Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

Introduction:

River bank erosion is a perennial problem in Bangladesh, causing loss of

lands and livelihood along major rivers. Structural and non-structural
interventions are needed to prevent potential loss of land and livelihoods.

Riverbank erosion is possible at any riverbank site. Past records of erosion or

lack of erosion are not good indicators of the potential for future erosion at any
particular site. Records of riverbank erosion are not kept but past aerial
photographs may give an indication of past erosion. Long serving staff will have
knowledge of some historical erosion sites.

Erosion:
Erosion means soil removal from the earth’s surface. Erosion is
essentially a smoothing or leveling process with soil and rock particles being
carried rolled or washed down by force of gravity .It is also fundamental to the
formation of alluvial soil and sedimentary rocks. It is caused by water, wind,
temperature changes and biological activity

Land erosion takes three main forms:

1. River bank erosion

2. Wind Erosion

3. Slope Instability

4. Water Erosion

Riverbank Erosion:

River bank erosion is a serious problem of Bangladesh. In fact the rivers

which cover about 3.4 million hectares of lands are susceptible to widespread
bank erosion.
In this country about 70% of the total area is formed by alluvial deposit
where silts and silty clays predominate the top 15m to 25m and clays , sandy
silts and sands dominate at the deeper depths. The soil in the upper layers are
mostly non cohesive and therefore, easily vulnerable to erosion and scouring . A
network of 250 rivers having a total length of 2400km cover the country
flowing down into the Bay of Bengal in an average year 775000Mm of water
flows through the river systems of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the meghna
and their tributaries during the monsoon month i.e. from june to October
.Bangladesh receives an enormous sediment inflow during this period from the
upper catchment of this three rain rivers . The marked seasonality of river flow
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

in this country is responsible for erosion during the monsoon due to strong
current and sedimentation during the dry season .

The alluvial plains consisting largely of unconsolidated sediments through

out the country are not resistant to erosion to erosion by river current and wave
action. The river erosion includes shifting of the thawing towards either bank in
river meanders , creation of new channels due to under cutting and local
scouring due to turbulence caused by obstruction . Erosion is rapid on the outer
circumference of the meanders while deposition occurred on the inside loop.
sudden changes of river course known as avulsssion are common during floods
and cause rapid bank erosion.

Fig: River bank Erosion

The flow of the rivers varies over a wide range of magnitude, and the
rivers react with accordingly . They can rapidly shift laterally cutting out old
sand bar deposits , forming new ones , and changing the flow alignment and
channel geometry within floodplain that are several miles wide and extensive
erosion occurs.The ganges river eroded about 5.5 km of its right bank between
1956 and 1975.The Brahmaputra, jamuna river is braided and has multiple
channels and large shoals over a flood plain which varies from 8 to 16 km
wide. The right bank has eroded westward as much as 0.8km or more in one
year at certain points and average shifting has being about 0.08 km per year. On
the left bank of the Meghna river near hajimara erosion was estimated to be 610
m during the 1974 flood. Field measurement and air photo interpretation show
that the rivers Ganges, Meghna and Jamuna migrate 60 to 1700 m per flood
season. It is estimated that about 1200 km of river bank are under active
erosion, of which more than 500 km face severe erosion problem. During 1984-
85 and investigation was made by Bangladesh water development board to find
out the extent of erosion of river banks and cities within the country. At 283
places of river banks and 85 towns and villages are subjected to severe erosion.
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

River-wise bank erosion is shown in Table:

Table: Length of Bank Erosion in various Rivers of Bangladesh.

Rivers No. of location of bank Length of erosion in

erosion km.
a) Brahmaputra-Jamuna 38 160
b) Ganges-Padma 30 94.4
c) Meghan 6 12.8
d) Teesta 8 35.2
e) Minor Rivers 18 31.2
f) Flashy and other 165 77.6
Rivers
g) Tidal Rivers 18 83.2

Every year a considerable area of the country is engulfed by

river erosion. Several towns in Bangladesh are threatened by river bank erosion.
For example,river bank erosions near shirajganj town by the jamuna river and
chandpur town by the meghna river is very severe.

Recent studies show that erosion is taking place in about

150 upazilas invoiving about 50 districts.In 35 upazilas erosion is severe and
most recurrent. An estimate shows that about 1 million people are affected by
erosion every year and many of these people are affected by erosion every year
and many of these people ultimately end up landless and are forced to leavel for
other aras including the cities.from a survey carried out on some 16 rivers by
the BWDB it was found that more than 250 places were eroding along the banks
of these rivers and average length of erosion ranged from 213.4m to 152439m.
the river Megna was reported to have eroded some 181.30sq.km.area in
Chandpur district till 1984.The land and human settlements in the country’s
southern parts particularly Hatiya and Sandwip in Chittagong , Bhola in Barisal
and Patuakhali are prone to recurrent bank erosion . The area of Sandwip was
1080 sq . km. In 1780 whice has been reduced to 575 sq.km in 1916 , and only
238 .30 sq km in 1984. Hatiya has been reduced to about half of its original
size during the last 45 years . The recent study on the trends of erosion during
the period of 1983 to 1988 shows erosion hits the marginal and small land
holding farmers more seriously then the absolute landless people.The loss of
land due to river bank erosion does not cause on the morphological changes in
physical landscape but also in the socieoeconomic conditions of the affected
people.
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

Wind Erosion:

A risk of wind erosion occurs on Canterbury's arable soils when they are
cultivated. Wind erosion of the soil depends on several factors interacting
together before it will occur. Good farm management practices are available
which will lower the risk of wind erosion occurring.

It is not possible to classify a risk of wind erosion at a property level without a

site survey and professional interpretation of local soil and climatic factors and
management practices.

Environment Canterbury has some information and historic survey results

which could assist an assessment of wind erosion risk.

Slope Instability:

Slope instability can lead to a number of forms of land movement or erosion:

a. Mass movement such as, earth flows, land slip, slumps.

b. Fluvial movements such as, tunnel gullies, gully erosion.

The stability of a slope is governed by slope, soil type, moisture and runoff
control, vegetation type and condition and land management.

Base resource data in the form of land inventory and land capability maps were
produced in the period 1960 - 1990 for many hill and high country properties.
This mapping is at a scales ranging between 1:10,000 and 1:50,000 and will
give an indication of inherent land stability.

Environment Canterbury has some records of surveys of hill and high country
properties in its archives which may assist a qualified person to make an
assessment of the general slope stability of an area. It is not possible to assess
the stability of slopes at a property or site level without a professional
interpretation of all available information including that held by Environment
Canterbury.

Water erosion:
Water erosion is caused by the kinetic energy of raindrops impinging on
the soil surface and by mechanical force of surface runoff. Surface runoff is
caused by heavy rainfall, rainfall of long duration, and the concentration of
water in the natural or artificial hydrographic system. Bank erosion is effected
by the water of seas, rivers, lakes and ponds. In fact wherever water is in
movement it is eroding its boundaries.
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

Type of River bank Erosion:

There are mainly four types of Erosion they are followings-

1. Slumping
2. Undercutting of bank base and toppling.
3. Vertical bank Erosion
4. Gully Erosion

Slumping: Potential cause is flood damage. Manage by revegetating with deep

rooted native trees. Some other causes are lack of vegetation, flood damage,
stock or human access on sandy banks. Manage by planting deep rooted natives
and controlling access.

Fig: Slumping

Undercutting of bank base and toppling:

Potential causes are lack of deep rooted native vegetation, wind or wave
action in larger rivers or speed of stream flow in smaller streams. Manage by
paying special attention to protecting the toe of the bank. Plant native vegetation
which does not mind wet feet. Encourage in-stream vegetation such as
macrophytes and retain snags against the bank if they are not causing erosion.
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

Fig: Undercutting of bank base and toppling

Vertical bank Section: Potential causes of channel widening are speed and
volume of water flow. Manage by revegetating with native plants from the top
of the bank.

Fig: Vertical bank Section

Gully Erosion: Potential causes are runoff from adjacent land, poor drainage,
lack of vegetation in appropriate areas and storm water. Manage by addressing
drainage issues. Plant water soaking native shrubs and trees at heads of gullies.

Fig: Gully Erosion

Effect of River bank Erosion:

Water quality

Riparian lands become a significant source of sediment and nutrients when

vegetation is removed, uncontrolled stock access is allowed and other poor
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

management practices are followed. In some areas, riverbank erosion is the

predominant source of suspended sediment and phosphorus, with the erosion of
first order streams to form gullies and incised channels a significant problem.
Increased erosion leads to decreased water quality, that negatively impacts on
in-stream health and can lead to problems of turbidity, increased nutrients (that
can form algal blooms) and the loss of native species

Aquatic habitat and physical setting:

Vegetation growing on the bank reinforces the soil and provides overhanging
trees, shrubs, grasses and reeds that provide shelter for fish and other aquatic
organisms. Tree roots growing along the bank also provide habitat for fish and
other animals. When riparian vegetation is removed habitat for aquatic animals
declines, with the loss of shading vegetation increasing water temperature, and
the erosion of River banks resulting in increased quantities of sand and gravel
entering the river. This type of erosion can produce wider, shallower streams
with uniformly sandy beds - unsuitable habitat for many aquatic organisms.
The physical setting of a river changes when riparian vegetation is removed.
Without vegetation protecting stream banks they often become steep and
eroded. This makes access to streams more difficult and prevents people from
undertaking recreational activities. Bare, eroded riverbanks are visually ugly
decreasing the scenic amenity of the river and lessening the value people place
on these parts of the landscape. Activities such as fishing, bird watching and
other wildlife pursuits are compromised, with people moving to those rivers less
impacted by clearing, stock access and other damaging management practices.

Weeds

Erosion of riverbanks creates bare, disturbed surfaces which can be a focal point
for weed colonization and penetration into river landscapes.

Agricultural production

Riverbank erosion can destroy valuable productive land. Paddocks which have
been cleared all the way to the rivers edge are prone to erosion. Over decades,
tens of meters of land can be lost to accelerated erosion of the river bank.
Preserving a strip of remnant riparian forest or woodland of just 10-30 metres is
enough to slow the erosion of river banks to a negligible, natural rate. This short
term sacrifice of productive land is compensated for by better long term security
of land, fences and other infrastructure.

Cultural heritage

Many riparian areas are valued as sites of cultural and spiritual significance.
Accelerated erosion of riverbanks can directly undermine cultural artifacts such
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

as wharfs, bridges, buildings, and monuments. Erosion of riverbanks can

negatively impact on water quality and the wildlife riparian areas support,
degrading the physical setting of the river and the threatening the cultural links
people have to these special parts of the landscape.

Increased volumes of runoff can lead to flooding and a higher velocity or flow
of the river. Increased flow creates friction along the stream banks and
eventually the bank itself begins to erode away and the loose sediment is carried
down stream.

Sediment creates a number of problems for aquatic life:

When sediment settles to the bottom it covers the living space for many bottom-
dwelling plants and animals.
a. Sediment can block sunlight for aquatic plants.
b. Sediment can clog the gills of fish.

c. Sediment reduces the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, which

is necessary for aquatic organisms to survive.

River bank erosion control measures:

Erosion problems and their control measures in this country usually

differ from basin to basin depending on their topographic and local hydrologic
conditions. Both direct and indirect protective measures are being practiced in
the country both for river bank erosion.

Most of the erosion control measures practiced in Bangladesh consist of

those which are widely used throughout the world. The commonly used river
bank erosion control measures are: grvones, spurs, earthen embankment with
brick mastersinger river closure dams, and bank revetment by cement concrete
blocks, sand cement blocks, bricks blocks or stone boulders. In addition, some
traditional or primitive erosion control measures are also being applied using
locally available materials. Most of the structural measures of river bank erosion
are very expensive.
River bank erosion is a dynamic and natural process as streams meander across
the landscape. Since European settlement of Australia, however, in many places
the rate of River bank erosion has increased markedly. This is as a result of the
extensive clearing of deep-rooted, natural vegetation across catchments for
agricultural and urban development. In cleared catchments, rainfall moves off
the land surface at a much faster rate. This increased flow puts pressure on
stream channels that can no longer contain flood peaks, and bank erosion is one
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

result. Access by stock, fire and the removal of riparian vegetation from along
River bank increases the problem and weakens the ability of River bank to resist
the erosive forces of increased flood flows.
Riparian vegetation helps to protect River bank from erosion. The roots
of vegetation reinforce the soil in the same way that steel rods reinforce
concrete. Fine roots are more important in this process than thick roots. Root
reinforcement by riparian vegetation is usually the most important safeguard
against bank collapse. Riparian vegetation also uses much of the water present
in River bank and improves the drainage of River bank soils. Banks often
collapse when saturated with water, so riparian vegetation, by helping to use
that water, reduces the risk of sudden collapse. Vegetation also absorbs the
erosive force of flows, preventing that force from being applied to the bank. It
also reduces the extremes of temperature and moisture variation that can loosen
sediment from the banks through swelling and shrinking of the soil.

Living Willow stakes have been set into the riverbed at regular intervals, as the
framework for weaving the rods.

The flexible Willow rods are woven in between the vertical stakes to create a
solid barrier.

The roots of the Willow stakes will provide added strength to the riverbank, and
will produce dense green growth during the summer months.
Subroto Kumar Dey, Environmental Science, Khulna University, Bangladesh

Riverbank vegetation plays an extremely important role in protecting the

“health” of river systems, particularly as habitat for aquatic organisms.
Riverbank vegetation stabilizes bank sediments to reduce erosion, and provides
a buffer between the river and the rest of the catchments to reduce the amount of
sediment and nutrients entering the river. Native riverbank vegetation also
provides important habitat for animals living on the bank and in the water.

Conclusion:
Environment does not hold records of present erosion or erosion risk at
an individual property level. Historical records of hill and high country land
with visible evidence of erosion at the time of survey are held for some farm
properties. Each of these erosion types relates to a set of particular geographic
and soil type circumstances. The risk of all types’ erosion can be reduced or
increased by land management practices or physical works. To protect the
environment, we must have to protect the River bank erosion.