Course Length: 1 Hour

This webinar is co-sponsored by ASCE'sEnvironmental & Water Resources Instituteand ASCE Continuing Education

Purpose and Background

The terms “stream restoration”, “ecological engineering”, “river engineering”, “streambank stabilization” and various other similar terms are commonly mentioned in the engineering, geological and environmental professional communities; however, most professionals are relatively uninformed of the basis of the science, the regulatory and social drivers that create the need for implementation, and the physical and ecological reasons for bioengineering vs. traditional hard engineering practices. As the use of bioengineering methods rapidly increases, technical professionals need to become familiar with the fundamental principles of the concept of a stable channel form and variations on this burgeoning science and engineering practice. This one hour webinar will introduce the fundamental concepts and principles of stream restoration on a high level, discuss the drivers behind implementation, discuss pros and cons of natural channel design, as well as project challenges and associated uncertainly and risk. This is the first webinar in a series of webinars that builds upon more specific topics within the broader context of river/stream restoration and stabilization.

Primary Discussion Topics

- General principles and philosophy of fluvial geomorphology and natural channel design
- Moving sediment and water through the channel in a stable manner
- Social, economic and regulatory drivers for the use of softer practices
- Opposing viewpoints from the scientific community about the basis for design
- Riverbank erosion – damages from excess erosion vs. base line (natural levels)
- Multiple examples and case studies in both the natural and constructed environments
- Lessons learned from built restoration projects
- Changes and evolution in the practice over the past two decades
- Realistic limitations and project constraints
- Importance of working across disciplines
- Hybrid solutions

Learning Outcomes/Benefits

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

- Gain a basic understanding of the physical principles behind stream restoration and bioengineered banks
- Better appreciate how stream restoration improves physical and ecological function
- Introduce the concept of less being more in open channel design
- Solidify an understanding of the basics by looking at multiple examples from stable and unstable rivers across the U.S. and off continent
- Gain a new perspective on what you see when you look at a river or stream
- Know the real meaning of stream and river “restoration”
- Become informed of the pros and cons and of stream restoration

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

- Professional Engineers
- Environmental Scientist/ Ecologist
- Geologist and Geographers
- Planning professionals
- Engineers in Training who have a basic understanding of engineering design, bid-document preparation and construction practices
- Students of engineering, geology and environmental disciplines

Webinar Outline

- Overview of geomorphology natural channel stability – dimension pattern and profile
- Sediment transport, erosion – the good and bad
- What are we restoring?
- Reference vs. analytical solutions
- Important factors for a functional and stable project
- Uncertainty in design
- Challenges of implementation
- Hybrid solutions to mimic natural channel design concepts