Combining historical and process perspectives to infer ranges of geomorphic variability and inform river restoration in a wandering gravel-bed river

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
Analysis of historical sources and aerial photographs of the Clark Fork River's pre-mining, mining, and more recent history suggest that a wandering channel pattern has persisted despite variations in sediment supply and transport capacity. Predictive metrics for channel pattern also suggest a wandering pattern, transitional between braided and meandering, in this geomorphic setting. These analyses suggest that the creation of a single-thread meandering channel, which incorporates structures to limit erosion and channel movement, is inconsistent with the historical range of variability in this reach. The perils of restoring channels to a condition different than the historical range of variability for their geomorphic setting were illustrated on the Clark Fork by flood-induced avulsions of the restored channel that occurred soon after project construction.


Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Earth surface processes and landforms, issn : 0197-9337, 2012, vol. 37, n°. 12, p. 1302-1312, nombre de pages : 11, Références bibliographiques : 2 p.

Date :
2012

Editeur :
Pays édition : Royaume-Uni, Chichester, Wiley