Fact Sheet Number 2

River Course

Application of the Rosgen Stream Classification System to North Carolina

River Course is a fact sheet series developed to provide information and technologies related to the use of natural channel design in restoring impaired streams.

Restoration of impaired streams begins with an understanding of the watersheds current condition and stream potential. Stream classification offers a way to categorize streams based on channel morphology. This fact sheet focuses on a classification system popular with hydrologists, engineers, and biologiststhe Rosgen stream classification system.
Stream Classification
The classification of natural streams is not new. Over the past 100 years, there have been about 20 published stream classification systems. The first recognized classification was by Davis in 1899. Davis classified streams in terms of age (youthful, mature, and old age). The classification systems devised between 1899 and1970 were largely qualitative descriptions of stream features and landforms and were difficult to apply universally. In 1994, Rosgen published A Classification of Natural Rivers. Because of its usefulness in stream restoration, this classification system has become popular among hydrologists, engineers, geomorphologists, and biologists working to restore the biological function and stability of degraded streams.

3. Provide a mechanism to extrapolate sitespecific data to stream reaches having similar characteristics. 4. Provide a consistent frame of reference for communicating stream morphology and condition among a variety of disciplines and interested parties. The Rosgen stream classification consists of four levels of detail ranging from broad qualitative descriptions to detailed quantitative assessments. Figure 1 shows the hierarchy (Levels I through IV) of the Rosgen classification inventory and assessment. Level I is a geomorphic characterization that categorizes streams as A, B, C, D, DA, E, F, or G. Level II is called the morphological description and requires field measurements. Level II assigns a number (1 through 6) to each stream type describing the dominant bed material. Level III is an evaluation of the stream condition and its stability. This requires an assessment and prediction of channel erosion, riparian condition, channel modification, and other characteristics. Level IV is verification of predictions made in Level III and consists of sediment transport, stream flow, and stability measurements.

Rosgen Stream Classification System

Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

RIVER COURSE

Application of the Rosgen Stream Classification System to North Carolina

Figure 1. Rosgen Stream Classification Levels.

STRUCTURAL CONTROLS, LITHOLOGY

FLUVIAL PROCESS

DEPOSITIONAL MATERIALS

CLIMATIC INFLUENCE

BROAD LIFE ZONES

WATERSHED

DRAINAGE NETWORK

CHANNEL SLOPE: Valley Slope/Sinuosity CHANNEL SHAPE: NarrowDeep WideShallow

GEOMORPHIC CHARACTERIZATION LEVEL I Stream Types A through G

BASIN RELIEF

LANDFORMS

VALLEY MORPHOLOGY

PATTERNS: CHANNEL PATTERNS Single Thread Multiple Thread Anastomosed Sinuosity Meander Width Ratio

ENTRENCHMENT RATIO WIDTH/DEPTH RATIO SINUOSITY

MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION LEVEL II Stream Types A1A6 through G1G6

CHANNEL SLOPE CHANNEL MATERIALS

RIPARIAN VEGETATION DEPOSTION PATTERN DEBRIS OCCURRENCE MEANDER PATTERN CHANNEL STABILITY RATING ... SEDIMENT SUPPLY ... BED STATBILITY ...W/D RATIO STATE

STREAM STATE or CONDITION LEVEL III

BANK EROSION POTENTIAL STREAM SIZE/ORDER FLOW REGIME ALTERED CHANNEL STATE ...DIMENSIONS ...PATTERNS ...SLOPE ...MATERIALS

MEASUREMENTS: SEDIMENT MEASUREMENTS Bedload sediment Suspended sediment STREAMFLOW MEASUREMENTS: Hydraulics Resistance Hydrographs

STABILITY: STABILITY Aggradition/Degradation SEDIMENT: Change in Storage and Size Distribution Bank Erosion Rates Imbeddedness/Distribution Time TrendsStability

VALIDATION LEVEL LEVEL IV

Bankfull Stage
The width/depth and entrenchment ratios used in the classification are measured at the bankfull stage. By definition, bankfull stage is the elevation of the floodplain adjacent to the active channel. If the stream is entrenched, bankfull stage is identified as a scour line, bench, or top of the point bar. If the stream is not entrenched, then bankfull is near or at the

top of the bank. Relationships of bankfull cross sectional area as a function of watershed size help identify bankfull stage in the field. Bankfull stage and natural stream process terminology are further discussed in River Course 1: Natural Stream Processes, AG-590-1. Field techniques for identifying bankfull stage are provided in River Course 3, AG-590-3.

Application of the Rosgen Stream Classification System

Single or Braided Channel Determination A braided channel consists of three or more distinct channels. Anything less is considered a single channel. The only stream types for braided channels are D and DA. Single or braided channel determination can be made from aerial photograph or field observation. Entrenchment Ratio The entrenchment ratio is a field measurement of channel incision. Specifically, it is the flood-prone width divided by the bankfull width. The flood-prone width is measured at the elevation of twice the maximum depth at bankfull. Lower entrenchment ratios indicate channel inclusion. Large entrenchment ratios mean that there is a well-developed floodplain. An example of this measurement is shown in Figure 2. The following stream types are entrenched: A, F, and G. Width to Depth Ratio The width to depth ratio is a field measurement of the bankfull width divided by the mean bankfull depth. The break between single channel classifications is 12, meaning that the bankfull width is 12 times greater than the mean bankfull depth. Stream types with width/depth ratios greater than 12 are B, C, and F. Stream types less than 12 are A, E, and G. The D stream types have a width/depth ratio

Figure 2. The entrenchment ratio measures the degree of channel incision as the flood-prone width divided by the bankfull width.

greater than 40 and the DA stream types are less than 40. Sinuosity Sinuosity is a measure of a streams crookedness. Specifically, it is the channel length divided by a straightline valley length. The greater the number, the higher the sinuosity. Sinuosity is related to slope. Natural streams with steep slopes have low sinuosities, and streams with low slopes typically have high sinuosities. Sinuosity can be measured from large scale aerial photographs but should not be measured from 1:24,000 or smaller scale topographic maps. Water Surface Slope The water surface slope is a field measurement from the top of a riffle to the top of another riffle at least 20 bankfull widths downstream. This is considered the average slope. A and B stream types have the steepest slopes and E and DA stream types have the lowest. However, slope varies greatly among stream types. Median Size of the Bed Material A pebble count procedure is used to determine the D50 of the bed material. The

A hierarchical key to the Rosgen stream classification system is shown in Figure 3 on page 4. The criteria and measurements used to classify the stream are discussed below.

flood-prone width bankfull stage

D50 is the median particle size, meaning that 50 percent of the material is smaller and 50 percent is larger. A stream reach of 20 bankfull widths is sampled. The reach is divided into pool and riffle sub-reaches. One hundred samples are taken from pools and riffles according to their percentage of the total length. For example, if 60 percent of the reach is a riffle and 40 percent is a pool, then 60 samples will be taken from the riffles and 40 from the pools. A cumulative frequency plot of the particle size distribution will provide the D50. The D50 will provide the following level II classification. Size Range (mm) Bedrock = 1 Boulder = 2 Cobble = 3 Gravel = 4 Sand = 5 Silt/Clay = 6 >2,048 256-2,048 64-256 2-64 0.062-2 <0.062

SINGLE-THREAD CHANNELS

MULTIPLE CHANNELS

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Entrenchment Ratio

ENTRENCHED (Ratio: <1.4)

MODERATELY ENTRENCHED (1.4 - 2.2)

SLIGHTLY ENTRENCHED (>2.2)

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<

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<

<

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Width/Depth Ratio

LOW Width/Depth Ratio(<12)

MODERATE to HIGH W/D (>12)

MODERATE Width/Depth Ratio(>12)

VERY LOW MODERATE to Width/Depth (<12) HIGH Width/Depth (>12)

VERY HIGH Width/Depth (>40)

LOW W/D (<40) LOW-HI Sinuosity (1.2-1.5)

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Sinuosity

Application of the Rosgen Stream Classification System to North Carolina

LOW SINUOSITY (<1.2)

MODERATE SINUOSITY (>1.2)

MODERATE SINUOSITY (>1.2)

MODERATE SINUOSITY (>1.2)

VERY HIGH SINUOSITY (>1.5)

HIGH SINUOSITY (>1.2)

LOW SINUOSITY (<1.2)

Slope

Slope Range >0.10 0.04 0.099

Slope Range 0.02 0.039 <0.02

Slope Range 0.02 0.039 <0.02 0.04 0.099

Slope Range 0.02 0.039 <0.02

Slope Range 0.02 0.039 <0.02 0.02 0.039

Slope Range 0.001 0.02 <0.001 0.02 0.039

Slope Range 0.01 0.02 <0.001

Slope <0.005

Channel Material
BEDROCK A1a+ A1 G1 G1c F1b F1 B1a B1 B1c C1b C1 C1c-

BOULDERS

A2a+

A2

G2

G2c

F2b

F2

B2a

B2

B2c

C2b

C2

C2c-

GRAVEL

A4a+

A4

G4

G4c

F4b

F4

B4a

B4

B4c

E4b

E4

C4b

C4

C4c-

D4b

D4

D4c-

DA4

SAND

A5a+

A5

G5

G5c

F5b

F5

B5a

B5

B5c

E5b

E5

C5b

C5

C5c-

D5b

D5

D5c-

DA5

RIVER COURSE

SILT/CLAY

A6a+

A6

G6

G6c

F6b

F6

B6a

B6

B6c

E6b

E6

C6b

C6

C6c-

D6b

D6

D6c-

DA6

Figure 3. Key to the Rosgen Classification of Natural Rivers. As a function of the continuum of physical variables within stream reaches, values of entrenchment and width sinuosity ratios can vary by +/ 0.2 units; while values for width /depth ratios can vary by +/ 2.0 units.

COBBLE

A3a+

A3

G3

G3c

F3b

F3

B3a

B3

B3c

E3b

E3

C3b

C3

C3c-

D3b

D3

Stream Type

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DA

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DESCRIPTION OF NORTH CAROLINA STREAM TYPES

Stream Type A

Type A streams are single thread channels with a width/ depth ratio less than 12, meaning they are narrow and moderately deep. They are entrenched, high gradient streams with step/pool bed features. A streams with a channel slope

greater than 10 percent are classified as Aa+. A streams flow through steep V-shaped valleys, do not have a welldeveloped floodplain, and are fairly straight.

Basin: Yadkin Stream Type: A1

Basin: Yadkin Stream Type: A1a+

Stream Type B

Basin: Little Tennessee Stream Type: B3

Type B streams are wider than A streams and have a broader valley but not a well-developed flood plain. These single thread streams are moderately entrenched with moderate to steep slopes. Type B streams are often rapid

dominated streams with step/pool sequences. Bank heights are typically low. The high width/depth ratios and moderate entrenchment ratios make this stream type quite resilient to moderate watershed changes.

Basin: Catawba

Stream Type: B4c

RIVER COURSE

Application of the Rosgen Stream Classification System to North Carolina

DESCRIPTION OF NORTH CAROLINA STREAM TYPES (continued)

Stream Type C

Type C streams are riffle/pool streams with a well-developed floodplain, meanders, and point bars. These streams are wide with a width/depth ratio greater than 12. Type C streams are

moderately entrenched, and therefore, use their floodplain during large storms.

Basin: French Broad Stream Type: C5

Basin: French Broad Stream Type: C4

Stream Types D and DA

Type D streams are multi-channel (3 or more) streams. These braided streams are found in well-defined alluvial valleys. Braided channels are characterized by moderate to high bank erosion rates, depositional features such as transverse bars, and frequent shifts in bed forms. The channels are typically on the same gradient as their valley. There are few D streams in North Carolina.

The DA stream type is a stable braided stream with a low but highly variable width/depth ratio (for braided channels) and low slope (less than 0.5 percent). The DA stream types are found in wide alluvial valleys or deltas exhibiting interconnected channels and an abundance of wetlands. This stream type is often found in the coastal plain of North Carolina.

Basin: Chowan Stream Type: DA6

Basin: Neuse Stream Type: DA6

DESCRIPTION OF NORTH CAROLINA STREAM TYPES (continued)

Stream Type E

For the single thread channels, the E stream types are the evolutionary end point for stream morphology and equilibrium. The E stream type is slightly entrenched with low width/depth ratios, and moderate to high sinuosities. The bedform features are consistent riffle/pool sequences. Analyses of North Carolina streams determined that many E stream types in wide floodplains have been relocated to the edge of

the floodplain and straightened. This has resulted in moderate entrenchment ratios and lower sinuosities. Dense vegetation has helped these streams remain as E stream types, but they do not function at their biological potential because of disruptions in the riffle/pool sequence. E stream types are generally found in wide alluvial valleys, ranging from mountain meadows to the coastal plain.

Basin: Holston (Virginia) Stream Type: E4

Basin: Neuse Stream Type: E4

Stream Type F

The F stream types are deeply entrenched, often meandering streams with a high width/depth ratio (greater than 12). These stream types are typically working to create a new floodplain at a lower elevation and will often evolve into C and then

E stream types. This evolutionary process leads to very high levels of bank erosion, bar development, and sediment transport. The F stream types are found in low-relief valleys and gorges.

Stream Type: F4

Basin: Watauga

Basin: Watauga Stream Type: F4

RIVER COURSE

Application of the Rosgen Stream Classification System to North Carolina

DESCRIPTION OF NORTH CAROLINA STREAM TYPES (continued)

Stream Type G

The G or gully stream types are similar to the F types but with low width/depth ratios. With few exceptions, G stream types possess high rates of bank erosion as they try to widen

into an F. G stream types are found in a variety of landforms, including meadows, urban areas, and new channels within relic channels.

Basin: Catawba Stream Type: G5

Basin: Cape Fear Stream Type: G6

References

Davis, W.M. 1899. The Geographical Cycle. Geographical Journal 14: 481-504. Rosgen, D.L. 1996. Applied River Morphology. Wildland Hydrology, Pagosa Springs, CO.

Rosgen, D.L. 1994. A Classification of Natural Rivers. Catena, vol 22: 169-199. Eisevier Science, B.V. Amsterdam. Rosgen, D.L. 1998. Stream Classification Field Guide. Wildland Hydrology, Pagosa Springs, CO.

5,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $4,766, or $.95 per copy.

Published by NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE 8/995MJMG/KEL E99 8 39105

Prepared by William A. Harman, Extension Specialist, and Gregory D. Jennings, Extension Specialist, Biological and Agricultural Engineering

AG-590-2