Regionalization of Channel Geomorphology Characteristics for Streams of New York State, Excluding Long Island

Figure 1. Hydrologic flood regions in New York State.

Figure 2. Surveying in a local stream.

Figure 3. Region 5 hydraulic-geometry curves.

Problem - Geomorphologic techniques for stream channel and bank restoration are fast becoming the technique of choice among Federal, State, County, and local agencies to reduce suspended sediment loads, reduce flood-related damages, improve aquatic habitat, and generally stabilize stream channels. One reason for this upswing in use is that appropriate use of these methods have been shown to reduce the need for repetitive visits to a reach to remove sediments or repair stream banks, thus, reducing long-term channel maintenance expenses. Geomorphologic restoration projects require data that define what a stable stream channel should look like in a given region. A critical set of that information used in designing these geomorphologic restoration projects are the regional hydrologic curves and regional channel-geomorphologic characteristics. These regional data have not been compiled or analyzed for New York. This project will begin to address this information gap.

Objectives - The primary objective of this project is to develop regional hydrologic curves and regional channel-geomorphologic characteristics at bankfull discharge for streams of New York State by hydro-physiographic region and by Rosgen stream type. These data will be used to confirm bankfull hydraulic-geometry characteristics at ungaged reference streams and verify designs for stream-channel restoration projects. The project is a collaboration between the United States Geological Survey (USGS), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and other interested agencies. An advisory committee reviews work and helps determine strategies to best implement collaborative efforts.

Products for this study will include protocols for collection and interpretation of data, summaries of channel-geometry and hydrology data for analyzed stations, and regional channel-geomorphologic characteristics for each hydro-physiographic region.