Project Number: 6408-13000-018-28
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Apr 12, 2007
End Date: Mar 31, 2008

Objective:
The overall objective of this study is to identify locations of bank instability and determine rates and magnitudes of channel changes, particularly streambank erosion and bar development along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway between river miles 72 and 259 in Mississippi and Alabama. A sub-objective aims to determine critical conditions for bank stability in representative areas that are currently experienceing streambank instability.

Approach:
The research approach will include analysis of historical gauging-station records, time-series historical air photos, and reconnaissance by boat to identify areas and rates of bank erosion and growth of channel bars. Geotechnical tests of representative banks will be conducted to determine critical conditions for stability with and without riparian vegetation using a toe-erosion and bank-stability model. Bed-material samples will be collected from a boat to determine the shear stresses required for entrainment and the frequency that this takes place in representative reaches.