The Red River is approximately 550 miles long (395 in the US and 155 in Canada) and can be classified for the most part as a meandering stream. Meandering streams come about when the area of flow is low gradient, or low slope, meaning the water is not rapidly moving at a strong downward angle. A low slope terrain means that the stream begins to wander, carving its own path through the ground. The river wanders about making curves and turns as it goes. These sharp curves constantly erode the outside bank.
The fastest moving water along a curve is naturally toward the outside bank, and likewise, the inner bank of the curve is home to very low-velocity water flow. The faster water erodes the outside bank and deposits the sediment on the inside. This results in a steeper bank on the outside, and a gradual slope on the inside. The constant erosion and pressure of the fast moving water widens the banks of the river over time.
River meanders can get so curvy over time that they form oxbow lakes.
An oxbow lake is a lake formed by a river that had bent back and touches itself, creating a more direct route for the river, ultimately cutting off the curve. The curve is now the oxbow lake.
Logging:
1) name of this EC
2) At this point in the stream, are you standing on the inside or outside of a curve?
3) What bank (near or far) is home to the most erosion?
4) Is this point close to creating an oxbow lake?
{Sources}
1) http://www.sjvgeology.org/geology/groundwater/index.html
2) http://www.onegeology.org/extra/kids/earthprocesses/meanderingRivers.html
3) http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1QN2P_yosemite-valley-river-meander
4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_of_the_North