With the increase in urbanization throughout the United States, many waterways are being modified to fit into human landscapes. Knode Creek, a tributary of Salt Creek that eventually flows into Lake Michigan, was channelized and straightened to create room for a retail development in the early 2000’s. Its watershed, located in Valparaiso, Indiana, is highly urbanized and leads to increased runoff rates during precipitation events. The aim of this longitudinal study is to monitor current stream conditions and determine if Knode Creek is incising into the surrounding landscape. Refined cross sectional stream profiles were generated using more accurate GNSS receiver data than last year, and sediment was collected at surface and subsurface levels. Future analysis will be conducted to determine if this data shows signs of incision of the stream in areas owned by Valparaiso University. The results will then provide more evidence that can be presented as part of an argument to restore parts of Knode Creek owned by the university.
Continued Monitoring of Erosional Effects of a Channelized Stream