System Requirements for Viewing this Course

INSTRUCTOR: Bryan Dick, P.E., PH, M.ASCE

Purpose and Background

This webinar provides an overview of the importance of channel geometry in a variety of physical settings and demonstrates the need for sediment transport and channel dimension as a primary consideration for project success.  The long term stability of stream and river restoration projects, as well as many bank stabilization projects, is highly dependent on proper channel cross-sectional area or channel dimension. Traditionally, open channels have been designed to handle large flow events with little consideration given to the more frequent intermediate flow events that move sediment on an annual basis. As more and more stream restoration projects have been implemented, the ingrained mindset of a larger channel being conservative is apparent in many completed projects that are experiencing excess shear stress, inability to handle the sediment load in wider sections and various other symptoms of over-sized channels. Under-sized channels can have problems as well, such as with sediment transport and pattern and bed profile maintenance. Properly sizing the channel and fitting it within the context of the slope and planform is critical for long term project success of stable channels, both in restoration and conventional hydraulic channels.

This webinar is a continuation of an introduction to stream restoration for technical professionals and is organized in a manner that does not require attendance of each webinar in this series. The principles of stable channel form and sediment transport are highlighted in this webinar while providing insights into successes and failures of projects that were largely depended on the channel dimension.

Primary Discussion Topics