Rivers are dynamic landscape elements whose primary functions are to drain the landscape and transport sediment. Channel morphology (the cross-sectional, plan view and longitudinal configuration of a channel) develops a form that is adjusted to the regional topographic gradient, long-term average hydrologic regime, and sediment load of the drainage basin. In turn, invertebrates, fish, riparian vegetation (vegetation growing along the banks or on the floodplain), and wildlife adjust to the channel form and hydrologic and sediment transport regimes (Petts and Amoros, 1996). The entire system, physical and biological, develops an equilibrium condition in response to external controlling factors such as tectonics, geology, soils, climate, and land use (Schumm, 1977).
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