The Definition of Perennial Streams Based on a Wet Channel Network Extracted from LiDAR Data

Abstract

This study assesses the characteristics of perennial streams using the dimensionless relationship between streamflow exceedance probability and the wet channel ratio based on a wet channel network extracted from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. LiDAR provides topographic data and signals’ intensity in high-resolution and with high accuracy to provide useful information for drainage networks and channel network extraction. In this study, a valley network and wet channel are extracted from LiDAR topographic and signals’ intensity information with a spatial resolution of 1 meter. Based on the available LiDAR data and streamflow observations from across the United States, we selected 30 watersheds with various climate conditions and analyzed the characteristics of their perennial streams. The wet channel ratio and perennial stream ratio were developed to define a perennial stream using the observed streamflow and the identified wet channel. The results of this study are consistent with previous studies on the definition of a perennial stream through transformation into a dimensionless form and confirmed the possibility of applying the wet channel ratio as an alternative parameter to define a perennial stream.