Sediment Transport in Stream Assessment and Design

Course Summary

This course is intended for those who wish to understand and apply the principles of sediment transport to alluvial channel assessment and design. Principles of open channel flow and sediment transport are combined with watershed-scale, hydrologic and sediment source analysis to place channel assessment and design in the appropriate context. Tools for estimating sediment supply at the watershed to reach level are applied in class exercises. Threshold and alluvial channel design methods are presented along with guidelines for assessing and incorporating uncertainty. The course balances advance reading, lecture, field work, and hands-on exercises for estimating sediment supply, calculating sediment transport rates, and forecasting channel response to water and sediment supply. This course is intended for participants who are familiar with basic principles of river geomorphology.

Topics include:

• Assessment of sediment sources and sinks using historic data, remote sensing, and field observations
• Threshold and alluvial channel models with guidelines for assessment and design incorporating uncertainty
• Sediment transport calculations: challenges and methods, sediment rating curves, cumulative transport
• Field measurement of sediment transport and guidance for different sampling approaches
• Use of 1-d flow and transport models for evaluation of flow competence and sediment transport capacity
• Class project incorporating gravel augmentation into channel design for dynamic fish habitat

To Register:

• Professionals: Register via Eventbrite.
• Professionals seeking CEU credit: Register for CEWA6900-31811 through the CEU Portal. Students will receive 4 CEU credits.
• USU Students: Register for WATS6900 through the Banner. Summer Registration opens April 6th

Principle Instructors: