Proximal and ultimate influences on planform change in Bayou Pierre, Mississippi

Channel incision and associated planform changes are widespread in the Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States, following a century of sediment reduction activities. These processes cause numerous threats to infrastructure, social, and ecological systems. While the drivers of channel incision are well documented for some watersheds in the region, others remain understudied. Bayou Pierre, Mississippi, is a small watershed draining directly to the lower Mississippi River with a contentious debate regarding origins of erosional processes. The watershed is home to one listed species (Bayou Darter Nothonotus rubrus) as well as a diverse aquatic biota assemblage. Determining potential drivers of erosional activities in the watershed will be critical for effective mitigation or restoration activities. This dataset compiles information from numerous other datasets to construct histories of Mississippi River architectural change, land use change, and climate patterns to construct a history of potential erosional influences in the watershed. It further contains original measurements of planform dynamics over a sixty year period, and analyses of how changes to planform relate to recent and historical influences. In addition, a secondary assessment of both accuracy and precision of measurement methods are included.