Fluvial Geology and Archaeology of the Housatonic River Valley in Northwestern Connecticut

摘要

The Housatonic River is a glacially modified high gradient New England River that downcut to its present level at least 2500 years ago. The bedrock underlying the river valley affected the glacial development of the valley, the fluvial terrace and floodplain morphology, and the gradient of the present river channel. The low gradient reaches contain level, paired terraces; the high gradient reaches contain sloped, unpaired terraces. The highest fluvial terraces have well developed soil horizons; the lower terraces and present floodplains show no soil horizon development. The relationship of flood discharge (Q) to flood recurrent interval (r.i.), and flood height to r.i. are both direct. The flood elevation varies along the river for a given r.i.