Wabash River Sand Bars

1. Wabash River Sand BarsWabash River Sand Bars
By: Kelly ClemBy: Kelly Clem
Inquiry Project #1Inquiry Project #1
September 22, 2009September 22, 2009

2. My ExperienceMy Experience
My fiancé, Cody, and I went boating on My fiancé, Cody, and I went boating on
the Wabash River this summer. We put the Wabash River this summer. We put
the boat in at New Harmony, IN, motored the boat in at New Harmony, IN, motored
around for a while, then anchored at a around for a while, then anchored at a
section of sand in the river. We walked section of sand in the river. We walked
around on the sand and picked up shells. around on the sand and picked up shells.
After a while, we got back in the boat to do After a while, we got back in the boat to do
some more riding. This stop on the sand some more riding. This stop on the sand
sparked some questions in me.sparked some questions in me.

3. QuestionsQuestions
Why was there a sand bar in the river?Why was there a sand bar in the river?
How did the sand bar get there?How did the sand bar get there?
Is the sand bar always visible?Is the sand bar always visible?
Do other rivers have sand bars?Do other rivers have sand bars?

4. Link to IndicatorsLink to Indicators
4.3.5 Describe how waves, wind, water, 4.3.5 Describe how waves, wind, water,
and glacial ice shape and reshape the and glacial ice shape and reshape the
Earth’s land surface by erosion of rock Earth’s land surface by erosion of rock
and soil in some areas and depositing and soil in some areas and depositing
them in other areas.them in other areas.
4.1.1 Observe and describe that scientific 4.1.1 Observe and describe that scientific
investigations generally work the same investigations generally work the same
way in different places. way in different places.

5. Why was there a sand bar in the Why was there a sand bar in the
river?river?
I researched sandbars, sometimes called I researched sandbars, sometimes called
shoals, and found out that sand bars form shoals, and found out that sand bars form
in long patterns in rivers from deposited in long patterns in rivers from deposited
sand.sand.

6. ““The size of the particles comprising a bar is The size of the particles comprising a bar is
related to the size of the waves or the strength of related to the size of the waves or the strength of
the currents moving the material, but the the currents moving the material, but the
availability of material to be worked by waves availability of material to be worked by waves
and currents is also important.” and currents is also important.”
(2003). Encyclopedia-Sandbar. (2003). Encyclopedia-Sandbar.
NationMaster.com. NationMaster.com. Retrieved September 20, Retrieved September 20,
2009. From 2009. From
http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Sandbhttp://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Sandb
arar

7. How did the Sand Bar get there?How did the Sand Bar get there?
The text book, The text book, Applied Aquatic Ecosystem ConceptsApplied Aquatic Ecosystem Concepts, discusses , discusses
this concept well:this concept well:
“ “Flow through meander causes predictable erosion and Flow through meander causes predictable erosion and
deposition patterns. Maximum velocity and greatest erosion deposition patterns. Maximum velocity and greatest erosion
occurs on the outer side of each bend, creating a deep hole, or occurs on the outer side of each bend, creating a deep hole, or
thalweg. As water flows around a bend, the water level is thalweg. As water flows around a bend, the water level is
raised at the outside of the bend and causes a helical flow of raised at the outside of the bend and causes a helical flow of
water towards the opposite bank. A back eddy results and water towards the opposite bank. A back eddy results and
deposits sediments eroded from the bed and bank receiving deposits sediments eroded from the bed and bank receiving
high water velocities. This explains why point bars develop in high water velocities. This explains why point bars develop in
depositional zones in a downstream direction.”depositional zones in a downstream direction.”
Mackie, G. (2004). Mackie, G. (2004). Applied Aquatic Ecosystem ConceptsApplied Aquatic Ecosystem Concepts. .
Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing.Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing.

9. Is the Sand Bar always visible?Is the Sand Bar always visible?
A website about Peacock Bass features a quotation A website about Peacock Bass features a quotation
from Spence Petros that says the following about from Spence Petros that says the following about
sandbars, “These ever-changing, dynamic structures sandbars, “These ever-changing, dynamic structures
are formed by flowing rivers and are revealed during are formed by flowing rivers and are revealed during
low water conditions.” This implies that during high low water conditions.” This implies that during high
water conditions, a sandbar might not be visible.water conditions, a sandbar might not be visible.
Hollan, T. (2003). Prime Patterns for Peacock Bass. Hollan, T. (2003). Prime Patterns for Peacock Bass.
Peacock Bass online. Peacock Bass online. Retrieved September 20, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
From From
http://www.peacockbassonline.com/prime_patterns.hthttp://www.peacockbassonline.com/prime_patterns.ht
mlml

10. Do other rivers have Sand Bars?Do other rivers have Sand Bars?
Yes, after skimming through several websites Yes, after skimming through several websites
that talked about various aspects of sand bars, I that talked about various aspects of sand bars, I
learned that a great deal of rivers have sand learned that a great deal of rivers have sand
bars. Two very common examples are the bars. Two very common examples are the
Colorado and Missouri Rivers. Colorado and Missouri Rivers.
I also asked this question to my fiancé and his I also asked this question to my fiancé and his
dad, since they are both avid fishermen of dad, since they are both avid fishermen of
several rivers in the area. They agreed that the several rivers in the area. They agreed that the
majority of rivers do in fact have sandbars. majority of rivers do in fact have sandbars.

11. Classroom Application IdeasClassroom Application Ideas
If I teach in a school near a river, this could be a good If I teach in a school near a river, this could be a good
assignment for students to use their local funds of assignment for students to use their local funds of
knowledge to extend this activity to reach any way that knowledge to extend this activity to reach any way that
they use a river, even if it is just to look at.they use a river, even if it is just to look at.
In a classroom, my students could do data collection, In a classroom, my students could do data collection,
and compare different rivers’ statistics.and compare different rivers’ statistics.
This activity could also tie in with other types of This activity could also tie in with other types of
weathering and erosion.weathering and erosion.
 I could do a lesson in my classroom about how rivers I could do a lesson in my classroom about how rivers
connect different regions and states, much like railroads connect different regions and states, much like railroads
and interstates. This could be incorporated with a social and interstates. This could be incorporated with a social
studies lesson on transportation. studies lesson on transportation.

12. ReferencesReferences
Hollan, T. (2003). Prime Patterns for Peacock Bass. Hollan, T. (2003). Prime Patterns for Peacock Bass. Peacock Bass Peacock Bass
online. online. Retrieved September 20, 2009. From Retrieved September 20, 2009. From
http://www.peacockbassonline.com/prime_patterns.htmlhttp://www.peacockbassonline.com/prime_patterns.html
(2003). Encyclopedia-Sandbar. (2003). Encyclopedia-Sandbar. NationMaster.com. NationMaster.com. Retrieved Retrieved
September 20, 2009. From September 20, 2009. From
http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Sandbarhttp://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Sandbar
Mackie, G. (2004). Mackie, G. (2004). Applied Aquatic Ecosystem ConceptsApplied Aquatic Ecosystem Concepts. Dubuque, . Dubuque,
IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing.IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing.
(2007). Wabash River in Indiana. (2007). Wabash River in Indiana. WabashRiver.usWabashRiver.us. Retrieved . Retrieved
September 17, 2009. From September 17, 2009. From http://www.wabashriver.us/http://www.wabashriver.us/
Shoal. Shoal. Wikipedia: The Free EncyclopediaWikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved on September . Retrieved on September
19, 2009. From 19, 2009. From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoal
Sandbar. Sandbar. Reference.comReference.com. Retrieved on September 19, 2009. From . Retrieved on September 19, 2009. From
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Sandbarhttp://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Sandbar