Comparing gravel-bed rivers in paired urban and rural catchments of southeastern Pennsylvania

Research Article| January 01, 2000 Comparing gravel-bed rivers in paired urban and rural catchments of southeastern Pennsylvania J. E. Pizzuto; J. E. Pizzuto 1Department of Geology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar W. C. Hession; W. C. Hession 2Patrick Center for Environmental Research, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M. McBride M. McBride 2Patrick Center for Environmental Research, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information J. E. Pizzuto 1Department of Geology, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA W. C. Hession 2Patrick Center for Environmental Research, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, USA M. McBride 2Patrick Center for Environmental Research, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 08 Jul 1999 Revision Received: 22 Sep 1999 Accepted: 28 Sep 1999 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (1): 79–82. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)028<0079:CGRIPU>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 08 Jul 1999 Revision Received: 22 Sep 1999 Accepted: 28 Sep 1999 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J. E. Pizzuto, W. C. Hession, M. McBride; Comparing gravel-bed rivers in paired urban and rural catchments of southeastern Pennsylvania. Geology 2000;; 28 (1): 79–82. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)028<0079:CGRIPU>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Surveys in eight paired urban and rural watersheds illustrate how urbanization changes fluvial morphology and processes. Our data also provide quantitative criteria for evaluating stream-restoration projects in urban areas. Bankfull depth, reach-averaged bed slope, and median grain size are similar in urban and rural watersheds. The median width of urban channels is 26% larger than the median width of rural channels. The median sinuosity is 8% lower in urban channels and pools are 31% shallower. The median composite Manning's n based on median grain diameter, pool depth, and channel sinuosity is 10% lower in urban streams, while the median bankfull discharge per unit drainage basin area is 131% higher in urban channels. Histograms of bed sediment-size distributions in urban channels lack a secondary mode in the size range 2–64 mm characteristic of rural channels, indicating that these sizes tend to be selectively removed from urban channels. However, bankfull Shields stresses in urban and rural channels exceed typical threshold values at most sites, indicating significant bedload transport at bankfull stage. Apparently, increased peak discharges caused by decades of urbanization have not removed all the transportable sediment from these urban stream channels. We speculate that the supply of sediment to urban channels from hillslope processes and channel erosion remains significant, even though much of the upland surfaces of these urban catchments are covered with nonerodible impervious surfaces. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.