A sound understanding of river morphological changes is crucial for exploring flood dynamics in any river basin. Residents of the Navasota River basin, TX, are repeatedly experiencing flooding, depending on their location. In this study, we examine the river channel shifting over a prolonged period (from the 1970s to the current time) and assess the impacts of river shifting on flood dynamics/regimes. River morphological characteristics were analyzed using a series of historical imagery (1972, 1981, 1989/90, and 1995) and the recent high-resolution National Agriculture Imagery Program imagery, with a high spatial resolution of 1 m (2008, 2020). In this study, the selected river stretch starts from the confluence with the Brazos River and ends at the northern border of Brazos County at Old San Antonio Road. We evaluate river geometric characteristics (length, area, and sinuosity) for the entire segment, as well as eight sub-segments of the river at major road intersections. River shifting over time is evaluated by overlaying the centerlines from each year and seeing areas of major shifts. In this way, it was possible to find areas where oxbows were created (thus shortening the river), new meanders were created (extending the river), and channels shifted (which could potentially shorten or lengthen the river). We see that the lower part of the river (Hwy 21 to Navasota, TX) is braided with many channels​. This study finds that there was an eastward shift in the river at Hwy 21. However both channels were also present in 1972, but the dominant channel shifted based on the presence of water. Closely looking at imagery across the watershed, the results highlight an extensive apparent development, particularly south College Station. In addition, there is much more surface water (ponds/lakes) in 2020 than in 1972.
