The USDA-ARS BSTEM model is very sensitive to the toe node selected. Tips for selecting the toe include:
Make the BSTEM Toe Station the same as the Movable Bed Limit (Left Station and Right Station in Initial Conditions and Transport Parameters in the Sediment Data Editor). While there is a tool to set the Toe Stations to the Movable Bed Limits, it is often better to go the other way, selecting a toe and then setting the Movable Bed Limit station equal to the Toe Station.
HEC-RAS distorts cross sections vertically in the cross section display. This makes them easier to visualize, but can make it difficult to select a toe. When selecting toe stations, change the aspect ratio of the cross section plotter and zoom in along the horizontal axis to get a 1:1 H:V ratio from the plot (below). This adjustment will make it easier to pick an actual toe from an undistorted cross section plot.
