1/26/2014

Lotic Systems: Rivers and Streams Chapter 6

Natural Flow
The ecological integrity of river and stream ecosystems depends on their natural dynamic character (i e their !natural flow"#

The $ammed % S
National &nventory of $ams '()*+++ total ,*-++ ma.or dams
/+ ft height Normal storage of /*+++ acre0ft 1a2 Storage of /+*+++ acre0ft

1/26/2014

Stream and Rivers 3 Lotic Systems

Small streams are dominant interfaces 4etween a5uatic ha4itats and the land Streams coalesce and 4ecome rivers move materials from land to sea
6ey lin7 in glo4al 4iogeochemical cycles

8ary greatly in geomorphology and hydrology

9ermanent and intermittent systems Fed 4y surface flow and groundwater Regulated flow:

Characteri;ation of Lotic Systems

Si;e of $rainage <rea $ischarge and =ater 8elocity Stream >rder $ischarge patterns and the effect on 4iota 8egetation type of the surrounding landscape

Si;e of $rainage <rea

Watershed ? @ntire land area or 4asin a4ove a specific point on a stream or river where water flows across the surface into the stream
$emarcated 4y the ridge lines that separate different 4asins Aasin !sheds" water and materials from landscape into streams

1/26/2014

$ischarge and =ater 8elocity

$ischarge ? volume of water passing a point per unit time &ncrease in drainage area increase in discharge Beadwater streams 3 low discharge* high velocity Lower in watershed 3 discharge increases 4ut velocity lessens

Stream >rder 3 Strahler System

@stimating and ran7ing individual stream si;e within a watershed First order streams ? smallest permanent streams at highest points of the watershed >rder increases when two streams of the same order merge

1/26/2014

FIGURE 6.4

Average length of each order

Number of streams for each order

Total length of streams of each order

$utch Cree7 $rainage

Limitation of stream order approach often difficult to determine the smallest permanent stream

9redicta4le $ifferences Aetween Low and Bigh >rder Streams

Low Order
Relatively high gradient 3 high velocityC low discharge Narrow* 80shaped channelC often straight course Course and orientation determined 4y 4edroc7 Stream4ed comprised of large roc7s* co44les and little gravelC fine sediments are water04orne

High Order
Reduced gradient 3 low velocityC high discharge Channel widensC tends to meander a4out valley floor Course determined 4y alluvial sediment and deposition River4ed composed of sand* silt or clay