Rosgen Class C4 Forest Reference Stream Monitoring Data

In his book Applied River Morphology, Dave Rosgen describes the C4 Stream Type as "a slightly entrenched, meandering, gravel-dominated, riffle/pool channel with a well developed floodplain."  He goes on to say that:

"The C4 stream type is found in U-shaped glacial valleys; valleys bordered by glacial and Holocene terraces; in mountain meadows and in very broad, course alluvial valleys. Some of the C4 stream types occur in glacial outwash terrain, closer to the lobe where gravel material is present."

"C4 stream channels have gentle gradients of less than 2%, display a high width/depth ratio, are slightly more sinuous and have a higher meander width ratio than the C1, C2 and C3 stream types. The riffle/pool sequence for the C4 stream type averages 5-7 bankfull channel widths in length. The streambanks are generally composed of unconsolidated, heterogeneous, non-cohesive, alluvial materials that are finer than the gravel-dominated bed material. Consequently, the stream is susceptible to accelerated bank erosion. Rates of lateral adjustment are influenced by the presence and condition of riparian vegetation. Sediment supply is moderate to high, unless streambanks are in a very low erodibility condition."

• Video clip Class C4 Stream (Fall 2001)
  
  
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  Click to enlarge Class C4 Stream (Fall 2001)
  
  
• Video clip Class C4 Stream (Spring 2002)
  
  
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  Click to enlarge Class C4 Stream (Spring 2002)
  
  

Resources Describing C4 Stream Geomorphology

• Graph showing stream bed particle size distribution - (PDF format; 5KB)

Resources Describing C4 Stream Hydraulic Geometry

• Chart showing dimensionless BKF stage discharge curve - (PDF format; 10KB)
• Chart showing dimensionless hydraulic geometry curves and equations - (PDF format; 39KB)

Resources Describing C4 Stream Turbidity

• Chart showing dimensionless NTU as a function of discharge - (PDF format; 24KB)
• Chart showing rising limb dimensionless NTU as a function of discharge - (PDF format; 25KB)
• Chart showing falling limb dimensionless NTU as a function of discharge - (PDF format; 68KB)

Last modified: Monday, 10-Mar-2008 15:31:55 EDT