Winter 2026 Short Course: River Sediment Dynamics

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In partnership with Portland State University, this short course covers the fluvial processes responsible for erosion, transport, and deposition of sediment within rivers, providing a fundamental understanding of how sediment dynamics drive channel formation, adjustment, and evolution. The course also deals with how sediment dynamics can be investigated and accounted for in the contexts of practical river management and restoration. The aim is to teach students how to select the appropriate sediment analysis and tool for application in different river management and restoration contexts and projects.

Dr. Colin Thorne is Emeritus Chair of Physical Geography at the University of Nottingham, UK. He earned his BSc and PhD in Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia under the supervision of Dr Richard Hey and his early professional career was mentored by Dr Daryl Simons and Dr Stanley A. Schumm at Colorado State University. In a career spanning five decades, Colin has researched and taught not only at Nottingham and CSU, but also London University, Canterbury University (New Zealand), the USDA National Sedimentation Laboratory, US Army Waterways Experiment Station and NOAA Fisheries (Santa Rosa, CA). His research on fluvial  and bio geomorphology, sediment transport, and river restoration extends from upland, gravel-bed rivers to large, lowland, sand-bed rivers. Colin’s contribution to knowledge has been recognized by professional organizations ranging from the American Society of Civil Engineers (Collingwood Prize) to the Royal Geographical Society of London (Back Award for Policy-leading Research).

Dr. Brian Bledsoe is Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia where he directs the Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems.  Brian has over 30 years of experience as a civil and environmental engineer, hydrologist, and environmental scientist in the private and public sectors.  He holds degrees from Georgia Tech, North Carolina State University, and Colorado State University.  Before entering the professorate, he worked as a consulting engineer and surveyor, and for the State of North Carolina as a watershed restoration engineer.  Brian’s research is focused on the interface of engineering, hydrology, and ecology with an emphasis on infrastructure, stormwater and flood management, water quality, and restoration of river and wetland ecosystems.  He received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2006, served as a Fulbright Scholar in Chile in 2008, was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2017, and is past president of the American Ecological Engineering Society. 

Steve Winter is a hydrologist and geomorphologist with a focus on wetlands, streams, and rivers in Washington, Oregon, and California. He has over 20 years of experience in managing projects ranging from small scale investigations to some of the largest restoration efforts in Puget Sound. His particular focus of understanding is the interplay between physical and ecological processes working to achieve ecological restoration goals. Steve has extensive hydrologic and hydraulic modeling experience in support of restoration design efforts in complex areas including road crossings, outlet channels to connect off channel habitats, large wood design, and development of sediment budgets for estuary restoration projects. Steve also has experience with wetland science and policy at the federal, state and local levels. His knowledge of ecosystem restoration design and management has presented opportunities for plan development, specification and cost estimates on a multiple stream, estuary and nearshore restoration projects, working with contractors, and overseeing construction.

Mason Lacy is a water resources engineer with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) and Recreation Engineering & Planning (REP) in Bend, OR whose work focuses on river restoration design and analysis. He earned his BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado and his Masters in Water Resources Engineering from Arizona State University. His graduate studies focused on fluvial processes and hydraulic modeling. Mason has been involved in many river engineering projects including dam removals, fish passage, and stream simulation culverts. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of Oregon, Washington, and Colorado. In his free time, Mason enjoys immersing himself in the fluvial environment, literally – in a whitewater kayak.