Stream Channelization

Effects of Stream Channelization on Water Quality

Presenter: Eddie Guerra

Co-Presenter(s):
Kacen Kenopic, Alex Leroux, Isaac Seibert

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Department: Biology

Funding Source/Sponsor: Class Project

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1l4nWvJxPPjdTOTLm4VDkYAzua6w1ABwh

Abstract:
The practice of channelizing streams has been performed in many areas to facilitate human development, but is also known to damage surrounding riparian zones and lead to a decline in water quality. Negative effects of channelization on ecosystems include increased erosion and sedimentation, which in turn has a variety of negative impacts on wildlife, including the inability of some waterways to sustain aquatic life. We examined the literature to investigate water quality in channelized streams compared to un-channelized streams. We found that monitoring water quality is essential, and that in some cases, we should consider reverting streams back to their un-channelized forms, to improve water quality that will benefit fish that inhabit the streams, such as salmon, as well as improving ecosystem health for the surrounding landscape.