Author(s): Miluska A. Rosas; Luis Moya; Giannina Varillas-Salazar; Angela Peralta-Solorzano
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Channel narrowing; Erosion risk; Hydraulic modeling; Peru; Urban expansion
Abstract: Rapid urban expansion over floodplains is reshaping river corridors in many regions, intensifying hydraulic hazards and altering channel morphodynamics. This study analyzes a decade of channel constriction in a rapidly urbanized sector of a Peruvian river corridor using historical satellite imagery (2004–2024) and discharge data. Channel width decreased by roughly 40%, while estimated flow depths increased by ~35%. These changes indicate reduced conveyance capacity, higher shear stresses, and enhanced localized erosion–deposition processes that threaten nearby infrastructure. The results underscore the need to integrate hydraulic–morphodynamic assessments into urban planning and highlight the value of 2D hydro-sedimentological modeling for identifying erosion and flood-prone zones.
Year: 2026