Healthy Stream Types 



Common in Montana 



Wide Valley Bottom Stream 



• slope less than 2% 



• point bars, riffles, pools 



• flood flows spread over broad 

 floodplain and riparian area 



• sinuous 



• wide, shallow 



• horizontal (lateral) erosion 



ijt: 



bankfuH stage 



_T-*V 



flood- 

 prone 

 area 





Meandering Meadow Stream 



• slope less than 2% 



• flat-bottomed valley 



• narrow, deep, sinuous channel 



• little sediment load 



• accessible floodplain 



• well-vegetated banks 



bankfull stage 



flood- 

 prone 

 area 



m 



15 



