The purpose of this webinar is to (1) provide an overview of river and geomorphic processes related to bank erosion, (2) highlight present bank erosion management techniques, highlighting those that promote natural conditions and are most appropriate for WSR and NPS-managed rivers, and (3) introduce a decision making process tree that can be used to determine bank erosion management strategies that are most aligned with NPS and WSR values at a particular site.

We will first provide an overview of river processes as they relate to bank erosion, including important factors that influence the rate of bank erosion and the mechanisms by which banks erode. Next, we will describe several techniques to address bank erosion and summarize each technique in an important quick-reference figure. Finally, we present a decision tree to select the best approach to managing a specific bank erosion problem and identify helpful resources to visit when making WSRA Section 7 determinations. 

Instructor

Dr. John Field, President and founder of Field Geology Services, trains teachers and government agency personnel on techniques for assessing the stability and habitat conditions of rivers and streams.  Dr. Field has 20 years of consulting experience that has included geomorphic assessments on over 1,000 miles of rivers and streams in 15 states and 11 other countries worldwide to identify the causes for riverine problems such as erosion, flooding, elevated sediment/nutrient loading, and habitat degradation. The assessment results have informed the design and implementation of over 40 miles of bank stabilization and stream restoration projects.

About the 2025 Wild and Scenic Rivers Webinars

Sessions in this series include:

• March 26 - Scenic Vision: Tools to Inventory and Manage River and Trail Views
• May 28 - Bank Stabilization Techniques on Wild and Scenic Rivers
• June 18 - Real-World Applications of Visitor Use Management on Wild and Scenic Rivers

Materials are aligned with the vision of the Interagency Wild & Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council and the Technical Core Competencies for River Management Specialists and Non-Specialists. You can find more WSR training resources here or at rivers.gov.

Instructors will facilitate sessions using Zoom and request that participants come ready with their cameras on and microphones enabled, ready to connect and learn together. 

The target audience includes agency and partner staff involved in Wild & Scenic River program planning, coordination, partnership development, stakeholder communication, implementation and decision-making, visitor management and safety, natural and cultural resource management, impact monitoring and assessment, and other related activities.

Registration

This series is open to RMS members and non-members. Registration is $15 per session, or free for RMS members. RMS membership is $60 annually at the Individual level. Learn more about the features and benefits of membership and join today on our Membership page.

Watch the recording

Questions

With questions about this series, please contact Executive Director Risa Shimoda at rms[at]river-management.org.