Stream Valleys

A stream valley is an elongated depression in the ground with water flowing at the lowest point.

Running water helps move particles from their original location to new areas, leading to erosion and the creation of stream valleys.

A floodplain is the wide and level bottom of a stream valley.

Floodplains designate the areas where the water will fill if the stream floods.

Stream valleys can vary by the depth of the valley, the slope of the sides, and the size of the floodplain.

Erosion is the movement of broken-down rock or soil from one place to another.

Running water of a stream helps move particles, contributing to erosion.

Running water has the ability to drastically change the landscape around it.

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The three stages of the aging process of a stream valley are youth, maturity, and old age.

A stream valley in the youth stage is often V-shaped, with steep sides, and does not have an established floodplain yet. It is characterized by vigorous and energetic water flow, interrupted stream flow due to boulders, rapids, and waterfalls.

During the maturity stage, the stream erodes the valley and removes the boulders, rapids, and waterfalls. The valley becomes wider and more U-shaped. The water flow becomes more gentle and slower. A floodplain develops.

A stream valley in the old age stage has a very low flow gradient and a floodplain with extremely broad and gently sloping hills. The stream flows in a wide formation over the floodplain.

Erosion is the movement of broken-down rock or soil from one place to another.

Water plays a powerful role in shaping the land around us by eroding stream valleys and creating changes in land formation.

A floodplain is the wide and level bottom of a stream valley where water can escape if the stream becomes flooded.

Stream valleys in the old age stage lack physical barriers to direct water flow and carry a large amount of sediment, making them more susceptible to floods.

A stream valley in the maturity stage has a less steep gradient, slower flowing water, outward erosion, and the formation of a U-shaped valley. It also develops a floodplain.

To determine the stage of the aging process of a stream valley, observe the shape of the valley, the flow of the water, and the presence of barriers or floodplains.