Final answer:
The Madison River on the Ennis, Montana map would be a meandering river, with a distinctively winding path in contrast to the multiple channels seen in braided rivers. This is further elucidated by studying the dynamic history of the Mississippi River's meandering paths. Option B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of stream found on the Ennis, Montana map is likely a meandering river. This type of river is characterized by a single deep channel that winds its way across the landscape, which is typically shown on maps with a smooth, snaking line.
This contrast with a braided river, which consists of a network of river channels that split and rejoin, often featuring small temporary islands. Given this information, the Madison River in Ennis, Montana, would be of the meandering type since it does not display the hallmark characteristics of a braided river with multiple interweaving channels and islands.
In context with Exercise 9.1, tracing the history of the Mississippi River through various map types helps us understand the process of meandering, where a river tends to scour the outer bend of its channel and deposit sediment on the inner bend, leading to its snaking path—a pattern that can likely be observed in the Madison River as well.
The investigation of previous paths taken by a river, such as those shown in the meander map by Harold Fisk, illustrates the dynamic nature of meandering rivers through time. Knowing these patterns assists in identifying the meandering characteristics of other river systems, including the Madison River in Montana. Option B.