A West Virginia case study: does erosion differ between streambanks clustered by the bank assessment of nonpoint source consequences of sediment (BANCS) model parameters?

Abstract

The integration of factors and processes responsible for streambank erosion is complex. To explore the influence of physical variables on streambank erosion, parameters for the bank assessment of nonpoint source consequences of sediment (BANCS) model were collected on a 1-km reach of Horseshoe Run in Tucker County, West Virginia. Cluster analysis was used to establish groups of streambanks, and observed erosion between the groups was compared. The cluster analysis revealed that groups of streambanks with uniform bank composition, high surface protection, low bank angles, and intermediate rooting depth and rooting density values tended to have less erosion. Our results suggest that the BANCS model input parameters may provide valuable insight into the susceptibility of a streambank to erosion.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings, 18th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

McQueen, Abby L.; Zegre, Nicolas P.; Welsch, Danny L. 2013. A West Virginia case study: does erosion differ between streambanks clustered by the aank assessment of nonpoint source consequences of sediment (BANCS) model parameters. In: Miller, Gary W.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Brooks, John R.; Grushecky, Shawn T.; Spong, Ben D.; Rentch, James S., eds. Proceedings, 18th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2012 March 26-28; Morgantown, WV; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-117. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 242-251.