Geomorphic Effects of the Hocking River Channelization At
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GEOMORPHIC EFFECTS OF THE HOCKING RIVER CHANNELIZATION AT ATHENS, OHIO, ON THE DOWNSTREAM PLANFORM A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Michael Anthony Gregorio June 2008 2 GEOMORPHIC EFFECTS OF THE HOCKING RIVER CHANNELIZATION AT ATHENS, OHIO, ON THE DOWNSTREAM PLANFORM BY MICHAEL ANTHONY GREGORIO has been approved for the Department of Geography and the College of Arts and Sciences by Dorothy Sack Professor of Geography Benjamin M. Ogles Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT GREGORIO, MICHAEL ANTHONY, M.A., June 2008, Geography Geomorphic Effects of the Hocking River Channelization at Athens, Ohio, on the Downstream Planform (105 pp.) Director of Thesis: Dorothy Sack Channel planform change was investigated along 24 kilometers of the Hocking River in Athens County, Ohio, by overlaying aerial photographs spanning 67 years into a geographic information system (GIS) to observe temporal and spatial stream patterns before and after the Army Corps of Engineers modified the river to control flooding in the city of Athens. Previous research has suggested that artificial channel adjustments alter the fluvial geomorphology in the downstream direction by increasing stream volume and stream velocities, causing erosion of the channel and lateral migration of a stream. Channel planform mapping was accomplished through digitizing the fluvial features of a stream and measuring the rates of change. The changes that were observed by the GIS-based methodology show statistically significant changes in the Hocking River channel widths, but little change in lateral migration, except in the asymmetry of meanders bends. Changes in channel width gradually decrease with distance. This lack of change in position and downstream decrease in width suggest that the channelization did not have much impact on the channel planform. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ Dorothy Sack Professor of Geography 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank my advisor, Dr. Dorothy Sack, for her time and motivation throughout my graduate education at Ohio University. Her patience was second to none as many deadlines neared and passed, as well as her ability to understand my train of thought. Her knowledge of geomorphology and personal interest in what I was trying to communicate in my research was of a great resource. Her unconditional support allowed me to complete my geography course requirements and thesis to graduate. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. James Lein and Dr. Margaret Pearce, for their assistance throughout the year; Michael L. Hughes of the Institute for Local Government Administration and Regional Development (ILGARD) who provided me with considerable insight with the geotechniques that were applied and the geospatial analysis that was undertaken; and ILGARD and Wayne National Forest for the aerial photography that was essential to mapping the Hocking River planform. Lastly, I would like to thank those who helped mold my understanding of the geographic and hydrological landscape: Dr. Bryon Middlekauff and Dr. Patrick May of Plymouth State University, New Hampshire, and the late Dr. Mary Stoertz of Ohio University. My appreciation also goes out to the Ohio University Department of Geography for a one-year teaching assistantship that allowed me to educate students the complexity of landforms, topographic maps, and aerial photography, and to ILGARD for a graduate research assistantship in my last year of study. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... 4 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 7 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 14 Chapter 3: Study Area ....................................................................................................... 21 3.1: Hocking River Fluvial Geomorphology ................................................................ 21 3.2: Hydrological History ............................................................................................. 24 3.3: Stream Classification ............................................................................................. 26 Chapter 4: Methods ........................................................................................................... 28 4.1: Aerial Photography ................................................................................................ 28 4.2: Geographic Information Systems .......................................................................... 30 4.2.1: Georectification ........................................................................................ 31 4.2.2: Channel Measurements ............................................................................. 35 4.3: Statistical Analysis ................................................................................................. 45 Chapter 5: Results ............................................................................................................. 47 5.1: Channel Width ....................................................................................................... 47 5.2: Sinuosity ................................................................................................................ 58 5.3: Asymmetry Index .................................................................................................. 64 6 5.4: Discharge ............................................................................................................... 68 Chapter 6: Discussion ....................................................................................................... 70 Chapter 7: Conclusion....................................................................................................... 74 References ......................................................................................................................... 77 Appendix A: Channel Width Measurements .................................................................... 80 Appendix B: Sinuosity Measurements .............................................................................. 92 Appendix C: Asymmetry Index Measurements ................................................................ 93 Appendix D: Asymmetry Index Graphs ........................................................................... 98 Appendix E: Discharge Measurements ........................................................................... 105 7 LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1: Air Photo/Topographic Map Coverage of Study Area .....................................29 Table 2: Paired Sample One-tailed T-test (Before and After Channelization) ...............48 Table 3: Paired Sample One-tailed T-test (Air Photo Year to Air Photo Year) .............48 3a: Study Area 1.........................................................................................................48 3b: Study Area 2 ........................................................................................................49 3c: Study Area 3.........................................................................................................49 8 LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1: Location of the Hocking River in Athens County, Ohio .................................12 Figure 2: Stream Channel Adjustment Model ................................................................20 Figure 3: Hocking River Study Area ..............................................................................22 Figure 4: Historical Migration Zone ...............................................................................38 4a: Study Area 1.........................................................................................................38 4b: Study Area 2 ........................................................................................................39 4a: Study Area 3.........................................................................................................40 Figure 5: Transects .........................................................................................................41 5a: Study Area 1.........................................................................................................41 5b: Study Area 2 ........................................................................................................42 5d: Study Area 3 ........................................................................................................43 Figure 6: Asymmetry Index ............................................................................................45 Figure 7: Channel Planform (All Air Photo Years) ........................................................52 7a: Study Area 1.........................................................................................................52