TY - JOUR
AU - Heede, Burchard H.
AB - ABSTRACT: Streams are dynamic systems, so steady state does not exist for any appreciable period of time. Streams in dynamic equilibrium respond quickly to change, regaining a new equilibrium. From the response system it follows that there is a causative reason why a stream meanders or degrades or aggrades its bed. These actions represent adjustment processes. If humans interfere with them, other adjustment processes will be initiated. In contrast, if humans work with the ongoing processes, success will be attainable with less efforts and at a lower cost. Local base level change represents one of the most influential channel changes, especially the lowering of this level. Loss of base level may cause degradation throughout a stream network, because the main stem is the base level for all its tributaries. Often, degradation causes bank instability and lowering of streamside water tables that, in turn, endanger the riparian ecosystem. Judging from check dam systems, a rise of the local base level does not raise the bed throughout a stream or network; instead, aggradation stops at a given distance. Preventing local base level changes of a stream network, therefore, is a cost‐effective measure. Examples are presented of treatments causing new critical situations and measures to correct them.
TI - DESIGNING FOR DYNAMIC EQUILIBRIUM IN STREAMS
JF - Journal of the American Water Resources Association
DO - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1986.tb01889.x
DA - 1986-06-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/wiley/designing-for-dynamic-equilibrium-in-streams-AYAssd7t02
SP - 351
VL - 22
IS - 3
DP - DeepDyve
ER -