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Erosion Analysis

It has been long acknowledged that, as land use changes there are impacts to the natural environment, including rivers and streams. In urban areas, impacts to watercourses are mainly the result of changes in the flow regime, usually due to greater flow volume associated with increased runoff. If the added flow exceeds a threshold, the channel will adjust to accommodate the altered regime. The adjustment typically results in increased rates of channel erosion, poorer aquatic habitat and water quality.

Erosion studies provide an overview of existing conditions, baseline data for monitoring and erosion thresholds to guide in storm water management. Erosion pins and controlled cross sections are installed, thus, providing a base line of channel erosion rates for comparison with future monitoring.

Erosion analyses include three main areas:

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
This aspect entails the quantification and incorporation of erosion thresholds into a stormwater management plan in an attempt to ensure existing erosion rates do not change.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Typically involves a specific assessment of the scour potential of the channel. This assessment helps to determine risk associated with damage to infrastructure.
HAZARD DELINEATION
This component stems from the Provincial Policy Statement on natural hazards and the need to determine the 100-year erosion limit. This assessment involves interpretation of aerial photographs, field work and direct measures.

Erosion Analysis

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