Effects of riparian vegetation on stream channel stability and sediment budgets

2004 ◽  
pp. 153-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley W. Trimble
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Channel Stability ◽  
Sediment Budgets

The Effect and Extent of Railroad Tie Drives in Streams of Southeastern Wyoming

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K. Young ◽  
David Haire ◽  
Michael A. Bozek
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Channel Structure ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Riparian Trees ◽  
Large Trees

Abstract Millions of railroad ties were floated (driven) down streams in southeastern Wyoming between 1868 and 1940. We identified 61 tie-driven streams in or near the Medicine Bow National Forest. We hypothesized that tie drives, and the stream clearing associated with driving, altered channel morphology and riparian vegetation. When comparing stream reaches of similar width and gradient, we found that tie-driven stream reaches contained less coarse woody debris and had significantly lower densities of large riparian trees than did unaffected reaches. Tie-driven reaches had lower channel complexity, a greater proportion of riffles, and fewer plunge and dammed pools than did unaffected reaches. We found significant relations among characteristics of the riparian trees, coarse woody debris, and stream channel structure. Recovery of the affected reaches may be contingent on the long-term increase in large trees in the riparian zone. West. J. Appl. For. 9(4):125-130.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Approach to Monitoring Pipeline River and Stream Crossings

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle L. Sorensen ◽  
Craig D. Malcovish
Keyword(s):  
Comprehensive Approach ◽  
The Other ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
River Engineering ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Channel Stability ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Pipeline Construction ◽  
Channel Characteristics ◽  
Other Hand

There are strict regulatory requirements for pipeline construction at river and stream crossings. The requirements for monitoring, surveillance and maintenance of existing crossings on the other hand are limited to a few lines in Section 10 of CSA Z662-99. Systematic procedures for assessing stream channel stability are not readily available to the operators of pipelines. As a consequence, many monitoring and inspection programs focus more on detecting exposures than on preventing them. In this paper, the AEC Pipelines Ltd. approach to monitoring river and stream crossings is reviewed and discussed. The program involves application of basic geomorphic concepts and use of aerial photographs to define channel characteristics at crossing sites and to determine which crossings may be subject to future channel instability or erosion problems. From these in-house evaluations, decisions are made to either proceed with more in-depth assessments by river engineering specialists or continue with routine aerial and ground surveillance. As part of the overall program, procedures for completing routine channel surveys and a checklist of data to be gathered during regular reconnaissance trips have been developed.

Debris flow triggering by impulsive loading: mechanical modelling and case studies

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Bovis ◽  
B. R. Dagg
Keyword(s):  
Debris Flow ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Impulsive Loading ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Channel Stability ◽  
Coast Mountains ◽  
Debris Slide ◽  
Slide Debris ◽  
Triggering Mechanisms ◽  
Undrained Loading

A mechanism is proposed by which debris flows can be triggered through impulsive loading. Momentum transferred from hillslope failures to steep stream bed materials may be sufficient to initiate a debris flow where one may not otherwise occur. An important parameter in the momentum transfer is the planimetric angle between the slide path axis and the stream channel axis. Preliminary stability equations for both drained and undrained loading are developed from formulae commonly used to assess stream channel stability. Case studies from two basins in the southern Coast Mountains of British Columbia are used to illustrate the mechanisms. Key words : debris flow, triggering, mechanisms, rock slide, debris slide, Coast Mountains.

Solute sources and transport in an ephemeral badland catchment, southeastern Alberta, Canada

1988 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross A. Sutherland ◽  
Rorke B. Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Solute Concentration ◽  
Rainfall Simulation ◽  
Stream Channel ◽  
Sediment Budgets ◽  
Water And Sediment ◽  
Storm Duration ◽  
Storm Characteristics ◽  
Surficial Deposits ◽  
Provincial Park

This study was carried out as part of an investigation of water and sediment budgets in an ephemeral catchment in Dinosaur Provincial Park badlands, Alberta. These badlands have developed in Cretaceous mudstones, siltstones, and sandstones, with some glacial and postglacial surficial deposits. Study objectives were (i) to identify major solute sources, (ii) to show how these change with storm characteristics, and (iii) to assess the proportion of solutes in the total stream budget. Field examination, rainfall-simulation tests, and laboratory experiments showed marked variations in solute production on different lithologic surfaces. This information, when combined with data on threshold precipitation for runoff production from previous experiments, made it clear that solute production in the catchment is significantly influenced by storm characteristics. Observations indicate that in brief, low-intensity storms, runoff occurs only on sandstone, miniature-pediment, and stream-channel surfaces. Solute production on these surfaces is limited and is dominated by flushing of salts previously precipitated on the surface. In high-intensity or prolonged storms, runoff also occurs on mudstone surfaces and from subsurface tunnels. In both cases solute production is higher and increases with storm duration because of progressive mudstone dispersion. During the 12 storms monitored, the average stream-solute concentration was 308 mg L−1, which is approximately 1.4% of the total stream load.

scholarly journals Vegetative impacts upon bedload transport capacity and channel stability for differing alluvial planforms in the Yellow River Source Zone

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. W. Li ◽  
G. A. Yu ◽  
G. Brierley ◽  
Z. W. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Vegetation ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
Bedload Transport ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Source Zone ◽  
Western China ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Transport Capacity ◽  
Channel Stability ◽  
Braided Reach

Abstract. The influence of vegetation upon bedload transport and channel morphodynamics is examined along a channel stability gradient ranging from meandering through anabranching through anabranching-braided to fully braided planform conditions along trunk and tributary reaches of the Upper Yellow River in western China. Although the regional geology and climate are relatively consistent across the study area, there is a distinct gradient in the presence and abundance of riparian vegetation for these reaches atop the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (elevations in the study area range from 2800–3400 m a.s.l.). The hydraulic and geomorphic role of riparian vegetation varies as follows: trees exert the strongest influence in the anabranching reach, the meandering reach flows through meadow vegetation, the anabranching-braided reach has a grass, herb, and sparse shrub cover, and the braided reach has no riparian vegetation. A non-linear relation between vegetative cover on the valley floor and bedload transport capacity is evident, wherein bedload transport capacity is highest for the anabranching reach, followed by the anabranching-braided, braided and meandering reaches respectively. The relationship between the bedload transport capacity of a reach and sediment supply from upstream exerts a significant influence upon channel stability. Bedload transport capacity during the flood season (June–September) in the braid ed reach is much less than the rate of sediment supply, inducing bed aggradation and dynamic channel adjustments. Rates of channel adjustment are less pronounced for the anabranching-braided and anabranching reaches, while the meandering reach is relatively stable (i.e. this is a passive meandering reach).

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