Date of Graduation
Summer 2024
Degree
Master of Natural and Applied Science in Geography, Geology, and Planning
Department
Geography, Geology, and Planning
Committee Chair
Tasnuba Jerin
Abstract
Riverbank erosion is increasingly recognized as a pressing issue exacerbated by human activities. The Cuivre River, a tributary of the Mississippi River, located in northeast Missouri, has limited documentation on bank erosion, with the most recent study conducted in the early 1990s. This research aims to fill this gap by exploring the stream bank erosion dynamics from 1816 to 2015. The objectives are to: (i) understand the channel width dynamics for 1816 to 1994 ii) determine the sediment erosion and deposition volume along the riverbank in the period of 1994 to 2015. iii) identify the anthropogenic disturbances particularly land use and direct channel modifications on bank erosion dynamics. General Land Office (GLO) plats and historical aerial photographs were analyzed to determine the bank erosion dynamics. Field observations were conducted to assess potential human causes of erosion. The analysis showed an increase in bank erosion rates over the 1816 - 1994 period, particularly in 1st ,2nd, & 3rd order streams. From 1816 to 1994, channel narrowing was prevalent in 5th order streams. Erosion volumes from 1994 to 2015 indicated greater erosion compared to deposition along the mainstem. The 4th and 5th order streams exhibit the highest erosion volume rates, with erosion on average being five times larger than deposition. This study showed that while natural channel processes influence bank erosion, human activities, particularly land use changes (for example, cropland and urban infrastructures with limited riparian vegetation), and direct channel modifications coupled with climate change have significantly deteriorated this fluvial system. These findings highlight the need for effective riverbank management strategies targeting the hotspot areas of bank erosion to preserve riverine environments and ensure long-term integrity for the people that call the watershed home.
Keywords
bank erosion, channel width change, aerial photograph analysis, land use, fluvial geomorphology
Subject Categories
Geomorphology | Hydrology
Copyright
© Nathan Douglas Sines
Recommended Citation
Sines, Nathan Douglas, "Bank Erosion Dynamics in Response to Anthropogenic Disturbances in the Cuivre River Watershed of Missouri, USA" (2024). MSU Graduate Theses. 3986.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3986
