Channel Regulation Monitoring along the Lower Meric River, Turkey, UsingLandsat-7Enhanced Thematic Mapper Data

Abstract

Abstract River channelization is a widespread practice including river bed regulation worldwide. A primary goal of channelization is to rehabilitate the floodplain of rivers, modifying the energy regime and sediment transport capacity. This paper presents an application of this process carried out in the floodplain of the Lower Meric River, Turkey. The application was performed by constructing a new channel in two regions along the river in the 1970s. Thus, the river was straightened, isolating its meanders to reduce the floods. These channel regulations are summarized in the paper by using satellite data and historical maps. The Landsat-7 enhanced thematic mapper (2001) image is the base data for interpretation of the present condition of the river channel, and the historical geomorphologic maps are used for the detection of the river bed prior to channelization.