Evaluating theBANCSStreambank Erosion Framework on the Northern Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain

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Abstract
The Bank Assessment of Nonpoint source Consequences of Sediment (BANCS) framework allows river scientists to predict annual sediment yield from eroding streambanks within a hydrophysiographic region.BANCSinvolves field data collection and the calibration of an empirical model incorporating a bank erodibility hazard index (BEHI) and near‐bank shear stress (NBS) estimate. Here we evaluate the applicability ofBANCSto the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal plain, a region that has not been previously studied in this context. Erosion rates averaged over two years expressed the highest variability of any existingBANCSstudy. As a result, four standardBANCSmodels did not yield statistically significant correlations to measured erosion rates. Modifications to two widely usedNBSestimates improved their correlations (r2 = 0.31 andr2 = 0.33), but further grouping of the data byBEHIweakened these correlations. The high variability in measured erosion rates is partly due to the regional hydrologic and climatic characteristics of the Gulf coastal plains, which include large, infrequent precipitation events. Other sources of variability include variations in bank vegetation and the complex hydro‐ and morphodynamics of meandering, sand bed channels. We discuss directions for future research in developing a streambank erosion model for this and similar regions.
Funding Information
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Geological Society of America

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