The Reference Reach: A Blueprint for Natural Channel Design

The reference reach is a river segment that represents a stable channel within a particular valley morphology. The reference reach is used to develop natural channel design criteria based upon measured morphological relations associated with the bankfull stage for a specific stable stream type. Specific data on stream channel dimension, pattern, profile and channel materials are measured and documented. Channel morphological variables are analyzed and developed into dimensionless ratios by stream type. The morphological data collected are used for river assessment and extrapolation to disturbed or unstable reaches in similar valley types for the purposes of restoration, stream enhancement, stabilization, and stream naturalization schemes. A reference discharge utilizing the bankfull stage is required to maintain consistency for obtaining stream channel dimensions.