scope:

Vanoni (1975) defines sedimentation as follows:

Sedimentation embodies the processes of erosion, entrainment, transportation, deposition and the compaction of sediment. These are natural processes that have been active throughout geological times and have shaped the present topographic and bathymetry dimensions of our earth.

The manual focuses on sedimentation in navigation channels within rivers, canals, lakes, estuaries, and coastal waterways that allow commercial waterborne transport of people and goods and recreational use. Most, but not all, navigation channels are designated as such by government or other authorities. Ports, terminals, and anchorages located on or adjacent to these navigation channels experience the same sedimentation processes as channels. Solution procedures recommended for channels may apply to those navigation facilities as well. Overall geomorphological processes and water bodies not designated as navigation channels, such as streams, lakes, shallow coastal waters, and coastlines, are explicitly considered here only to the extent that they affect navigation channel sedimentation.

PURPOSE

This manual describes navigation channel sedimentation, lists solutions to sedimentation problems in those channels, and recommends best practices for predicting navigation channel sedimentation responses-sediment deposition to, and erosion of, the channel bed plus surrounding bed and banks-resulting from those solutions.