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A 'mainstem' is defined as the principal river within a given drainage basin, in the case where a number of tributaries discharge into a larger watercourse. Viewed in terms of the Strahler Stream Order system, the mainstem would be the highest order stream amongst the streams in a given drainage basin. The United States National Weather Service considers the mainstem as the principal object of flood forecasting.^[1] In detailed analyses of riverine hydrology, ''mainstem'' also refers to precise channel mapping of the principal drainage; for example, in a braided channel or system with anabranch elements the mainstem is designated as the principal braid or channel within the overall river.^[2]

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See also

Line notes

General bibliographic references

See also

★ Anabranch

Line notes

1. National Weather Service
2. United States Geological Survey mainstem characterization of the Humboldt River and other drainage basins

General bibliographic references

★ Cushing, Colbert E., Benke, Arthur C., ''Rivers of North America''