Using LiDAR ‐Based DEM Elevation Difference Calculations to Estimate Net Streambank Erosion in an Iowa River, USA

Calvin F. Wolter; Keith E. Schilling; Matthew T. Streeter; Elliot S. Anderson

doi:10.1002/rra.4453

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Using LiDAR ‐Based DEM Elevation Difference Calculations to Estimate Net Streambank Erosion in an Iowa River, USA

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Using LiDAR ‐Based DEM Elevation Difference Calculations to Estimate Net Streambank Erosion in an Iowa River, USA

Calvin F. Wolter, Keith E. Schilling, Matthew T. Streeter and Elliot S. Anderson

River research and applications, Vol.41(7), pp.1418-1426

09/2025

DOI: 10.1002/rra.4453

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Abstract

Streambank erosion is an important source of sediment to river systems but is difficult to quantify at watershed scales. In this study, high‐resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) measurements collected from 2009 and 2020 were used to quantify the difference in land surface elevation that occurred along the fourth and fifth‐order streams in Old Mans Creek watershed in southeast Iowa. Study objectives were to quantify the volume of streambank sediment erosion and deposition occurring along the river systems and compare net channel erosion to watershed sediment export. Results indicated that streambank erosion and deposition along the fourth and fifth‐order channels totaled nearly 720,000 m 3 and 148,000 m 3 , respectively, over the 11‐year study period. Five times more streambank erosion occurred than deposition, and the difference between the two totals (net sediment erosion) comprised 77% of the sediment export from the watershed. The contribution of streambank sediment to basin export, along with estimates of mean annual streambank recession derived from the analyses, were consistent with results reported in other studies of streambank erosion. The LiDAR differencing methodology was able to identify areas of both sediment erosion and deposition occurring in the stream channels and quantify the net difference, which is related to watershed‐scale sediment export.

DEM

Iowa

LiDAR

sediment budget

streambank erosion

suspended sediment

UIOWA OA Agreement

Details

Title: Subtitle: Using LiDAR ‐Based DEM Elevation Difference Calculations to Estimate Net Streambank Erosion in an Iowa River, USA
Creators: Calvin F. Wolter - University of Iowa
Keith E. Schilling - University of Iowa
Matthew T. Streeter - University of Iowa
Elliot S. Anderson - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: River research and applications, Vol.41(7), pp.1418-1426
DOI: 10.1002/rra.4453
ISSN: 1535-1459
eISSN: 1535-1467
Publisher: Wiley
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 05/06/2025
Date published: 09/2025
Academic Unit: Earth and Environmental Sciences; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984820560302771

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