The City of Raleigh partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assist in assessing streambank erosion hotspots along the City of Raleigh’s stream network to support the City’s efforts of prioritizing future stream mitigation projects. Streambank erosion potential will be assessed using remotely sensed light detection and ranging (lidar) data, field assessments of streambank conditions, and other geospatial data.
Problem:
Sediment is a natural component to healthy stream ecosystem functions, but excess fine sediment can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. Excess sediment can result in infilling of downstream reservoirs, such as Shelley Lake in Raleigh, NC.
Sediment eroded from streambanks is often the dominant source of sediment loads in streams in the suburban Piedmont. However, streambank erosion is highly variable in space and time. Current approaches used to locate eroding streambanks, such as stream walks or citizen complaints, are time consuming and can provide inconsistent information about site conditions. New tools are needed to remotely identify streambank erosion hotspots.
Study Objectives:
- Develop geospatial datasets that can be used as a proxy to map potential streambank erosion hotspots.
- Conduct field assessment of streambank erosion potential at select stream reaches throughout the City of Raleigh.
- Predict streambank erosion potential using geospatial and field datasets.
Study Area:
All streams in the City of Raleigh’s planning jurisdiction will be included in this study. If possible, the area will be extended to include other streams in the Crabtree Creek, Walnut Creek, Perry Creek, and Mango Creek watersheds.
Approach:
Lidar derived digital elevation models (DEMs) will be used to generate two proxies for bank erosion hotspots 1) landscape openness and 2) DEM of difference. Field surveys will be conducted throughout the study area to assess stream stability using the Bank Erosion Hazard Index and Near Bank Stress. Modeling will combine remotely sensed data, field surveys, and other geospatial datasets to predict streambank erosion severity across the study area. Predictions will be aggregated and joined to the City of Raleigh’s channel inventory to provide an assessment of streambank erosion potential for each channel.
- Overview
The City of Raleigh partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assist in assessing streambank erosion hotspots along the City of Raleigh’s stream network to support the City’s efforts of prioritizing future stream mitigation projects. Streambank erosion potential will be assessed using remotely sensed light detection and ranging (lidar) data, field assessments of streambank conditions, and other geospatial data.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Simms Branch, Durant Nature Preserve, Raleigh, NC Problem:
Sediment is a natural component to healthy stream ecosystem functions, but excess fine sediment can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. Excess sediment can result in infilling of downstream reservoirs, such as Shelley Lake in Raleigh, NC.
Sediment eroded from streambanks is often the dominant source of sediment loads in streams in the suburban Piedmont. However, streambank erosion is highly variable in space and time. Current approaches used to locate eroding streambanks, such as stream walks or citizen complaints, are time consuming and can provide inconsistent information about site conditions. New tools are needed to remotely identify streambank erosion hotspots.
Sources/Usage: Some content may have restrictions. Visit Media to see details.Google Earth images of Shelley Lake, Raleigh, NC Study Objectives:
- Develop geospatial datasets that can be used as a proxy to map potential streambank erosion hotspots.
- Conduct field assessment of streambank erosion potential at select stream reaches throughout the City of Raleigh.
- Predict streambank erosion potential using geospatial and field datasets.
Study Area:
All streams in the City of Raleigh’s planning jurisdiction will be included in this study. If possible, the area will be extended to include other streams in the Crabtree Creek, Walnut Creek, Perry Creek, and Mango Creek watersheds.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Raleigh Erosion Study Area Map Approach:
Lidar derived digital elevation models (DEMs) will be used to generate two proxies for bank erosion hotspots 1) landscape openness and 2) DEM of difference. Field surveys will be conducted throughout the study area to assess stream stability using the Bank Erosion Hazard Index and Near Bank Stress. Modeling will combine remotely sensed data, field surveys, and other geospatial datasets to predict streambank erosion severity across the study area. Predictions will be aggregated and joined to the City of Raleigh’s channel inventory to provide an assessment of streambank erosion potential for each channel.
- Data
- Partners