Student Research Reports
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Assessing Bank Erosion Affected by Bridges on Goldstream and O'Connor Creek, Alaska
Organization(s):Department of Natural Resources and Environment
Country:United States of America
Student(s):1
Grade Level:Undergraduate
GLOBE Educator(s):Christina Buffington
Contributors:Alaska Department of Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, International Arctic Research Center, Arctic and Earth STEM Integrating GLOBE and NASA project, Fresh Eyes on Ice project
Report Type(s):Standard Research Report
Protocols:Land Cover Classification, Water Transparency
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:12/02/2023
Goldstream Creek and O’Connor Creek are home to lots of wildlife as well as serving an amazing recreation area full of multi-use trails. There are several bridges that cross over these streams, which lead to the question of; how do these bridges impact stream morphology? This observational study looks at the erosion around these bridges using the Bank Erosion Hazard Index and GLOBE protocols. There were two bridges selected for these measurements: a bridge on Ballaine road that goes over Goldstream Creek and a bridge on Goldstream road that goes over O’Connor Creek. Measurements were taken at both of these sites three times and then compared to pre-existing data as possible. Most of the data came out to be inconclusive, aside from that we know there is erosion present at both of these bridges, above and below the stream. In the future it would be great to get research on what is causing the erosion and take more measurements using the Bank Erosion Hazard Index further up and downstream.