A reconnaissance level approach for mapping channel-bank conditions has been described by Bhowmik et al. (1997),  Bhowmik et al. (2001), and Robinson (2003). This methodology is based upon qualitative observations of bank characteristics, including bank angle, bank height, bank material, vegetation conditions, and signs of bank erosion and/or sediment deposition, along a number of channel reaches within a given stream system. A comparison of results to general channel-bank characteristics allows each reach to be assigned one of six bank-condition categories. A table illustrating results from selected reaches on the Kankakee River and  White River follows:

Bhowmik, N.G., Soong, D.T.W., and Nakato, T. 1997. Bank Erosion Field Survey Report on the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway. Interim Report for the Upper Mississippi River-Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-St. Paul, Rock Island, and St. Louis Districts.

Bhowmik, N.G., Demissie, M., Soong, D.T.W., Bauer, E., Bogner, W.C., and Slowikowski, J. 2001. Bank Erosion Survey of the Main Stem of the Kankakee River in Illinois and Indiana. Illinois State Water Survey Contract Report 2001-01.

Robinson, B. 2003. Channel-Bank Conditions and Accumulations of Large Woody Debris along White River between Anderson and Indianapolis, Indiana 2002. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-186. Online at http://in.water.usgs.gov/newreports/bankerosion/

*Frankenberger, J., and Esman, L. 2012. Monitoring Water in Indiana:  Choices for Nonpoint Source and Other Watershed Projects. Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, Indiana. 140p. Online at https://engineering.purdue.edu/watersheds/monitoring/MonitoringWaterinIndiana.2012.1.pdf

*Note: All information and images included in this section are courtesy of Frankenberger and Esman, 2012. For more information, visit the link provided above.