Realignment Evaluation Procedure

The realignment of natural streams may disrupt the balance of the natural system. When evaluating stream modifications, use the following procedure:
  1. Establish slope, section, meander pattern and for present region.
  2. Determine thresholds for changes in the various regime parameters.
  3. Duplicate the existing regime, where possible, but keep within the established tolerances for change, where duplication is not practical or possible.
Stream realignment may occasionally decrease channel slope; more often, the modification will increase the channel gradient. A localized increase in channel slope may introduce channel responses that are reflected for considerable distances upstream and downstream of the project.