Geog 427/527 will focus on four themes:
a) processes that shape river channels;
b) ecological interactions in the channel and riparian zone;
c) how channels and floodplains evolve through time; and
d) human impacts on river channels.

We will cover a number of specific topics, including hydraulics of streamflow and sediment transport, channel form and fish habitat, facies and construction of floodplains of meandering and braided rivers, stream assessment techniques, impacts of grazing, agriculture, and forestry on rivers, etc. The goals of the course are to give an understanding of the basic scientific principles of how rivers behave, introduce some techniques used in analyzing rivers, and review our current understanding of some river management problems.

Course  requirements for Geog 427/527 include:  readings from the textbook and reading packet, two tests based on material presented in readings and lectures, and completion of about five exercises. The exercises involve analysis and interpretation of physical data on stream channels, and measurement and interpretation of stream channel features shown on maps and air photos. Some of the exercises will be done in the SSIL computer lab in PLC Hall. Some of the exercises will be individual efforts, and some will involve teamwork.  There will be an extra assignment for Geog 527, involving readings in the research literature in fluvial geomorphology and preparing an short annotated bibliography on these readings. 

Textbook: D. Knighton, 1998, Fluvial Forms and Processes: A New Perspective, (Arnold Pub.); plus a few additional readings in a reading packet.

Grading: Midterm 30%, final 30%, exercises 40%.

Course Outline
Week 1: Introduction to the course; Hydrology and streamflow
Week 2-3: Hydraulics of streamflow and sediment transport in channels
Week 4: The channel in cross-section; channel patterns
Week 5: Bedforms, channel units, stream classification
Test 1: During week 6
Week 6: Floodplain structure and development; influence of woody debris on channel and floodplain
Week 7: Ecological interactions; Channel assessment and monitoring
Week 8: River terraces; Impacts of climate change and tectonics on rivers
Week 9: Agricultural and grazing impacts
Week 10: Logging and urbanization impacts
Test 2: 3:15 pm, Tues. 3/16

Exercise topics:
1. River discharge and hydrology: calculating discharge, downstream changes in discharge; temporal variability of discharge
2. Hydraulics of flow: estimating Manning roughness, applying the Manning equation, variations in flow conditions at a station and at contrasting stations
3. Sediment transport: bed sediment size distributions, calculating stream power, predicting bed erosion
4. Analysis of channel habitat units
5. Channel patterns and longitudinal profiles

This course will introduce you to field methods in fluvial geomorphology, including discharge measurement, bed material sampling, surveying cross-sections and longitudinal profiles, and describing channel units (habitat units). We will take two one-day field trips on weekend days; dates will be set during an organizational meeting in week two. There will be a field trip fee.  To register, contact Pat McDowell at pmcd@oregon, or during the GEOG 4/527 class meeting.