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River Geometry, Bank Erosion, and Sand Barswithin the Main Stem of the Kankakee River in Illinois and Indiana River Geometry, Bank Erosion, and Sand Bars
within the Main Stem of the Kankakee River
in Illinois and Indiana
by
Principal Investigators
Nani G. Bhowmik and Misganaw Demissie
Prepared for the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Realty and Environmental Planning
June 2001
Contract Report 2001-09
Illinois State Water Survey
Watershed Science Section
Champaign, Illinois
A Division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources i
River Geometry, Bank Erosion, and Sand Bars
within the Main Stem of the Kankakee River
in Illinois and Indiana
Contract Report
Prepared by:
Illinois State Water Survey
Watershed Science Section
2204 Griffith Drive
Champaign, Illinois 61820-7495
Principal Investigators:
Nani G. Bhowmik, P.E., Ph.D
Principal Scientist
Watershed Science Section
and
Misganaw Demissie, P.E., Ph.D.
Principal Scientist
Watershed Science Section
Contributors:
River Erosion-and-Sand-Barswithin-the-Main-Stem-of-the-/' class='doin' >Cross-Section Surveying: William C. Bogner and Erin Bauer
Bank Erosion Mapping: David Soong, Jim Slowikowski, and William Bogner
Bank Erosion Map Production: Erin Bauer
Stream Flow Analyses: Vern Knapp and Mike Myers
River Geometry and Sand Bar Analyses: Paminder Parmar and Susan Shaw
Compilation of Data: Paminder Parmar
Report Prepared for the:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Realty and Environmental Planning
Conservation 2000 Ecosystem Project ii
This report was printed on recycled and recyclable papers. iii
River Geometry, Bank Erosion, and Sand Bars
within the Main Stem of the Kankakee River in Illinois and Indiana
Nani G. Bhowmik and Mike Demissie
Principal Scientists
Watershed Science Section
Abstract
This is the third and final report on the Kankakee River in Illinois supported by the Conser-
vation 2000 Program of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. For this project, the
Illinois State Water Survey mapped the bank erosion of the main stem of the Kankakee River
from the Route 30 bridge in Indiana to the mouth of the Kankakee River with the Illinois River
near Wilmington, collected about 100 bed and bank material samples, resurveyed all the previ-
ously surveyed river cross sections, surveyed four sand bars, and analyzed all historical and new
data.
This research has shown that of 223.6 river bank miles (includes both sides of the river),
about 10.4 river bank miles have severe erosion, 39.4 river bank miles have moderate erosion,
70.8 river bank miles have minor erosion, and the remainder are either protected or stabilized or
data are not available. The median diameter of the bed materials varied from 0.27 millimeters
(mm) to 0.52 mm. The median diameter of bank materials varied from 0.07 mm to 0.41 mm.
Analyses of the long-term flows from six gaging stations in Illinois showed an increasing trend in
flows through the 1960s with no discernible increase since that time.
Cross-sectional analyses of the river from the Kankakee Dam to the State Line Bridge did
show some trends. The river reach from the Kankakee Dam to Aroma Park called Six- Mile Pool
has lost 13.4 percent of its capacity due to sediment deposition since 1980. Similarly, Momence
Wetland also has lost about 10.2 percent of its capacity since 1980. The section of the river
between Aroma Park and Singleton Ditch showed both scour and sediment deposition. In general
areas close to Aroma Park exhibited sediment deposition and the middle reach experienced scour.
The recurring sand bar at the State Line Bridge area contains about 8,500 cubic yards of addi-
tional sediment in 1999 than were measured in 1980. The volumetric measurement of three
additional sand bars showed some changes since 1980. The river is accumulating sediments
within Six-Mile Pool and Momence Wetland. The middle reach is in semi-equilibrium with some
sediment accumulation at several areas. Several management alternatives, both in-channel and
watershed-based also are included to assist in the reduction of sedimentation problems of the
Kankakee River.
Keywords: Kankakee River, Sedimentation, Bank Erosion, River Geometry, Bed Materials,
Hydraulics, Geomorphology iv
Table of Contents
Page
Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Related Research ............................................................................................................................ 2
Objectives and Scope ...................................................................................................................... 3
Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. 3
Previously Collected and Available Data............................................................................... 3
Reports Completed for the Present Project ..................................................................................... 4
Streamflows ........................................................................................................................... 5
Bank Erosion ....................................................................................................................... 10
Bed and Bank Materials ............................................................................................................... 14
River Geometry ............................................................................................................................ 19
Historical Data ..................................................................................................................... 19
1959 Data ................................................................................................................. 19
1966 Data ................................................................................................................. 19
1968 Data ................................................................................................................. 19
1977 Data ................................................................................................................. 19
1978 Data ................................................................................................................. 19
1980 Data ................................................................................................................. 22
1994 Data ................................................................................................................. 22
New Data ............................................................................................................................. 22
1999 Data ................................................................................................................. 22
River Cross Sections .................................................................................... 22
Sand Bars ..................................................................................................... 22
Analyses of the River Geometry and Sand Bar Data .................................................................... 25
River Geometry ................................................................................................................... 27
Six-Mile Pool........................................................................................................... 27
Aroma Park to Singleton Ditch ............................................................................... 34
Momence Wetland ................................................................................................... 42
Rate of Capacity Loss: Kankakee Dam to State Line Bridge .................................. 49
Sand Bars ............................................................................................................................. 52
Sand Bars 3 and 4 .................................................................................................... 52
Sand Bar 2 ............................................................................................................... 54
State Line Bridge Sand Bar ..................................................................................... 54
Suggested Management Alternatives ............................................................................................ 59 v
Page
In-Channel Alternatives ....................................................................................................... 60
Bank Erosion ........................................................................................................... 60
Sediment Load ......................................................................................................... 60
Watershed-Based Alternatives ............................................................................................. 61
Summary ............