Geomorphic Controls on Historical Channel Planform Changes on the Lower Pages River,Hunter Valley,Australia

Historical planform changes in a 14.7 km reach of the lower Pages River were determined to assess whether they were autogenic (inherent in the river regime) or allogenic (driven by external changes) in nature so as to better focus river management activities and river restoration works. A pattern metamorphosis or complete change in river morphology occurred during the February 1955 flood. The peak discharge of this event exceeded the slope and grain size (intrinsic) threshold for braiding, converting the narrow, slightly sinuous stream to a wide, braided-like river. Five subsequent intrinsic threshold-exceeding floods did not cause further bar development because an over-widened channel already existed. Autogenic channel planform changes included sinuosity variations due to lateral migration and pattern metamorphosis due to the exceedance of a discharge–slope–grain size geomorphic threshold. Allogenic channel planform changes included: (1) realignment/channel straightening and artificial cutoffs by river training works; (2) lateral migration by increased bank erodibility due to riparian vegetation clearing; (3) lateral migration by the operation of a transitive geomorphic threshold involving the onset of a flood-dominated regime after 1946 and increased catchment runoff after 1830 due to large-scale clearing of catchment vegetation; and (4) the occurrence of a large flood in February 1955. Multiple forcing factors have clearly caused historical channel planform changes of the lower Pages River, making the design of river management and restoration works a complex matter outside the scope of simple formulaic protocols.     

祁连山东段庄浪河流域地貌特征及其构造指示意义

晚新生代以来,青藏高原北东向扩展,致使祁连山地区遭受了强烈的构造隆升,造就了祁连山地区复杂的构造格局和急剧变化的构造地貌,其典型水系流域地貌特征揭示了该地区的新构造活动和地貌演化过程。庄浪河流域位于祁连山东段,作为青藏高原北东向扩展的前缘地区,庄浪河流域的地貌参数对构造活动非常敏感,提取庄浪河流域的地貌信息,有助于揭示祁连山东段庄浪河流域地貌对构造活动的响应,及系统探讨该区地貌发育特征及其所蕴含的构造意义。庄浪河流域内及边缘发育有庄浪河断裂、天祝盆地南缘断裂、疙瘩沟隐伏断裂以及金强河-毛毛山-老虎山断裂。晚新生代以来,这些断裂仍在活动,并且控制着流域内的构造变形、山体隆升和河流水系地貌发育。本研究采用ALOS DEM 12.5 m数据,基于ArcGIS空间分析技术,通过高程条带剖面、河流坡降指标体系（K,SL,SL/K）和Hack剖面、面积-高程积分值（HI）和积分曲线（HC）等方法,对庄浪河流域地貌特征进行了初步分析。结果表明,庄浪河地区地形起伏由北西向南东递减,构造活动存在东西分异的规律;庄浪河流域内部K值、SL、SL/K、HI值西侧高于东侧,Hack剖面西侧相比东侧上凸更明显;H...     

In-channel geomorphic complexity: The key to the dynamics of organic matter in large dryland rivers?

Large rivers are often considered to retain less organic material than smaller streams primarily because of a decrease in retentive structures. From our observations on the Barwon–Darling River, a semi-arid river in southeastern Australia, we suggest that geomorphic complexity plays a fundamental role in the retention of organic matter. The Barwon–Darling River has a ‘complex’ river channel cross-section with large inset benches being a prominent morphological feature within the channel. The importance of geomorphic complexity for retaining organic material is likely to be significant in dryland rivers. These rivers spend extended periods at low flow with infrequent large floods that inundate the floodplain. They do, however, experience more frequent within channel floods that inundate in-channel ‘bench’ features. In-channel geomorphic complexity and its ability to retain organic material, therefore, means that although the dominant lateral movements of organic material will still occur during large overbank flows, smaller ‘pulse’ inputs will occur with each in-channel rise and fall in water level. In dryland rivers, where large overbank flows may only occur every seven or more years, these small ‘pulse’ inputs of organic material may well be vital for the integrity of the system.This paper describes the contemporary complexity of a channel in a regulated and an unregulated reach of the Barwon–Darling and compares this with cross-sections surveyed in 1886. We show that flow regulation has greatly reduced channel complexity. We estimate the potential organic matter input to each bench level within the channel (using data collected under near natural riparian conditions) and measure the contemporary organic loads within the channel of the regulated and unregulated reach. This modelling suggests that the development of water resources has reduced the complexity of the channel in the regulated reach, resulting in a potential decrease in the retention of organic matter in this region of the river. The importance of this organic matter to the aquatic food web of the Barwon–Darling River is also demonstrated.     

黄河流域河型转化现象初探

黄河以其高含沙水流以及下游河道的高沉积速率而著称于世。迄今的研究, 主要针对黄河中下游流域的 侵蚀、水文泥沙和河床演变方面的研究, 而对黄河流域主支流发生河型转化的现象关注不够。在黄河的不同河段, 河型的变化频繁, 类型多样, 现象复杂, 是研究者不可回避的科学问题。本文选取黄河上游第一弯的玛曲河段、黄河 上游末段托克托附近河段及黄河下游高村上下河段来研究河型转化的形式及影响因素。玛曲河段沿流向发生网状 河型→弯曲河型→辫状河型的转化现象, 该系列转化呈现出由极稳定河型向极不稳定河型的转化, 这与世界上通 常可以观察到的沿流向不稳定河型向稳定河型转化的情况完全相反。这主要受到地壳的抬升、上下峡谷卡口、水动 力特征、边界沉积物特征及植被的区域分布等因素的控制。托克托附近沿流向发生了弯曲河型→顺直河型转化的 现象, 这是较稳定河型向极稳定河型的转化, 主要受到边界沉积物、水动力等因素的控制。高村上下河段沿流向发 生的辫状河型→弯曲河型转化的现象, 是由极不稳定河型向较稳定河型转化的现象, 河道边界沉积物及水动力是 其主要控制因素, 人工大堤只是限制了河道摆动的最大幅度, 对河型的性质影响不大, 但其上游河段修筑的水库导 致下泻的水流在辫状河段的侵蚀能力增强而使其边界沉积物粗化, 并将泥质物大量沉积在弯曲河段, 客观上促进 了河型的转化。     

龙门山北段平通河流域地貌演化过程

龙门山位于青藏高原东缘,是青藏高原周缘山脉中陡度变化最大的山脉,也是全球气候和构造活动最为强烈的地区之一,因此成为研究构造、气候如何影响山脉地貌演化过程这一科学问题的良好素材。在位于龙门山北段的平通河流域,汶川地震导致该区强烈的隆升、剥蚀作用,对研究该区地貌演化过程具有重要的启示意义。通过对平通河流域基于DEM数据的地形坡度、水系分布、河流发育程度等的分析,并综合研究区构造特征和岩性特征,获得该流域不同区域的地貌演化方向,其中两个区域的地貌演化最为剧烈:1.平通河流域位于北川-映秀断裂和彭灌断裂之间的地区,未来将发生较快的隆升,地貌向高、陡的方向演化,河流下切作用使河谷两岸形成更加陡峭的地形;2.在北川-映秀断裂上盘附近地区,在构造和气候作用下侵蚀、搬运作用强烈,山体将被快速剥蚀削低,但在河谷两岸也会形成更加陡峭的地形。     

Physical and Human Factors Influencing Potential Fish Habitat Distribution along a Mountain River, France

Potential fish habitat along the Drôme River, France, is a function of the distribution of large woody debris, boulders, undercut banks, gravel substrate, and pools. The distribution of these features is, in turn, a function of channel geomorphology, watershed and riparian forest characteristics. We conducted field work and analysed aerial photographs for 190 elementary segments of 500 m length along the Drôme River's 95 km course from the Alps westward to its confluence with the Rhône River near Loriol. The Drôme River does not follow the classic pattern of a monotone downstream decrease in gradient and change in channel characteristics. Although channel gradient, braided index and channel incision all decrease downstream, stream power is independent of longitudinal distance. These variables are largely controlled by geomorphic, human or hydrologic factors at the reach scale. Potential fish habitat richness decreases downstream, but individual habitat variables affecting habitat richness do not necessarily decrease downstream, many being controlled by local factors rather than by position along the continuum. Large woody debris is more abundant in braided reaches located directly downstream of confluences with main tributaries or downstream input sites. Boulders are most abundant downstream of failed bank protection works or in gorges. To improve fish habitat in the Drôme River, we recommend taking a long-term and large-scale perspective. Because structures placed in this unstable channel are likely to be washed downstream, we propose to emulate natural river dynamics and to permit large woody debris to enter the channel in unstable reaches via bank erosion, and that this debris not be removed (as is routinely done now) but permitted to migrate downstream through the system, creating fish habitat en route.     

黄河三角洲多尺度土壤盐分的空间分异

本文利用多尺度采样数据,探索了两个深度土壤盐分的空间分异,分析了不同尺度、深度土壤盐分的变异系数和空间相关性(结构方差与基台值之比)的变化,揭示了形成这种空间变异的地貌因素,最后利用普通克立格(ordinary kriging)方法对土壤盐分的分布进行了估测。分析发现,研究区土壤盐分的空间变异具有三个尺度。随着采样间隔的增加和区域的扩大,盐分分布空间相关性增强,且下层比上层具有更高的空间相关性。地貌因素(微地貌类型、坡度和高程)均具有较高的空间相关性,当与地貌因素关系密切时,该尺度及深度的土壤盐分空间相关性就大;反之,则小,这时可能主要受具有较小空间相关性其他因子的影响(如人为活动)。最后对合理的土壤采样提出了建议。     

A SUSPENDED SEDIMENT BUDGET OF THE YICHANG-WUHAN REACH OF THE YANGTZE RIVER, CHINA

The amount of the sediment deposition in the Yichan-Wuhan reach of the middle Yangtze River (also known as Changjiang River) has been determined using the concept of sediment budget at the channel-reach scale. The fill-scour processes of the middle Yangtze River were studied during the period 1956–1997 in response to the variation in sediment load and flow inputs. The results show that 13.3% of the net input of sediment was deposited in the studied river reach. Since 1956, the output sediment load of the studied reach increased with time to 1981, followed by a decline. The increase in output before 1981 can be related to the man-made bend neck-cutoff which caused a decrease in the sediment load diverted through the 'three outfalls' (i.e. the three distributaries from the Yangtze main stem to the Dongting Lake) and increased the sediment-carrying capacity of the river. Thereby, the river could transport more sediment to the outlet of the studied river reach. The decrease in the sediment load output after 1984 was directly due to the decreased sediment load at Yichang station. Multiple regression equations have been established to assess the contributions of influencing factors to the variation in sediment deposition amount in the studied river reach.     

长江宜昌-武汉河段泥沙年冲淤量对水沙变化的响应

运用泥沙收支平衡 (Sediment budget) 的概念确定长江中游宜昌-武汉河段的泥沙冲淤量,并运用数理统计方法,研究了泥沙冲淤过程对水沙变化的响应。研究表明,所研究河段的输沙具有“多来多排”的特性,在平均的意义上,年输入沙量为年输出沙量的1.1345倍,由此求得总净来沙中有11.85%淤积在河道中。河段出口输出沙量随时间而增大,大致在1980年达到峰值,然后再减小。1980年以前河段出口输出沙量的增大,与3口分沙减少 (等价于河段净来沙增多) 和下荆江人工裁弯 (使河道输沙能力增大,因而可以将更多的泥沙输送到河段出口以下) 有关,1980年以后的减少,则与宜昌站来沙量的显著减少有关。建立了1980~1997年间宜昌-汉口#河段年冲淤量与宜昌站年来沙量之间的回归方程,通过该方程估算出使宜昌-汉口河段不淤的宜昌站临界来沙量为3亿t/a。为了定量评价宜昌站的来水量和来沙量以及3口分水比和分沙比、宜昌站洪峰流量的变化对于河段冲淤量的相对贡献,我们以1980~1997年和1955~1997年两个时间系列的数据分别建立了多元回归方程。1980~1997年间的方程表明,宜昌站的来水量和来沙量以及3口分水比和分沙比、宜昌站洪峰流量的变化对宜昌-汉口河段年冲淤量的贡献率分别为6.23%、31.56%、25.77%、32.71%和3.73%。     

黄河下游河道断面形态参数变化及其水沙过程响应

基于1965—2015年黄河下游花园口、高村、泺口站的逐年水文和汛前河道断面的实测资料,分析了河道断面形态参数（河道断面面积,河道宽深比等）的变化,以及对河道断面形态与来水来沙间的关系做出定量化分析。结果表明：主槽断面形态参数与水沙搭配以及前期断面形态密切相关,沿程3个断面形态参数调整方式存在显著差异。河宽调整幅度沿程减小,辫状河段变幅最大,尤其在1986—1999年,辫状河段萎缩程度最为严重,其次为弯曲河段,顺直河段横向调整幅度最小。受到前期断面形态的影响,辫状河段河道断面调整方式既有横向展宽（萎缩）又有垂直加深（淤积）;弯曲河段河道宽深比与流量呈较弱的正相关关系,具有横向和垂向的调整方式;而顺直河段的宽深比与流量呈负相关关系,与来沙系数呈正相关关系,河道以垂直加深（淤积）为主。     

The braided Milk River, northern Montana, fails the Leopold–Wolman discharge-gradient test

The Milk River, the northernmost tributary to the Missouri–Mississippi River system, exhibits an anomalous sand-bed braiding reach in an otherwise meandering system. Shortly after leaving Alberta and entering Montana the river suddenly changes to braiding and maintains this pattern for 47 km before entering Fresno Reservoir. Measured stream gradient and bankfull discharge in the braiding reach severely fail the Leopold and Wolman [U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 282B (1957) 39] slope–discharge test for differentiating channel patterns. While channel slope has long been regarded as one of the primary variables associated with braiding, our data from the sand-bed Milk River do not support this relationship. Instead, the data show that the braiding reach has a lower channel slope (0.00047) than the meandering reach (0.00055). Coupled with a constant discharge the unit length stream power is comparable between the two reaches. At the morphologic transition between meandering and braiding, a dramatic reduction in channel bank strength occurs where the sampled silt–clay content declines from 65% in the meandering reach to 18% in the braiding. This enables channel widening which is reflected in a 60% reduction in unit area stream power in the braiding reach. Thus, sediment transport capacity declines and channel bars are deposited. During waning flows, these bars are dissected, producing a braiding morphology. We suggest that for sand-bed braiding rivers the silt–clay percentage in the channel banks may be more important than slope. A review of the original Leopold and Wolman [U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 282B (1957) 39] dataset, and many subsequent analyses, reveals that most braided rivers studied were gravel-bed. As a result, causal variables associated with braiding in sand-bed environments may need a thorough evaluation.     

金沙江奔子栏-达日河段大型泥石流堆积扇的成因机制

金沙江上游奔子栏-达日河段属横断山区的干热河谷地带,河谷沿岸大型古泥石流堆积扇广泛发育,其成因却一直没有得到很好的研究.对该区瓦卡大型古泥石流堆积物进行了沉积结构、粒度、地球化学和孢粉等分析,揭示了泥石流的沉积环境及其形成过程.通过粗颗粒石英的光释光单片再生法(SAR)测年研究,获得金沙江上游奔子栏-达日河段古泥石流大规模暴发的年代为12 600～4 500 a BP.丰富的风化碎屑物源、陡峻的地形及雨季降水集中是该区古泥石流形成的主要原因.全新世早期青藏高原东南缘受西南季风加强的影响,气候趋于暖湿,季节性暴雨增加.金沙江上游干热河谷区大型泥石流堆积扇的发育年代暗示其是全新世早期西南季风加强作用下的地貌响应.从地质灾害防治的角度,由于现代气候因素导致泥石流灾害的频度和规模较小,预防该区地质灾害的重点应是防止人工砍伐树木和不合理的人工切坡导致对地表环境的破坏加剧.     

黄河冲积扇发育研究述评

黄河冲积扇是第四纪以来多期沉积建造的冲积扇复合体,它既是来自黄土高原的泥沙强烈堆积的地貌单元,又是历代河流决口改道的地区,也是华夏文明的发源地。在回顾了黄河冲积扇发育的研究历史的基础上,详细介绍了黄河冲积扇的形成时代、地貌类型与沉积速率,形成过程与特点等方向的研究进展,系统地论述了河道变迁、地质构造、气候变化以及人类活动等因素对黄河冲积扇形成的影响作用。并指出目前黄河冲积扇的发育研究中还存在着研究深度不够和时空的广度不完整等问题。史前黄河冲积扇的发育研究将成为今后研究中的难点。     

Anabranching in mixed bedrock-alluvial rivers: the example of the Orange River above Augrabies Falls, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Anabranching is characteristic of a number of rivers in diverse environmental settings worldwide, but has only infrequently been described from bedrock-influenced rivers. A prime example of a mixed bedrock-alluvial anabranching river is provided by a 150-km long reach of the Orange River above Augrabies Falls, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Here, the perennial Orange flows through arid terrain consisting mainly of Precambrian granites and gneisses, and the river has preferentially eroded bedrock joints, fractures and foliations to form multiple channels which divide around numerous, large (up to 15 km long and 2 km wide), stable islands formed of alluvium and/or bedrock. Significant local variations in channel-bed gradient occur along the river, which strongly control anabranching style through an influence on local sediment budgets. In relatively long (>10 km), lower gradient reaches (<0.0013) within the anabranching reach, sediment supply exceeds local transport capacity, bedrock usually only crops out in channel beds, and channels divide around alluvial islands which are formed by accretion in the lee of bedrock outcrop or at the junction with ephemeral tributaries. Riparian vegetation probably plays a key role in the survival and growth of these islands by increasing flow roughness, inducing deposition, and stabilising the sediments. Less commonly, channels may form by eroding into once-continuous island or floodplain surfaces. In shorter (<10 km), higher gradient reaches (>0.0013) within the anabranching reach, local transport capacity exceeds sediment supply, bedrock crops out extensively, and channels flow over an irregular bedrock pavement or divide around rocky islands. Channel incision into bedrock probably occurs mainly by abrasion, with the general absence of boulder bedforms suggesting that hydraulic plucking is relatively unimportant in this setting. Mixed bedrock-alluvial anabranching also occurs in a number of other rivers worldwide, and appears to be a stable and often long-lived river pattern adjusted to a number of factors commonly acting in combination: (1) jointed/fractured granitoid rock outcrop; (2) erosion-resistant banks and islands; (3) locally variable channel-bed gradients; (4) variable flow regimes.     

金沙江金江街段河流阶地年代及对河谷水系演化历史的启示

100多年来,关于金沙江独特水系格局的形成历史一直是地学界争论的重要话题之一。多数学者认为,现代金沙江水系是古长江袭夺古红河上游发展过来的。红河海底扇5.5 Ma泥沙供给中断被认为与这一袭夺事件有关。然而,长期以来人们一直没有找到与这一时代相匹配的地貌证据。最近在金沙江金江街段找到了多达8级的河流阶地序列,ESR测年结果显示这些阶地的形成年代为1.07 Ma、0.70 Ma、0.65 Ma、0.51 Ma、0.47 Ma、0.44 Ma、0.30 Ma和0.18 Ma,结合GPS高程测量数据,推算最近1.0 Ma以来的河谷平均下切速率为147 mm/ka。以填充河谷地形为主要手段的古地形恢复结果（基于DEM数据）显示,古长江袭夺古红河上游形成现代金沙江水系发生在这一区域内海拔2000 m左右的古地形面解体之后,依照河谷平均下切速率外推,古地形面解体时代为5.5 Ma,即现代金沙江水系形成于5.5 Ma之后。我们的研究结果与红河海底扇的资料形成一个相互呼应的证据链,为重建现代金沙江水系格局形成历史提供重要依据。     

河流地貌系统的过程响应模型实验

本文讨论了河流地貌系统的过程响应模型的基本原理、设计步骤、模型砂料配制以及实验数据的系统分析,并给出了设计实例和某些分析成果。     

Fluvial processes of the downstream reaches of the reservoirs in the Lower Yellow River

Evolution of the river channel downstream of reservoirs is a complex process that is closely related to the operational mode of the reservoirs and the channel boundary conditions. Numerous studies have been carried out on the fluvial processes of downstream reservoirs. However, only a few of them have focused on the relationship between runoff-sediment conditions and channel pattern indicators. Also, the impacts of river training works on fluvial processes are seldom dealt with. In this paper, the evolutionary processes of three sections in the Lower Yellow River, including Tiexie-Yiluo River mouth reach, Huayuankou-Heigangkou reach and Jiahetan-Gaocun reach, were analyzed for variations in the channel boundary line and the mainstream between 1960 and 2015. Channel pattern indicators such as sinuosity, mainstream wandering range and width/depth ratio were analyzed based on field measurements obtained by the Hydrological Department of the Yellow River Conservancy Commission. The effects of river training works on the channel evolution are then described. Since 1960, numerous medium- and large-sized reservoirs have been built on the Yellow River, including Longyangxia Reservoir, Liujiaxia Reservoir and Xiaolangdi Reservoir. These reservoirs impound the runoff from upstream and retain the sediment, which changes the runoff and sediment conditions in the downstream reach. As a consequence, annual runoff and the frequency and peak of flooding have all decreased. As a result, the flow dynamics and their action on the river channel are also reduced, which changes the dynamic state of the river course. The discrimination results obtained using the single parameter discrimination rule and the discrimination equation show that the degree of wandering is weakened in the reaches studied. The variations in the channel pattern indicators show that the sinuosity increases and the wandering range decreases with a reduction in the total annual volume of water. However, the degree of wandering has little relationship to the sediment concentration. In addition, river training works play an important role in controlling the river course. Due to improvements in the river training works, the river course has become more stable under the same runoff and sediment conditions. A new discrimination rule that takes into account the impacts of the river training works is proposed. The discrimination results were found to fit well with the actual river pattern, which shows that the discrimination rule is applicable to the Lower Yellow River. The results show that the runoff and sediment conditions are the most important factors in the evolution of the river course. The river training works have at the same time limited the wandering range of the mainstream and played an important role in the fluvial processes. Both factors combined lead to the stabilization of the river.     

Geomorphological Evolution of the Navua River,Fiji

The Navua River on the main island of Fiji displays anomalous drainage features and associated fluvial forms. The River course makes a right-angled bend approximately halfway along its course, beyond which it flows through a narrow gorge cut into hard volcanic rocks. Several tributaries enter the gorge as high cascades from hanging valleys. It is proposed that the former course of the palaeo-Navua River flowed east in a straight line along the modern Waidina River, and eventually discharged into Fiji's Rewa River system. Evidence for this is the presence of a spectacular dry gorge (a wind gap) at the head of the Waidina River. Previous ideas of river capture fail to explain the evolution of the local fluvial geomorphology. Instead, tectonic uplift probably dammed the palaeo-Navua and diverted it to its present short course to the sea. This new hypothesis provides a more plausible, simultaneous account for all the major fluvial geomorphic features, their geographical distribution and their relationship with geology in the Navua region.     

气候变化影响下藏东南帕隆藏布流域高山区泥石流的地貌效应

高海拔或高纬度山区（尤其高山冰川及冻土急剧消退区）常孕育适宜泥石流发育的地形和物源条件。气候变化（如升温、强降雨事件增多等）影响下,高山区潜在孕灾环境更易于成灾,泥石流成为主要的灾害类型和物质输移方式,也是高山区地貌变化的重要驱动力。由于野外监测困难,数据资料匮乏,鲜有针对高山区泥石流过程地貌效应的分析报道。以中国藏东南高山区泥石流多发的帕隆藏布流域为研究区,以古乡沟、天摩沟和扎木弄沟为典型小流域,结合遥感影像、DEM数据、无人机航拍、高精度RTK测量和野外踏勘调查,分析泥石流沟道地貌发育特征（冲淤变化、平面摆动）及其对主河河流地貌的影响,并探讨大规模泥石流事件影响下河谷地貌的长期演变趋势。高山区泥石流过程强烈塑造沟道自身地貌,上游物源区深切展宽和溯源蚀退,沟口堆积扇冲淤变化受控于泥石流事件规模和水流强度。泥石流过程显著影响主河道河流地貌,造成主河道横向冲淤和摆动,并影响堰塞体上游河段平面形态发育。长时间尺度上,河谷地貌在平面上发育形成宽窄相间的藕节状而在纵剖面上形成台阶状形态。     

Relationships between mesoscale morphological units, stream hydraulics and Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) spawning habitat on the Lower Yuba River, California

An expert-based approach was used to identify 10 morphological unit types within a reach of the gravel bed, regulated Yuba River, California, that is heavily utilized by spawning Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Analysis of these units was carried out using two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling, field-based geomorphic assessment, and detailed spawning surveying. Differently classified morphological units tended to exhibit discrete hydraulic signatures. In most cases, the Froude number adequately differentiated morphological units, but joint depth–velocity distributions proved the most effective hydraulic classification approach. Spawning activity was statistically differentiated at the mesoscale of the morphological unit. Salmon preferred lateral bar, riffle, and riffle entrance units. These units had moderately high velocity (unit median > 0.45 m s^− 1) and low depth (unit median < 0.6 m), but each exhibited a unique joint depth–velocity distribution. A large proportion of redds (79%) were associated with conditions of convective flow acceleration at riffle and riffle entrance locations. In addition to reflecting microhabitat requirements of fish, it was proposed that the hydraulic segregation of preferred from avoided or tolerated morphological units was linked to the mutual association of specific hydraulic conditions with suitable caliber sediment that promotes the provision and maintenance of spawning habitat.