What are the edges of the stream channel that are above water level called?

The edges of the stream channel that are above water level are known as streambanks. Streambanks are the boundaries that help define the structure of the stream channel and play a crucial role in maintaining the water's course. They provide habitat for various species and stabilize the soil to prevent erosion.

Understanding streambanks is important for the health of aquatic ecosystems, as these areas can influence water quality and habitat availability. They also protect against flooding to some extent, as they delineate the area in which water can flow during high events. In contrast, floodplains refer to the flat areas that can become inundated during floods, shorelines pertain more specifically to the land bordering a body of water like a lake or ocean, and barriers are structures that might impede or redirect the flow of water, rather than defined edges of a stream channel itself.