The Long Road to Stage Zero A Missing Reference Condition

LTPBR WORKSHOP

Colin Thorne

Headcuts stalled at box culverts, with incision and rapid widening downstream. Crowder Creek, North Mississippi (photo credit: David Biedenharn)

1970s

Schumm, S. A., Harvey, M. D., & Watson, C. C. (1984). Incised channels: morphology, dynamics, and control. Water Resources Publications, Littleton CO.

Schumm, Harvey and Watson 1984

Stages in the Channel Evolution Model

Simon and Hupp

Simon, A. & Hupp, C. R. 1986. Channel evolution in modified Tennessee channels. In, Proc. 4th Interagency Sedimentation Conf., Las Vegas, NV. US Govt., Washington DC, 8.22-8.29.

1986

Simon and Hupp

Simon, A. & Hupp, C. R. 1986. Channel evolution in modified Tennessee channels. In, Proc. 4th Interagency Sedimentation Conf., Las Vegas, NV. US Govt., Washington DC, 8.22-8.29.

1986

Late-stage Evolution: Senatobia Creek, Mississippi 1990s

Stage 7 “Laterally Active”

Proposed additional CEM: Stage VI (Schumm, Harvey and Watson) Stage VII (Simon and Hupp).

Thorne, C.R. 1999. Bank Processes and Channel Evolution in the Incised Rivers of North-Central Mississippi, Incised River Channels, Darby and Simon (eds.), Wiley, ISBN 0-471-98446-9, 97-122.

1999

Sediment impacts of log jams in incised channels

Wallerstein, N.P. and Thorne, C.R., 2004. Influence of large woody debris on morphological evolution of incised, sand-bed channels. Geomorphology, 57(1), pp.53-73.

Channel spanning

Flow parallel + Bar headDeflector

Channel damming

2004

100 300 200 0

Drainage Basin Area (km2)

-10

0

10

20

30

Net Scour

Net Sedimentation

Net Sediment Balance (m3)

Net sediment balance at 17 natural log jams in Incised Creeks in North Mississippi

Wallerstein, N.P. and Thorne, C.R., 2004. Influence of large woody debris on morphological evolution of incised, sand-bed channels. Geomorphology, 57(1), pp.53-73. DOI: 10.1016/S0169-555X(03)00083-7

Watershed drainage area (km2)

Net sediment balance (m3)

2004

Historical evidence - US East Coast –Watts Branch, Seneca Creek, Brandywine Creek etc.

Walter, R.C. and Merritts, D.J., 2008. Natural streams and the legacy of water-powered mills. Science, 319 (5861), pp.299-304. DOI: 10.1126/science.1151716

2008

Historical evidence - US East Coast –Watts Branch, Seneca Creek, Brandywine Creek etc.

Walter, R.C. and Merritts, D.J., 2008. Natural streams and the legacy of water-powered mills. Science, 319 (5861), pp.299-304. DOI: 10.1126/science.1151716

2008

Historical evidence - US East Coast –Watts Branch, Seneca Creek, Brandywine Creek etc.

Walter, R.C. and Merritts, D.J., 2008. Natural streams and the legacy of water-powered mills. Science, 319 (5861), pp.299-304. DOI: 10.1126/science.1151716

2008

Historical evidence - US East Coast –Watts Branch, Seneca Creek, Brandywine Creek etc.

Walter, R.C. and Merritts, D.J., 2008. Natural streams and the legacy of water-powered mills. Science, 319 (5861), pp.299-304. DOI: 10.1126/science.1151716

2008

“…before European settlement, the streams were small, anabranching

channels within extensive, vegetated wetlands that accumulated little sediment but stored substantial organic carbon”

, Brian Cluer

2008

Puuuuuuuu Juuuuuu 10u 2013u

2013

From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631

Michael Pollock – personal communication, 2014

From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631

Pollock et al. (2014) –BioscienceDOI: 10.1093/biosci/biu036

From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631

From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631

From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631

From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631

From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631

Joe Wheaton “Stage 0 is simple … but this Stream Evolution Model is kind of complicated…”

Stage 0/8

Stages 5-

23

Stages 5-7 Stages 2-3

Adapted from From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631 & Chap 1: Shahverdian et al. (2019) DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14138.03529

Stage 0/8

Stages 5-7

24

Stage 0/8

Stages 5-7 Stages 2-3

Adapted from From: Cluer & Thorne (2013) DOI: 10.1002/rra.2631 & Chap 1: Shahverdian et al. (2019) DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14138.03529

Stages 8 and 0Different degrees + extents of floodplain reconnection

Figure 1.6 (p 35) of Shahverdian et al. (2019) – Chapter 1 LTPBR Manual DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14138.03529

2016

Hauer, F.R. et al., 2016. Gravel-bed river floodplains are the ecological nexus of glaciated mountain landscapes. Science Advances, 2(6). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600026

Biology

GeologyHydrology

Stream Evolution Trianglewith Schumm Stream Classification and stages in the Stream Evolution Model

Castro and Thorne, 2019.

Castro, J.. & Thorne, C. 2019. The Stream Evolution Triangle: linking Geology, Hydrology and Biology, River Research and Applications. 10.1002/rra.3421.

2019

Biology

GeologyHydrology

Stream Evolution Trianglewith Schumm Stream Classification and stages in the Stream Evolution Model

Castro and Thorne, 2019.

Influence of biology dominates stream processes, forms and functions

Influences of biology, hydrology and geology are dynamically balanced

Influences of hydrology and geology dominate stream processes, forms and functions

Castro, J.. & Thorne, C. 2019. The Stream Evolution Triangle: linking Geology, Hydrology and Biology, River Research and Applications. 10.1002/rra.3421.

2019

Biology

GeologyHydrology

Stream Evolution Trianglewith Schumm Stream Classification and stages in the Stream Evolution Model

Castro and Thorne, 2019.

Stage 0

Stage 8

Stage 1

Stage 7

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 3

Stage 2Stage 4

Influence of biology dominates stream processes, forms and functions

Influences of biology, hydrology and geology are dynamically balanced

Influences of hydrology and geology dominate stream processes, forms and functions

Castro, J.. & Thorne, C. 2019. The Stream Evolution Triangle: linking Geology, Hydrology and Biology, River Research and Applications. 10.1002/rra.3421.

2019

Biology

GeologyHydrology

Stream Evolution Trianglewith Schumm Stream Classification and stages in the Stream Evolution Model

Castro and Thorne, 2019.

Stage 0

Stage 8

Stage 1

Stage 7

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 3

Stage 2Stage 4

Influence of biology dominates stream processes, forms and functions

Influences of biology, hydrology and geology are dynamically balanced

Influences of hydrology and geology dominate stream processes, forms and functions Biological

Uplift

Castro, J.. & Thorne, C. 2019. The Stream Evolution Triangle: linking Geology, Hydrology and Biology, River Research and Applications. 10.1002/rra.3421.

2019

Think Outside the Channel

Mud Pool Meadow – UK’s 1st ‘Stage 0’ restoration. Holnicote Estate, Somerset. PoC Ben Eardley, National Trust.. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/17/exmoor-river-reset-aims-to-cut-flood-risk-and-bolster-wildlife