Geomorphology is the study of the formation and evolution of landforms on Earth's surface. In the Pacific Northwest, volcanoes, tectonic movement, glaciers, rain, snow, wind, vegetation, animals, and people all shape the landscape at different scales of time and space. Of particular interest in the region is the form and processes of rivers, a branch of the science termed fluvial geomorphology. Rivers are extremely important to the people, plants, and animals in the Pacific Northwest, providing water for ecosystems and transporting sometimes large amounts of sediment downstream.

To understand how rivers move and change over time, the USGS is studying river hydraulics, sediment transport in rivers from the mountains to the ocean, the role of large wood in influencing river shape, impacts on the aquatic ecology and fish in rivers, and how river flooding worsens or improves over time.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Sumas River Sediment Load
Elwha River Sediment Monitoring
Sauk River Sediment
White River Bioenergetics
Cedar River Peak Flow Management
Mount Rainier Fluvial Geomorphology and River Sedimentation
Below are publications associated with this project.
Effect of a levee setback on aquatic resources using two-dimensional flow and bioenergetics models Effect of a levee setback on aquatic resources using two-dimensional flow and bioenergetics models
The timing of scour and fill in a gravel-bedded river measured with buried accelerometers The timing of scour and fill in a gravel-bedded river measured with buried accelerometers
Geomorphic analysis of the river response to sedimentation downstream of Mount Rainier, Washington Geomorphic analysis of the river response to sedimentation downstream of Mount Rainier, Washington
Geomorphic response to flow regulation and channel and floodplain alteration in the gravel-bedded Cedar River, Washington, USA Geomorphic response to flow regulation and channel and floodplain alteration in the gravel-bedded Cedar River, Washington, USA
Geomorphic and hydrologic study of peak-flow management on the Cedar River, Washington Geomorphic and hydrologic study of peak-flow management on the Cedar River, Washington
River turbidity and sediment loads during dam removal River turbidity and sediment loads during dam removal
Changes in sediment volume in Alder Lake, Nisqually River Basin, Washington, 1945-2011 Changes in sediment volume in Alder Lake, Nisqually River Basin, Washington, 1945-2011
Sediment load from major rivers into Puget Sound and its adjacent waters Sediment load from major rivers into Puget Sound and its adjacent waters
Elwha River dam removal-Rebirth of a river Elwha River dam removal-Rebirth of a river
Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington- Biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington- Biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal
Channel-conveyance capacity, channel change, and sediment transport in the lower Puyallup, White, and Carbon Rivers, western Washington Channel-conveyance capacity, channel change, and sediment transport in the lower Puyallup, White, and Carbon Rivers, western Washington
Sediment Loading from Crab Creek and Other Sources to Moses Lake, Washington, 2007 and 2008 Sediment Loading from Crab Creek and Other Sources to Moses Lake, Washington, 2007 and 2008
Below are partners associated with this project.
Geomorphology is the study of the formation and evolution of landforms on Earth's surface. In the Pacific Northwest, volcanoes, tectonic movement, glaciers, rain, snow, wind, vegetation, animals, and people all shape the landscape at different scales of time and space. Of particular interest in the region is the form and processes of rivers, a branch of the science termed fluvial geomorphology. Rivers are extremely important to the people, plants, and animals in the Pacific Northwest, providing water for ecosystems and transporting sometimes large amounts of sediment downstream.

To understand how rivers move and change over time, the USGS is studying river hydraulics, sediment transport in rivers from the mountains to the ocean, the role of large wood in influencing river shape, impacts on the aquatic ecology and fish in rivers, and how river flooding worsens or improves over time.
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Sumas River Sediment Load
Elwha River Sediment Monitoring
Sauk River Sediment
White River Bioenergetics
Cedar River Peak Flow Management
Mount Rainier Fluvial Geomorphology and River Sedimentation
Below are publications associated with this project.
Effect of a levee setback on aquatic resources using two-dimensional flow and bioenergetics models Effect of a levee setback on aquatic resources using two-dimensional flow and bioenergetics models
The timing of scour and fill in a gravel-bedded river measured with buried accelerometers The timing of scour and fill in a gravel-bedded river measured with buried accelerometers
Geomorphic analysis of the river response to sedimentation downstream of Mount Rainier, Washington Geomorphic analysis of the river response to sedimentation downstream of Mount Rainier, Washington
Geomorphic response to flow regulation and channel and floodplain alteration in the gravel-bedded Cedar River, Washington, USA Geomorphic response to flow regulation and channel and floodplain alteration in the gravel-bedded Cedar River, Washington, USA
Geomorphic and hydrologic study of peak-flow management on the Cedar River, Washington Geomorphic and hydrologic study of peak-flow management on the Cedar River, Washington
River turbidity and sediment loads during dam removal River turbidity and sediment loads during dam removal
Changes in sediment volume in Alder Lake, Nisqually River Basin, Washington, 1945-2011 Changes in sediment volume in Alder Lake, Nisqually River Basin, Washington, 1945-2011
Sediment load from major rivers into Puget Sound and its adjacent waters Sediment load from major rivers into Puget Sound and its adjacent waters
Elwha River dam removal-Rebirth of a river Elwha River dam removal-Rebirth of a river
Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington- Biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal Coastal habitats of the Elwha River, Washington- Biological and physical patterns and processes prior to dam removal
Channel-conveyance capacity, channel change, and sediment transport in the lower Puyallup, White, and Carbon Rivers, western Washington Channel-conveyance capacity, channel change, and sediment transport in the lower Puyallup, White, and Carbon Rivers, western Washington
Sediment Loading from Crab Creek and Other Sources to Moses Lake, Washington, 2007 and 2008 Sediment Loading from Crab Creek and Other Sources to Moses Lake, Washington, 2007 and 2008
Below are partners associated with this project.