm’’ss (1977) Fluvial System(1977) Fluvial SystemKellerhalsKellerhals et al. et al. (1976)(1976) channel pattern, islands, bars, channel pattern, islands, bars, bedformbedform & & lateral activity lateral activity Simon & Simon & HuppHupp (1986) channel evolution model in W. TN(1986) channel evolution model in W. TNMontgomery & BuffingtonMontgomery & Buffington’’s (1997) expansion in mountainous s (1997) expansion in mountainous regionsregionsRosgenRosgen (1994) classification of natural rivers(1994) classification of natural rivers

STRAHLERSTRAHLER’’S STREAM ORDERS STREAM ORDER

(Strahler 1957; FISRWG 1998)

SCHUMMSCHUMM’’S FLUVIAL SYSTEMS FLUVIAL SYSTEM

(Schumm 1977; FISRWG 1998)

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CHANNEL EVOLUTION CHANNEL EVOLUTION MODEL (CEM)MODEL (CEM)

(Simon 1989; FISRWG 1998)

SIMONSIMON’’S CHANNEL S CHANNEL EVOLUTION STAGESEVOLUTION STAGES

(Simon 1989; FISRWG 1998)

ROSGEN STREAM ROSGEN STREAM CLASSIFICATIONCLASSIFICATION

Purpose: predict river behavior from Purpose: predict river behavior from morphological descriptionmorphological descriptionExtrapolate relationships between different Extrapolate relationships between different stream typesstream typesOrganize and stratify various empirical relationsOrganize and stratify various empirical relationsProvide a morphological stratification for Provide a morphological stratification for companion inventoriescompanion inventoriesProvide a consistent frame of reference for Provide a consistent frame of reference for communicationcommunication

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EXAMPLES OF VALLEY TYPEEXAMPLES OF VALLEY TYPE

(Rosgen 1996)

BROAD LEVEL OF STREAM BROAD LEVEL OF STREAM TYPE DELINEATIONTYPE DELINEATION

(Rosgen 1996)

ROSGEN STREAM TYPESROSGEN STREAM TYPES

(Rosgen 1996)

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CROSS SECTION OF STREAM CROSS SECTION OF STREAM TYPESTYPES

(Rosgen 1996)

CLASSIFICATION KEY FOR CLASSIFICATION KEY FOR NATURAL RIVERSNATURAL RIVERS

(Rosgen 1996)

FIELD SURVEYSFIELD SURVEYS

Pedestrian surveyPedestrian survey

Geomorphic surveysGeomorphic surveys

Cross sectional surveysCross sectional surveys

Longitudinal profilesLongitudinal profiles

Modified Wolman pebble Modified Wolman pebble countcount

100 pebble count in riffle100 pebble count in riffle

Pattern (Sinuosity)Pattern (Sinuosity)

Reference the gage datumReference the gage datum

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METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGY

Field assessed bankfull indicatorsField assessed bankfull indicators

Examine longitudinal profileExamine longitudinal profile

Examine cross sectionExamine cross section

Regional CurvesRegional Curves

Perform flood frequency analysis Perform flood frequency analysis (recurrence interval)(recurrence interval)

TYPICAL CROSS SECTION TYPICAL CROSS SECTION SURVEYSURVEY

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TYPICAL CROSS SECTION TYPICAL CROSS SECTION DIMENSION SURVEYDIMENSION SURVEY

(Rosgen 1996)

BANKFULL REGIONAL CURVESBANKFULL REGIONAL CURVES

A graphical method of illustrating a stream A graphical method of illustrating a stream channelchannel’’s bankfull hydraulic geometry as a s bankfull hydraulic geometry as a function of basin drainage area within a specific function of basin drainage area within a specific ecoregionecoregion and/or hydroand/or hydro--physiographic provincephysiographic provinceBreakdown of regions provides a more accurate Breakdown of regions provides a more accurate depiction of the basin variables affecting stream depiction of the basin variables affecting stream morphology morphology

Depth = 1.76(DA)Depth = 1.76(DA) .256.256

Width = 18.51(DA)Width = 18.51(DA).444.444

Area = 32.48(DA)Area = 32.48(DA) .701.701

Q = 150.06(DA)Q = 150.06(DA) .75.75

SOUTHWESTERN APPALACHIANS OF SOUTHWESTERN APPALACHIANS OF TENNESSEE REGIONAL CURVESTENNESSEE REGIONAL CURVES

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BANKFULL DISCHARGE VS DABANKFULL DISCHARGE VS DA

Rock Creek Riffle Cross SectionGround Points Bankfull

IndicatorsWater SurfacePoints

Ele

vatio

n (ft

)

Horizontal Distance (ft)

0

30

0 20 40 60 80

Wbkf = 31.4 Dbkf = 3.2 Abkf = 99.7

Rock Creek Longitudinal Profile

CH

WS

BKF

P1

P2

P3

P4

Ele

vatio

n (ft

)

Distance along stream (ft)

0

5

10

15

0 200 400 600 800 1000

EXAMPLE LONG PROEXAMPLE LONG PRO

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STREAM PATTERNSTREAM PATTERN

(FISRWG)

MEANDER GEOMETRYMEANDER GEOMETRY

(Rosgen 1996)

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RIVERMORPH STREAM CHANNEL CLASSIFICATIONRIVERMORPH STREAM CHANNEL CLASSIFICATION

River Name: CLINCH RIVERRiver Name: CLINCH RIVERReach Name: Beaver Creek Reach Name: Beaver Creek TribTrib <<---- This is not a Reference ReachThis is not a Reference ReachDrainage Area: 0.43 sq miDrainage Area: 0.43 sq miState: TennesseeState: TennesseeCounty: KnoxCounty: KnoxLatitude: 0Latitude: 0Longitude: 0Longitude: 0Survey Date: 04/20/05Survey Date: 04/20/05

Classification DataClassification Data

Valley Type: Type VIIIValley Type: Type VIIIValley Slope: 0.0059 ft/ftValley Slope: 0.0059 ft/ftNumber of Channels: SingleNumber of Channels: SingleWidth: 5.91 ftWidth: 5.91 ftMean Depth: 1.28 ftMean Depth: 1.28 ftFloodFlood--Prone Width: 303 ftProne Width: 303 ftChannel Materials D50: 7.18 mmChannel Materials D50: 7.18 mmWater Surface Slope: 0.00585 ft/ftWater Surface Slope: 0.00585 ft/ftSinuosity: 1.14Sinuosity: 1.14Discharge: 31.57 Discharge: 31.57 cfscfsVelocity: 4.16 fpsVelocity: 4.16 fpsCross Sectional Area: 7.59 sq ftCross Sectional Area: 7.59 sq ftEntrenchment Ratio: 51.27Entrenchment Ratio: 51.27Width to Depth Ratio: 4.62Width to Depth Ratio: 4.62RosgenRosgen Stream Classification:Stream Classification:

STREAM SURVEYSTREAM SURVEY

RIVER INVENTORY LEVELS RIVER INVENTORY LEVELS

(Rosgen 1996)

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