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What Shapes A Stream? 



As streams move through watersheds, their appearance, shape, and 

 energy change as local conditions change. (Typical types are shown on 

 pages 14-17.) A stream may begin as a rush of water over rocks on a 

 steep slope. Further down the watershed, it may empty onto a wide, flat 

 valley where soft soils erode easily. The stream will migrate across the 

 valley while maintaining its channel shape, gradient, and sinuosity. 



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Forming Meanders 



Shifts of energy in a stream will also shift the sediment. When the energy 

 core is against the outside bank (see box 3, next page), it erodes sediment 

 and deposits the material downstream on the inside bend in a point bar. 

 This natural process forms meanders in streams with low gradient. 



Low energy 

 water deposits 

 sediment 



pool 



High energy 

 water erodes 

 sediment 



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