California river classification field survey protocols

A river classification was developed for major regions of the State of California USA using a field surveying protocol that can now be used to collect data at additional sites. The field protocols provide a framework for systematically collecting a variety of physical geomorphic data using uniform sampling, including channel slope, cross-sectional morphology, sediment composition, and longitudinal depth and width variability. The standard sampling layout consists of a stream length 15 times the active channel width (measured along the thalweg) divided into 10 equidistant transects that are arranged perpendicular to the stream channel. Details of the river classification of the Sacramento Basin region are available in Byrne et al (2020).

This resource contains the field surveying protocols and field data collection template.