The striking variation in delta morphology observed on coastlines is the result of sedimentary processes that are active at the delta front; the region directly seaward of the shoreline. Aerial images do not capture the 3-Dimensional bathymetry of this region, and it remains largely unexplored. My work measures bathymetry, flow patterns, and sediment transport over the delta front to improve our understanding of distributary channel growth and the land building potential of river deltas.

To test hypotheses regarding river delta dynamics, I create physical experiments in the laboratory. I am running a set of experiments at the University of Wyoming to test the importance of low water surface slopes to channel evolution on large river deltas. The photograph to the right shows distributary channels in an experimental delta.

Modern rivers serve many purposes and have many stakeholders. As an example, the Arkansas River is an important water resource, sediment transport pathway, source of raw materials, and low emission transport pathway for barges. Many questions remain about how such multivalent systems function, and how they will change with a changing climate and society. Our focus is on how river engineering and barge traffic influence sediment transport in the Arkansas and other rivers.