Rates and Processes of Streambank Erosion in Tributaries of the Little River, Tennessee
Harden CP, Foster W, Morris C, Chartrand KJ, Henry E. 2009. Rates and Processes of Streambank Erosion in Tributaries of the Little River, Tennessee. Physical Geography. 30(1):1-16
Erosion pins were installed on 32 banks in five tributaries of the Little River, eastern Tennessee, to quantify the contributions of streambanks to stream sediment loads and better understand the processes of streambank erosion. In the first two years of monitoring, erosional losses from streambanks were readily measurable, with a median loss of 1 cm bank-1. Streambanks lost material through subaerial erosion processes as well as by mass movements and removal of sediment by hydraulic forces. Although the highest median erosion rates occurred below the water line, erosion also occurred on the upper banks. Initial results demonstrate that channel bank instability is widespread and channel banks are potentially important sources of sediment in these tributaries. Two observations made in this study, of streambank erosion independent of hydraulic forces and of bank undercutting active during drought, call attention to gaps in knowledge that affect models of streambank processes and efforts to improve water quality in headwater streams.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Harden, Carol; Foster, William; Morris, Christopher; Chartrand, Keri; Henry, Erich
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Aquatic Sciences, Erosion Pins, GRSM-00456, GRSM-00481, GRSM-00927, Hydrology, Little River, Sediment Load, streambank erosion, Water Quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Stream/River Channel Characteristics