Streambed Adjustment and Channel Widening in Eastern Nebraska

Authors

David L. Rus, U.S. Geological Survey
Benjamin J. Dietsch, U.S. Geological SurveyFollow
Andrew Simon, National Sedimentation Laboratory

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2003

Comments

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4003

Abstract

In eastern Nebraska, stream straightening and dredging efforts since the 1890s have disturbed the natural equilibrium of stream channels and have led to streambed adjustment by degradation and subsequent channel widening. This report describes a study to evaluate the effect these disturbances have had on stream channels in eastern Nebraska.

Two sets of survey data were collected approximately 2 years apart during 1996–99 at 151 primary sites. Additionally, historical streambed-elevation data (dating back to the 1890s) were compiled from several sources for the primary sites and 45 supplemental sites, and relevant disturbances were identified for each of eight basin groupings. Streambed-elevation data sets were used to estimate the amount of change to the streambed at the sites over the time period of the data. Recent channel widening was documented for 73 of the primary sites by comparing the two survey sets.