The Role of Human Activities in Streambank Stability: Lower Sakarya River (NW Turkey)

Umit Duru^1,

¹Geography Department, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey

Cite this paper:
Umit Duru. The Role of Human Activities in Streambank Stability: Lower Sakarya River (NW Turkey). Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2017; 5(3):130-135. doi: 10.12691/jgg-5-3-4

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to determine historic and current human impacts on streambank stability in Lower Sakarya River. Remote sensing and Geographical Information System techniques with conjunction field works were performed to identify the impact of human alteration on streambank stability in the riverine environment of the eastern portion of Sakarya province. LULC (land use/cover) and historical streambank changes were analyzed from Landsat 1-5 Multispectral Scanner (MSS), Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), and Google Earth images between 1995 and 2016. As results, a significant LULC changes have been observed along the buffered zone due to population growth. Recently, change in LULC type from agricultural to urban usage has changed river equilibrium. The stream channel also became more stable and straight as man-made modifications including a hydropower (HES) dam constructed in 2010, which primarily reduced flood frequency, water velocity, stream power, shear stress on sediment particles temporarily deposited along the streambank. After the year of 2010, downstream portion of the dam had experienced narrowing and expanding mid-channel bars. Moreover, the channel has been slightly moved towards east especially along urbanized and sinuous courses. The streambank displacement ranged from 2.9 m to 36 m in the region. Instream mining activities and bridge constructions in the region also disturb active streambanks, which raise a concern about instability of streambank and potential damage to infrastructures. Such studies are extremely important for understanding basic mechanisms of streambank evolution for further river restoration practices.

Keywords:
streambank stability LULC anthropogenic effects GIS Sakarya River

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Kondolf, G.M. (1997). Hungry Water: Effects of Dams and Gravel Mining on River Channels, Profile, Environmental Management, 21(4): 533-551.
[2]	Rosso, R., Rulli, M.C. and Bocchiola D. (2007). Transient catchments hydrology after wildfires in a Mediterranean watershed: Runoff, sediment and woody debris, Hydrol. Earth System Sci., 11(1): 125-140.
[3]	Knighton, D. (1998). Fluvial Forms & Processes: A New Perspective. Arnold, New York, 383 pp.
[4]	Wenger, S. (1999). A review of the scientific literature on riparian buffer width, extent and vegetation. Athens, GA: Office of Public Service and Outreach, Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia. 59 pp.
[5]	Schumm, S.A. (1969). River metamorphosis, J. Hydraul. Div. Am. Soc.Civ. Eng., 1: 255-273.
[6]	Goudie, A. (1989). The Nature of the Environment. Basil Blackwell Ltd., Oxford, UK.
[7]	Montgomery, M.R. (2008). The urban transformation of the developing world. Science 319:761-764.
[8]	James, L.A. and W.A. Marcus (Eds.). (2006). The Human Role in Changing Fluvial Systems. Proc. 37th International Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium, Oct. 20-22, 2006, Columbia, SC. 362 pp. The Netherlands: Elsevier.
[9]	Ashraf, S., Afshari, H., Ebadi, A.G. (2011). Application of GIS for determination of groundwater quality suitable in crops influenced by irrigation water in the Damghan region of Iran. Int. J. Phy. Sci., 6(4): 843-854.
[10]	Gopal, B. (2000). River conservation in the Indian sub-continent. In: Boon, P.J., Davies, B.R., Petts, G.E. (Eds.), Global Perspectives on River Conservation. Science, Policy and Practice. Wiley, Chichester, 233-261 pp.
[11]	Islam, M.F. and Higano, Y. (2002). Attainment of Economic Benefit through Optimal Sharing of International River Water: A Case Study of the Teesta River. Indian Journal of Regional Science, 34(2): 1-10.
[12]	Schofield, N.J., Collier, K.J., Quinn, J., Sheldon, F., Thoms, M.C. (2000). River conservation in Australia and New Zealand. In: Boon, P.J., Davies, B.R., Petts, G.E. (Eds.), Global Perspectives on River Conservation. Science, Policy and Practice. Wiley, Chichester.
[13]	Yamani, M., Goorabi, A. and Dowlati, J. (2011). The Effect of Human Activities on River Bank Stability (Case Study). American Journal of Environmental Sciences, 7(3): 244-247.
[14]	Wallick, J.R., Lancaster, S.T., Bolte, J.P. (2006). Determination of bank erodibility for natural and anthropogenic bank materials using a model of lateral migration and observed erosion along the Willamette. River Research and Applications, 2(6): 631-649.
[15]	Fitzpatrick, F.A., Knox, J.C. and Whitman, H.E. (1999). Effects of historical land-cover changes on flooding and sedimentation, North Fish Creek, Wisconsin. US Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4083, 12 pp.
[16]	Isik, S., Dogan, E., Kalinsasal, L.M. and Agiralioglu, N. (2008). Effects of anthropogenic activities on the Lower Sakarya River. Catena, 75: 172-181.
[17]	Magilligan, F.J., and Nislow, K.H. (2005). Changes in hydrologic regime by dams. Geomorphology, 71: 61-78
[18]	Johnson, W.E. (1998). Adjustment of riparian vegetation to river regulation in the Great Plains, USA. Wetlands, 18: 608-18.
[19]	Byrnes, M.R. and Hilland, M.W. (1995). Large-scale sediment trans-port patterns on the continental shelf and influence on shoreline response: St. Andrew Sound, Georgia to Nassau Sound, Florida, U.S.A. In: LIST, J.H. and Terwindt, J.H.J. (eds.), Large-Scale Coastal Behavior. Marine Geology, 126: 19-43.
[20]	Zaimes, G.N., Schultz, R.C., Isenhart, T.M. (2006). Riparian Land Uses and Precipitation Influences on Stream Bank Erosion in Central Iowa Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 42(1): 83-97.