Sediment Transport in Stream Assessment and Design

2026 Dates: August 3-7 2026.
Registration Open!
Course and Registration Fee: $1,735

Full-time Students: $800

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 sediment supply in channel design

To Register:

• Professionals: Registration is through USU Online and Continuing Education. It is simple and quick.
  Registration includes CEU credits, which some need to maintain professional standing.
       Register for CEWA 6900.MT2 (CRN 32450) ST:SEDIMENT TRNSPRT STREAM
       Registration opens February 18, 2026
       Total registration cost: $1,735
• Full-time Students at other Universities: Request a discount code from Peter Wilcock (wilcock@usu.edu).  Registration is through USU Online and Continuing Education. It is simple and quick.
  Use discount code at check-out.
       Register for CEWA 6900.MT2 (CRN 32450) ST:SEDIMENT TRNSPRT STREAM
       Registration opens February 18, 2026
       Total registration cost: $800
• USU Students: Register in Banner for WATS 6900.002 (CRN 31634). 

Course Registration Fee includes:

• All course materials
• Transportation to field activities
• Several lunches, drinks and snack fuel each day, and a dinner
• Lodging and the balance of meals not included. See Course Logistics for further information

Course Preparation:

• The course covers a large amount of material. There are readings required in advance of the class, the week itself is intense, and there is additional reading and material to support your application of the principles after the course. Please sign up only if you plan to do the advance work!

Principal Instructors: