FLOODS, STREAMS FLOODS, STREAMS AND MEANDERSAND MEANDERS

GAUGING STATIONGAUGING STATION

• On all major streams

• Measures Stream Height

• Height vs. Discharge (volume)

• Flood Stage and height above

• Flood Rank – ie. 100 year flood

River FloodRiver Flood

MEANDER BELTSMEANDER BELTS

• WINDING SHAPE

• CONSTANTLY SHIFTING CHANNEL

• VELOCITY DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS

• CHANNEL CUTOFF

MEANDERMEANDER

Parts of a MeanderParts of a Meander

2 SIDES2 SIDES

• Cut Bank (Erosion)

• Point Bar (Deposition)

CUT BANKCUT BANK

POINT BARSPOINT BARS

SHIFTING CHANNELSSHIFTING CHANNELS

• CHUTE CUT-OFF DURING FLOOD

• NECK CUT-OFF GRADUAL

OXBOW LAKEOXBOW LAKE

• AFTER CUT-OFF

• SEPARATED FROM MAIN RIVER

• NO FLOW

• SEDIMENTATION

Water ColorWater Color

• Muddy water is flowing

• Still water is clear

DAMS ON RIVERSDAMS ON RIVERS

DAM BURSTDAM BURST

DESTRUCTION ON RIVERDESTRUCTION ON RIVER

EROSIONEROSION

HOUSE DAMAGEHOUSE DAMAGE