Abstract
Successful watershed planning requires a watershed-scale approach to the assessment of erosion hazards. Stream power, or the rate of energy expenditure of flowing water, is a driver of river erosion and morphologic change. Stream Power Index for Networks (SPIN) is a newly developed geographic information system (GIS)-based toolbox that uses simple inputs to calculate total stream power, specific stream power, and their change between past, present, and future land-use conditions. We tested the ability of SPIN to identify areas of erosion risk by comparing its outputs against an independent database of erosion mitigation sites in an urban river. Objectives were to (1) validate the channel slope and threshold particle size calculated by the toolbox against data collected from field sites, (2) assess the utility of the toolbox outputs for interpreting spatial patterns of erosion control structure construction and maintenance, and (3) evaluate how the toolbox can be used to support or enhance current erosion monitoring techniques. Channel slope and threshold substrate size values calculated by SPIN matched those measured in the watershed. Both total and specific stream power increased between the rural (preurban) and urban land-use conditions, and maps generated by the toolbox provided a visual assessment of areas of expected erosion risk. The density of erosion control structures increased with total and specific stream power, and threshold stream power ratio values were identified above which erosion control structures were widespread. Stream power indices were also related to the condition of erosion control structures when defined as the distance between the channel erosion and the infrastructure. The SPIN toolbox makes a novel contribution to erosion hazard assessment at a watershed scale. In combination with existing local monitoring and assessment techniques, this method should improve decision making around erosion mitigation strategies in urban rivers.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available in a repository online in accordance with funder data retention policies.
The code for SPIN is available online at https://github.com/macvicab/SPIN.
The DEM of Etobicoke Creek is available from the Ontario GeoHub repository run by Land Information Ontario at https://geohub.lio.gov.on.ca/.
Some or all data, models, or code used during the study were provided by a third party. Direct requests for these materials may be made to the provider as indicated in the Acknowledgments.
Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by Mitacs (IT21613) and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. The TRCA allowed access to their data and field personnel needed to complete this project. K. Ghunowa offered useful consultation for the successful application of SPIN. Land-use data were provided by the TRCA and can be obtained through contacting [email protected]. The erosion monitoring infrastructure data sets are gathered and managed by the TRCA on behalf of municipal government partners. Inquiries on this data set can be forwarded to [email protected]. We thank the two anonymous reviewers whose comments greatly improved the presentation of this work.
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Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment
Volume 8 • Issue 3 • August 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Sep 25, 2021
Accepted: Feb 1, 2022
Published online: May 2, 2022
Published in print: Aug 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Oct 2, 2022
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- Chris Parker, James Davey, Stream power indices correspond poorly with observations of alluvial river channel adjustment, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 10.1002/esp.5550, (2023).