Regional Curves of Bankfull Channel Geometry for Non-Urban Streams in the Piedmont Physiographic Province, Virginia

Abstract

Natural-channel design involves constructing a stream channel with the dimensions, slope, and plan-view pattern that would be expected to transport water and sediment and yet maintain habitat and aesthetics consistent with unimpaired stream segments, or reaches. Regression relations for bankfull stream characteristics based on drainage area, referred to as "regional curves," are used in natural stream channel design to verify field determinations of bankfull discharge and stream channel characteristics. One-variable, ordinary least-squares regressions relating bankfull discharge, bankfull cross-sectional area, bankfull width, bankfull mean depth, and bankfull slope to drainage area were developed on the basis of data collected at 17 streamflow-gaging stations in rural areas with less than 20 percent urban land cover within the basin area (non-urban areas) of the Piedmont Physiographic Province in Virginia. These regional curves can be used to estimate the bankfull discharge and bankfull channel geometry when the drainage area of a watershed is known. Data collected included bankfull cross-sectional geometry, flood-plain geometry, and longitudinal profile data. In addition, particle-size distributions of streambed material were determined, and data on basin characteristics were compiled for each reach. Field data were analyzed to determine bankfull cross-sectional area, bankfull width, bankfull mean depth, bankfull discharge, bankfull channel slope, and D50 and D84 particle sizes at each site. The bankfull geometry from the 17 sites surveyed during this study repre sents the average of two riffle cross sections for each site. Regional curves developed for the 17 sites had coefficient of determination (R 2) values of 0.950 for bankfull cross-sectional area, 0.913 for bankfull width, 0.915 for bankfull mean depth, 0.949 for bankfull discharge, and 0.497 for bankfull channel slope. The regional curves represent conditions for streams with defined channels and bankfull features in the Piedmont Physiographic Province in Virginia with drainage areas ranging from 0.29 to 111 square miles. All sites included in the development of the regional curves were located on streams with current or historical U.S. Geological Survey streamflowgaging stations. These curves can be used to verify bankfull features identified in the field and bankfull stage for ungaged streams in non-urban areas.

Bankfull Regional Curves for the Alleghany Plateau/Valley and Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain Regions of Maryland

“…Interestingly, none of the sites in this study had a return interval of 2.0 years or greater and only seven sites from the other studies exceeded 2.0 years or greater return intervals. Those with return intervals of 2.0 years or greater included four from Lotspeich (), one from Chaplin (), and one from Krstolic and Chaplin (), and one from Keaton et al . ().…”

“…Interestingly, none of the sites in this study had a return interval of 2.0 years or greater and only seven sites from the other studies exceeded 2.0 years or greater return intervals. Those with return intervals of 2.0 years or greater included four from Lotspeich (2009), one from Chaplin (2005), and one from Krstolic and Chaplin (2007), and one from Keaton et al (2005). Some design manuals, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manual on channel stability (USACE, 1994), suggest that the bankfull discharge can be estimated by using the two-year return interval.…”

“…Comparison of Regional Curves in Various AP/VR Regions. VA (Lotspeich, 2009) PA and MD (White, 2001) FIGURE 8. Comparison of Regional Curve in Various Piedmont Regions.…”

Development of Ecogeomorphological (EGM) Stream Design and Assessment Tools for the Piedmont of Alabama, USA

“…For each model developed, drainage area, data source, and drainage area*data source interaction were the predictor variables, with all empirical data being log transformed prior to analysis [33]. Outside data sources included regional curves from Georgia [34], North Carolina [35], Virginia [26], Maryland [25], and Pennsylvania [7]. A significant interaction between drainage area and data source denoted regression slope difference, thus differences in regional curves [36].…”

“…Geomorphic variables are as in Figure 1. Source data for comparisons include Georgia [34], North Carolina [35], Virginia [26], Maryland [25], and Pennsylvania [7]. …”