Introduction

This chapter 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. 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. Navigation is a cost-effective way to transport many goods and can be less environmentally intrusive when compared to other transportation methods such as rail and trucks. Sedimentation issues may impact environmental quality through increased vessel emissions (caused by longer transit times or additional trips required by light-loading vessels) and impacts to ecologically important habitats and communities. The chapter also presents some of the key concepts discussed in this book.