Little Topashaw Creek - Geomorphology

Contributing drainage area is about 37 km², bed slope was about 0.002. The channel is tortuous, with an average sinuosity of 1.7, and its cross section is about 35 m wide and 6 m deep. Channel bed was composed of medium sand and outcrops of cohesive material (Porter's Creek Clay). The reach was classified as CEM 4 by Simon (1998). A more detailed geomorphic assessment by Wallerstein (2000)indicated the downstream portion of the study reach was in CEM Stage 5, while upper reaches were still in CEM Stage 4. In general, concave banks on the outside of meander bends were failing by mass wasting subject to basal endpoint control, and sand was accreting on large point bars opposite failing banks. Large woody debris was plentiful in the channel. Outside of bends, eroding banks frequently invade adjacent cultivated fields (cotton and corn), while inside bends and abandoned sloughs were vegetated with a diverse mixture of hardwood trees and associated species. Kudzu infestation was frequent but not uniform; however, kudzu became increasingly common downstream.


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