HR: 0800h
AN: H51C-1161    [Abstracts]
TI: Geomorphic Assessment Approach to Evaluate Stream Channel Stability for Regions of Illinois, Case Study: Southern Illinois Region
AU: * Keefer, L L
EM: lkeefer@uiuc.edu
AF: Illinois State Water Survey, 2204 Griffith Drive, Champaign, IL 61820 United States
AB: An array of different geomorphic assessment approaches for evaluating stream-channel stability is being utilized throughout the country to meet the demands of resource managers interested in stream channel restoration and management to reduce erosion and improve stream habitat. Over the last century, most of the Illinois landscape has experienced intensive land use changes which have contributed to stream channel instability. Stream channels in Illinois have adjusted to these changes either by increasing lateral rates of migration, downstream translation of meanders, widening, or development of headward retreat of knickpoints, depending on the region of the state. Illinois can be divided into at least four regions based on prevailing physiographic features and style of channel adjustment. Also, channel response in most of these regions tend to be more subtle than the dramatic response characteristics of streams in the Coastal Plains, mountain environments, and the desert southwest for which other geomorphic approaches have been developed. The observed magnitude and type of channel response are related to topography of the bedrock surface and extent and morphology of several glacial periods, which carry local significance for stream management. Given that geomorphic assessments for stream restoration require non-trivial professional, time, and financial resources, the development of approaches for Illinois regional conditions are more beneficial. A geomorphic assessment approach is being developed by adapting methods from existing process-based approaches utilized around the United States. A case-study was performed in the Big Creek watershed of the Cache River Basin for the southern Illinois region. This region was selected first because it exhibited dramatic channel responses to disturbances and had an extensive hydrologic, sediment, and land management record. This adapted approach includes systematic data collection protocols for characterization leading to an evaluation of the fluvial system for the purpose of determining past watershed and channel conditions, current geomorphic character, and potential for future channel adjustments using modest time and financial resources. The performance of this approach in the southern Illinois region and future development for other Illinois regions will be presented.
DE: 1803 Anthropogenic effects
DE: 1815 Erosion and sedimentation
DE: 1824 Geomorphology (1625)
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting