Bankfull stage

Bankfull stage refers to the water level in a river or stream when it fills the channel to its rim, just before spilling over into the floodplain. It represents the maximum height the water typically reaches during regular flow conditions without causing flooding. Understanding bankfull stage helps in managing flood risks, designing infrastructure, and assessing river health. It is an important parameter for hydrologists and engineers because it indicates the capacity of the river channel to handle flow and informs sustainable water management practices.