Arroyolike

Arroyolike is a term used in geomorphology and environmental planning to describe landscape features that resemble an arroyo—a narrow, steep-walled channel carved into semiarid terrain by episodic flows. The word is a portmanteau of Spanish arroy(o) and the English suffix -like, indicating resemblance rather than a fixed hydrological state. It is not a formal, widely standardized category in all geomorphology references, but it appears in field notes, GIS classification schemes, and some regional studies to convey morphology without implying perennial flow.

Typical arroyolike features include a V- or U-shaped channel with straight or irregular sides, abrupt bends, and a sharp transition from channel to the surrounding plane. Channels may be dry for long periods and intermittently carry flash floods, leaving exposed or layered alluvial deposits, cut banks, and sparse vegetation. Mouths often terminate in fan-shaped deposits or merge with broader wash ecosystems.

Arroyolike terrain influences runoff generation, erosion risk, and sediment transport, affecting land-use planning, infrastructure design, and flood risk assessment in arid and semiarid regions. Remote sensing and digital elevation models are commonly used to map arroyolike units and distinguish them from non-channel landforms.

Related concepts include arroyo, wash, and wadi, which describe similar channelized features in different regions or languages. The precise usage of arroyolike varies by discipline and locale.