Engineering for Ecosystem Restoration: University at Buffalo

Summer Workshop Series 2011

River Processes, Fluvial Geomorphology and Channel Processes

Instructors

Sean J. Bennett, Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14261-0055, seanb@buffalo.edu

Sediment transport mechanics, turbulent flow, gully erosion, reservoir sedimentation, vegetation and rivers

Andrew Simon, USDA-ARS, National Sedimentation Laboratory, P.O. Box 1157, Oxford, MS 38655, Andrew.Simon@ars.usda.gov

Streambank mechanics, unstable channels, bank-stability modeling, flow-energy, regional sediment yields, stream restoration

Participants….

Dynamically stable, multifunctional river corridors

Dynamically unstable, non-multifunctional river corridors

Dynamically unstable, non-multifunctional river corridors

Impaired or degraded

Stream Restoration or Naturalization

• The return of an impaired or degraded river corridor ecosystem to a close approximation of its remaining natural potential (as defined by habitat quality, quantity, species richness/diversity)

• Not to its original or undisturbed condition

Habitat degradation often is driven by stream channel degradation and instability

How does one become an effective practitioner in Stream Restoration?

Fluvial GeomorphologyThe processes controlling river channel form and river channel change, their causes and stimuli, and their time and space scales

River EngineeringThe geotechnical and hydraulic corrective measures designed to create a dynamically stable, multifunctional river corridor

Aquatic EcologyThe biogeochemical interactions between species and their environment, including ecosystem assessment and integrity

Social and economic context

Goals of Lectures

• Provide an introduction to the main topics in fluvial geomorphology

• Academic and applied approaches– Stress physical processes– Blend of earth science and engineering

• Mix of classic and emerging trends in fluvial geomorphology

Working knowledge of river processes and forms, river channel change, and critical concepts of river restoration

Categories of Lectures

Basic principles in fluvial geomorphology and river mechanics

Case studies of river corridor assessment

Topical seminars on fundamental and applied aspects of river process and form

Tools and technology available to assess river processes and river channel change

Schedule

Time Topic Lecturer Topic Lecturer Topic Lecturer Topic Lecturer Topic Lecturer8:30-8:458:45-9:30 T-1 SB W-1 SB R1 SB F1 SB9:30-10:15 T-2 SB W-2 SB R2 SB/AS F2 AS

10:15-10:3010:30-11:15 T-3 AS W-3 AS R3 SB F3 AS11:15-12:00 T-4 SB W-4 SB R4 SB/AS F4 AS12:00-12:4512:45-1:30 M-1 AS T-5 SB W-5 SB R5 SB/AS1:30-2:15 M-2 SB T-6 AS W-6 AS R6 AS2:15-3:00 M-3 SB T-7 SB W-7 AS3:00-3:153:15-4:00 M-4 SB T-8 AS W-8 AS4:00-4:45 M-5 AS T-9 SB W-9 AS

Wednesday Thursday FridayMonday Tuesday

Break

LunchAnnouncements Conclusions

Break Field Experience

Announcements

Topics, Day 1 (Monday)

All lectures will be 45-min in length, given as a PowerPoint Presentation

LecturerSB Sean BennettAS Andrew Simon

SB/AS Sean Bennett with commentary by Andrew Simon

M-1 Fundamental Concepts in Geomorphology ASM-2 SBM-3 SBM-4 Flow Resistance, Gradient, and Hydraulic Geometry SBM-5 AS

Monday Topics

Fluid FlowSediment Transport

Vertical Adjustments and Flow Energy

Topics, Day 2 (Tuesday)

All lectures will be 45-min in length, given as a PowerPoint Presentation

LecturerSB Sean BennettAS Andrew Simon

SB/AS Sean Bennett with commentary by Andrew Simon

T-1 SBT-2 SBT-3 Lateral Adjustments and Bank Mechanics I AST-4 Lateral Adjustments and Bank Mechanics II AST-5 SBT-6 AST-7 SBT-8 AST-9 SB

Vegetation and Rivers IIAquatic Ecology I

Channel PatternRiver Meanders

Confluences and NetworksRegional Sediment Yields and TMDLSVegetation and Rivers I

Tuesday Topics

Topics, Day 3 (Wednesday)

All lectures will be 45-min in length, given as a PowerPoint Presentation

LecturerSB Sean BennettAS Andrew Simon

SB/AS Sean Bennett with commentary by Andrew Simon

W-1 SBW-2 SBW-3 SBW-4 Channel Disturbance, Evolution, and Restoration ASW-5 ASW-6 ASW-7 ASW-8 ASW-9 AS

Aquatic Ecology IINeed for Restoration INeed for Restoration II

Field Methods for Bank Stability AnalysisModeling Bank Stability IModeling Bank Stability IIModeling Bank Stability IIIModeling Bank Stability IV

Wednesday Topics

Topics, Day 4 (Thursday)

All lectures will be 45-min in length, given as a PowerPoint Presentation

LecturerSB Sean BennettAS Andrew Simon

SB/AS Sean Bennett with commentary by Andrew Simon

Thursday TopicsR-1 Engineering Approaches to Stream Restoration I SBR-2 Engineering Approaches to Stream Restoration II SBR-3 SBR-4 SB/ASR-5 SB/ASR-6 ASR-7 to 9 SB/ASField Experience, Ellicott Creek

Stream Channel Design IStream Channel Design IIStream Channel Design IIIRapid Geomorphic Assessments

Topics, Day 5 (Friday)

All lectures will be 45-min in length, given as a PowerPoint Presentation

LecturerSB Sean BennettAS Andrew Simon

SB/AS Sean Bennett with commentary by Andrew Simon

F-1 SBF-2 Case Study: Goodwin Creek Bendway Restoration ASF-3 ASF-4 Case Study: Climate Change and Stream Restoration AS

Numerical Models

Case Study: Lake Tahoe

Friday Topics

Additional Activities

• All registered graduate students will be asked to do additional work to satisfy their course requirements

• There will be two (2) early evening “jam” sessions (M & W), additional players, singers, rock stars, and groupies are welcome (affinity for classic, southern, and blues rock is desirable)

Useful ReferencesBridge, J.S., Rivers and Floodplains: Forms, Processes, and Sedimentary Record, Blackwell

Publishing, Oxford, 2003.Brierley, G., and K. Fryirs, eds., River Futures: An Integrative Scientific Approach to River Repair,

Island Press, 2008.Brookes, A., and F.D. Shields, Jr., eds., River Channel Restoration: Guiding Principles for Sustainable

Projects, John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, 1996.Darby, S., and D. Sear, eds., River Restoration: Managing the Uncertainty in Restoring Physical

Habitat, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 2008.Dorava, J.M., D.R. Montgomery, B.B. Palcsak, and F.A. Fitzpatrick, eds., Geomorphic Processes and

Riverine Habitat, Water Science and Application, Volume 4, 2001.Knighton, D., Fluvial Forms and Processes: A New Perspective, Arnold, London, 1998.Leopold, L.B., M.G. Wolman, and J.P. Miller, Fluvial Processes in Geomorphology, W.H. Freeman,

San Francisco, 1964.Restoration Ecology, Special Section: Restoring Rivers: A Synthesis of Findings From Project

Records and Interviews, vol. 15(3), pp. 472-591, 2007.Thorne, C.R., R.D. Hey, and M.D. Newson, Applied Fluvial Geomorphology for River Engineering and

Management, Wiley, Chichester, 1997.Thorp, J., M. Thoms, and M. Delong, The Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis: Toward Conceptual

Cohesiveness in River Science, Academic Press, Oxford, 2008.United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Stream

Restoration Design, Part 654 National Engineering Handbook, 2007.United States Environmental Protection Agency, Ecological Restoration: A Tool To Manage Stream

Quality, EPA 841-F-95-007, http://www.epa.gov/owowwtr1/NPS/Ecology/exsum.html and http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/Ecology/, 1995.

Watson, C.C., D.S. Biedenharn, and C.R. Thorne, Stream Rehabilitation Version 1.0, Cottonwood Research LLC, Fort Collins, Colorado, 2005.

Useful Reference

70 Researchers (6 from UB!), 25 Chapters, publication by AGU is imminent

Conclusion

• Ecosystem or water quality impairment in rivers often is intimately associated with stream channel (dynamic) stability

• Effective practitioners in stream restoration meld fluvial geomorphology, aquatic ecosystems, and engineering solutions

• Here we will examine the basic principles of fluvial geomorphology, complemented by case studies of river corridors, topical seminars, and tools and technology