Allen has led the analysis and design of channel restoration projects in the southwestern U.S. for the last two decades. He and team at Natural Channel Design Engineering have been instrumental in developing post wildfire sediment reduction and watershed restoration methods for over 10 years.
Post wildfire increases in discharge often lead to very high sediment loads. Erosion and sediment loading can lead to short term and longterm channel instability and longterm changes to channel sediment budgets. A rapid understanding of sediment source areas and quantities as well as the mechanism of sediment delivery is essential to planning post fire and flooding management activities. The Watershed Assessment of River Stabilty and Sediment Supply (WARSSS) is an excellent analytical tool based on empirical field data collection that can be utilized to rapidly quantify sediment supply and sediment transport in a watershed. The assessment data is directly applicable to planning and prioritizing watershed restoration projects in a post fire environment. This talk provides an explaination of the process and how it has been utilized in previous post fire projects in the southwest.
Join the people who protect and manage our natural areas.