How can ecohydraulic modeling capabilities be improved by enhancing capability to predict scour in support of habitat and riparian rehabilitation projects? Multi-dimensional hydraulic, sediment, and habitat modeling are now routinely requested by project offices in order to meet demands for quantitative evaluation of alternative restoration designs. The complexity of ecohydraulic processes requires improvements in ability to predict interactions that effect localized patterns. Ability to better predict scour that will affect vegetation recruitment and removal, to the benefit or detriment of habitat rehabilitation projects, is vitally important to guide designers in order to ensure long-term success. The benefit of the project will be in producing a more useful tool for restoration practitioners to use in evaluating alternative designs.
