Physical Responses to Altered Flow Regimes
| Source of Alteration | Hydrologic Change | Geomorphic Response |
| Dam | Capture sediment moving downstream. | Downstream channel erosion and tributary headcutting. Bed armoring (coarsening). |
| Dam, diversion | Reduce magnitude and frequency of high flows. | Deposition of fines in gravel. Channel stabilization and narrowing. Reduced formation of point bars, secondary channels, oxbows, and changes in channel planform. |
| Urbanization, tiling, drainage | Increase magnitude and frequency of high flows. | Bank erosion and channel widening. Downward incision and floodplain disconnection. |
| Reduced infiltration into soil. | Reduced baseflows. | |
| Levees and channelization | Reduce overbank flows. | Channel restriction causing downcutting. Floodplain deposition and erosion prevented. Reduced channel migration and formation of secondary channels. |
| Groundwater pumping | Lowered water table levels. | Streambank erosion and channel downcutting after loss of vegetation stability. |
