ASSESSMENT OF CHANNEL STABILITY AT BRIDGE SITES.

Assessment of channel stability from field study and the comparison of time-sequential aerial photographs provides information that is needed in site selection, bridge design, and countermeasure placement. Channel instability is indicated by bank erosion, progressive degradation (or aggradation) of the streambed, or natural scour and fill of the streambed. Bank erosion rates are related to stream type and are proportional to stream size. Predictions of future rates are based on past rates, as measured on time-sequential photographs or mps, and on the typical behavior of meander loops.