Chapter 3. Fluvial Geomorphology Literature Review
for Ordinary High Water Mark Indicators
in the Arid Southwest
JOHN J. FIELD
3.1
INTRODUCTION
The extent of riverine waters in temperate regions of the United States has
generally been taken as those areas that are below the Ordinary High Water Mark
(OHWM). How successfully these morphological features can be applied to
rivers in the arid Southwest is unclear. To address uncertainties in delineating the
OHWM along rivers in the Southwest, a fuller understanding of fluvial processes
and forms that develop in arid climates is necessary. This chapter provides a
literature review of fluvial geomorphology research in arid regions of the world
with the purpose of:
Outlining the dominant stream types and processes found in arid regions;
Comparing arid-region fluvial processes and forms with humid-region
counterparts;
Identifying morphological features that might prove useful for
delineating the OHWM in arid regions; and
Revealing potential problems that may arise when attempting to
delineate the OHWM in arid regions.
Five major stream system types are found in desert regions:
Discontinuous ephemeral streams;
Compound channels;
Alluvial fans;
Anastomosing rivers; and
Single-thread channels with adjacent floodplains.
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