Contribution of Stream Channel Erosion to Sediment Yield from an Urbanizing Watershed

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 278; no. 5342; pp. 1442 - 1444
• Main Author: Trimble, Stanley W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 21-11-1997; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Canyons; Case studies; Creeks; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Environmental aspects; Erosion; Erosion (Geology); Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; Hydrology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Marine and continental quaternary; Sediment yield; Sediments; Stormwater; Stream channels; Stream ecology; Stream erosion; Surficial geology; Urban runoff; Urbanization; Watershed management; Watersheds; Southern California; United States; California; USA, California, San Diego Creek; San Diego Creek, California; drainage basins; fluvial erosion; streams; urban areas; North America; urbanization; sedimentation
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5342.1442

Stream channel erosion has long been suspected as the major contributor to long-term sediment yield from urbanizing watersheds. For San Diego Creek in southern California, measurements from 1983 to 1993 showed that stream channel erosion furnished 10$^5$ megagrams per year of sediment, or about two-thirds of the total sediment yield. Thus, because channel erosion can be a major source of sediment yield from urbanizing areas, channel stabilization should be a priority in managing sediment yield.