Mainstem (hydrology)

A mainstem is defined as the principal river within a given drainage basin, in the case where a number of tributaries discharge into a larger watercourse. Viewed in terms of the Strahler Stream Order system, the mainstem would be the highest order stream amongst the streams in a given drainage basin. The United States National Weather Service considers the mainstem as the principal object of flood forecasting. [ [http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/wfo_hydro.php National Weather Service] ] In detailed analyses of riverine hydrology, "mainstem" also refers to precise channel mapping of the principal drainage; for example, in a braided channel or system with anabranch elements the mainstem is designated as the principal braid or channel within the overall river. [ [http://water.usgs.gov/GIS/metadata/usgswrd/XML/hydmain_hum.xml United States Geological Survey mainstem characterization of the Humboldt River and other drainage basins] ]

ee also

*Anabranch

Line notes

General bibliographic references

*Cushing, Colbert E., Benke, Arthur C., "Rivers of North America"