k

Effective hydraulic conductivity of the channel alluvium

The table below lists typical values for k for various alluvium materials (Lane, 1983). For perennial streams with continuous groundwater contribution, the effective conductivity will be zero.

Bed material group	Bed material characteristics	Hydraulic conductivity
1 - Very high loss rate	Very clean gravel and large sand	> 127 mm/hr
2 - High loss rate	Clean sand and gravel, field conditions	51-127 mm/hr
3 - Moderately high loss rate	Sand and gravel mixture with low silt-clay content	25-76 mm/hr
4 - Moderate loss rate	Sand and gravel mixture with high silt-clay content	6-25 mm/hr
5 - Insignificant to low loss rate	Consolidated bed material; high silt-clay content	0.025-2.5 mm/hr

References

Lane (1983)