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River and Coastal Processes Team

By Upper Midwest Water Science Center

The River and Coastal Processes Team uses expertise in such fields as sediment transport, hydrogeomorphology, flood statistics and mapping, watershed sediment-nutrient dynamics, and river and coastal restoration evaluations and monitoring oil/sediment interactions from oil spills, and Great Lakes region river/coastal flooding and sediment dynamics.

Key capabilities of the River and Coastal Processes Team include:

  • Sediment monitoring, characterization and modeling:

We design studies to understand sediment loads, sources, and transport to address watershed impairments, restoration designs, and maintenance of commercial navigation channels using emerging technologies.

  • Flood-frequency and inundation mapping:

We provide information about the magnitude and frequency of floods for community flood preparedness, emergency response and recovery, mitigation and planning.

  • Hydrogeomorphology and habitat assessments and mapping:

We evaluate fluvial responses to changes in land use, climate, and floods; geomorphic assessments, hydrogeomorphic unit mapping; and monitor, model, map hydrogeomorphic processes in Great Lakes estuaries.

  • Sediment-Nutrient dynamics:

We identify and assess hotspots and sinks for sediment bound phosphorus cycling, storage, and transport, and link nutrient availability to hydrogeomorphic context and occurrence of harmful algal blooms.

  • Riverine and coastal oil spill support:

We have advanced scientific understanding of fate and transport of spilled oil and oiled sediment and have spill planning and response tools to assist and support the needs of emergency response agencies.