River Classification Course (FEG412/ERE612)

General Information

Instructor:
Dr. Theodore A. Endreny, 423 Baker Labs, te@esf.edu, 315-470-6565
Meeting Location & Time:
Field Sites & Baker 437, Tuesday, 12:30-3:20PM (N.B. The field van may return after 4pm)

• Stream Channel Reference Sites: An Illustrated Guide to Field Technique. Harrelson, Rawlins, & Potyondy, USDA Report RM-245 (free PDF)
• Stream Restoration: A Natural Channel Design Handbook. Doll, Grabow, Hall, Halley, Harman, Jennings, and Wise, NC Stream Restoration Institute (free PDF)
• Knighton, AD. Fluvial Forms & Processes, Arnold Pubs, 1998.
• Leopold, LB, HL. Silvey, and DL. Rosgen, The Reference Reach Field Book 2nd Edition, Wildland Hydrology, 2005.
• Waders, calculator, field notebook or device, and weather appropriate clothing

Links to Topics

• Course Syllabus html & Course Syllabus pdf
• Assigned Readings & Questions | Assigned Laboratory
• Assigned Design & Research | Exam Preparation

• Ohio Reference Reach Excel Files | ESF-COMET FGM Module | Simple Surveying Guidelines
• Excel Classification & Velocity Form | LogPIII-FFA.xls | LogPIII-FFA-b.xls
• FISWRG Restoration Manual Site-2 | USFWS Restoration | NCSU Restoration Site | USGS NY Surveying Guidelines USFS Stream Channel Reference Sites booklet | NCSU Stream Restoration booklet | NRCEES FE Handbook
• TerraClient Software | NYS GIS | Terra Server | TopoZone | Google Power Map (42.967, -76.347) | Google Pedometer
• Bureau of Reclamation Sedimentation and River Hydraulics Group | HEC-RAS
• Photos Cross Section | Photos Long Pro & Wolman Count

This course exposes the student to that fluvial geomorphology through measurement and interpretation of river pattern, profile, and dimension. Investigations of form and process will be approached by first using laboratory work with maps and photographs to extract information on valley type and watershed characteristics.

Field exercises will provide site maps, photographs, descriptions, and survey points of river form and material relative to bankfull flow. River form will be surveyed to reveal 1) the pattern of meanders and belt width, 2) the profile of bed, water, and bankfull slopes, and 3) the dimension of cross sections at steps, riffles and pools.

Sediment surveys at cross sections and throughout longitudinal profiles will be used to characterize roughness and together with site maps interpret dynamic forces and river processes. Rosgen stream classification techniques will standardize description of form and process. Students will complete readings in fluvial geomorphology so that they can better analyze channel evolution, degradation, and restoration issues.