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Flashiness

By Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Animation of a flashy concrete channel side-by-side with a natural, less flashy stream.
Original

Detailed Description

A stream's flashiness is determined by how quickly water levels peak after a rain event, and how quickly water levels fall after the peak. The figure above shows and urban canal (left) that is very flashy, compared to a less flashy natural stream (right).

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.