Comparison of regression relations of bankfull discharge and channel geometry for the glaciated and nonglaciated settings of Pennsylvania and Southern New York and StreamStats regional Curves Tool for Pennsylvania

Elaine Langone, Room 242

Streambank erosion in areas of past glacial deposition has been shown to be a dominant source of sediment to streams. Water resource managers are faced with the challenge of developing long and short term (emergency) stream restoration efforts that rely on the most suitable channel geometry for project design. A geomorphic dataset of new (2016, n=5) and previous (1999–2006, n=96) estimates of bankfull discharge and channel dimensions at U.S. Geological Survey streamgages was compiled to present and contrast the glaciated and unglaciated noncarbonate settings of southern New York and Pennsylvania. Empirical models were developed by using simple linear regressions that relate bankfull discharge and channel geometry to drainage area (regional curves). Data stratification by glaciation did not improve regional curves relations developed previously for the noncarbonate (glaciated and unglaciated) and carbonate settings of Pennsylvania and Maryland. The new data collected for bankfull discharge and channel dimensions at streamgages and updated drainage areas were incorporated into previously developed regional curves for the noncarbonate and carbonate settings of Pennsylvania and Maryland. These updated regional curves have recently been made available in Pennsylvania StreamStats, which is a web application that can now provide bankfull discharge and channel dimensions at user-selected sites.