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Identifying Bankfull
Stage in Forested Streams in the Eastern United States
Hydrologists and aquatic biologists
often need to identify bankfull stage in the field. In 1995, the
Stream Systems Technology Center produced a 31-minute video, A
Guide to Field Identification of Bankfull Stage in the Western United
States, that discussed key concepts and demonstrated field
techniques to consistently identify bankfull levels in a variety
of stream types in the western United States. Technical presenters
in the Western video include recognized experts such as Luna Leopold,
Bill Emmett, Lee Silvey, and Dave Rosgen.
While hydrologists and biologists throughout the United States
found the Western video useful, concern frequently surfaced that
streams in the eastern United States have unique and different characteristics
that make bankfull identification especially challenging. Much
of the concern centered around the different and more prolific vegetation
typical of the East and the South and its relationship to bankfull
features and past land use history and the effect this has on channels,
terrace formation and stream equilibrium. In addition,unique stream
systems occur in the East such as the wetland streams common to
the Lake States that may have different bankfull features and flood
frequencies.
The new video, Identifying Bankfull
Stage in Forested Streams of the Eastern United States,
is 46 minutes in length and features a set of technical experts
from the East and South. Technical presenters include:
·
M. Gordon (“Reds”)
Wolman, Emeritus Professor
of Geography and Geology, The Johns Hopkins University
·
William W. Emmett, Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey (Retired)
·
Elon (“Sandy”)
Verry, Research Hydrologist, USDA Forest Service, North Central
Research Station
·
Daniel A. Marion, Research Hydrologist, USDA Forest Service, Southern
Research Station
·
Lloyd W. Swift,
Jr., Research Hydrologist, USDA Forest Service, Southern
Research Station (Retired)
·
Gary B. Kappesser, Forest Hydrologist, USDA Forest Service, George Washington
and Jefferson National Forests.
The video is limited to field identification
of bankfull stage in forested streams because these are of primary
concern to Forest Service technical specialists. Streams impacted
by urbanization or agriculture are typically more complex and may
require different strategies to properly identify bankfull stage.
The video emphasizes identification of the relatively flat depositional
surface of the floodplain along a reach of stream and the tops of
point bars as the best and most consistent indicators of bankfull
stage. Vegetation is listed as a poor indicator of bankfull because
grasses, sedges, and near stream vegetation often grow below the
bankfull elevation in the East and the South. Similarly, the use
of other features such as the limits of moss growth, lichen lines
on rocks, and the lower end of scoured roots is discouraged.
The video emphasizes the complex nature of stream channels and
terraces in the East and South. For example, terraces may be formed
by climatic change or by a change in watershed conditions. In the
East and the South, changes responsible for formation of terraces
typically include urbanization, logging, and historic agricultural
practices. The video emphasizes understanding the geomorphic context
and watershed history as one way to differentiate terraces formed
by previous hydrologic regimes from dynamic channels that are still
adjusting today.
Experts demonstrate and discuss bankfull identification in a variety
of geographic settings including the Mississippi River and wetland
streams in Minnesota, streams in the northern and southern Piedmont,
Appalachian valley and ridge streams in Virginia, and streams in
the Ozark uplands.
Copies of the video have been mailed to hydrologists and fisheries
biologists on the National Forests, Forest Service Research Stations,
and Stream Systems Technology Center cooperators. Copies are also
available upon request from STREAM by e-mailing your name and mailing
address in label format to rmrs_stream@fs.fed.us.
Bankfull WEST
and Bankfull EAST Videos Available in DVD Format
The Stream Systems Technology Center now has a DVD
that contains both videos on one DVD:
·
A
Guide for Field Identification of Bankfull Stage in the Western
United States (1995)
·
Identifying
Bankfull Stage in Forested Streams in the Eastern United States
(2003)
Request copies via e-mail from: rmrs_stream@fs.fed.us
and include your name and mailing address in label format.
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