A hydraulic structure is a structure submerged or partially submerged in any body oI water,

which disrupts the natural Ilow oI water. They can be used to divert, disrupt or completely stop
the Ilow. An example oI a hydraulic structure would be a dam, which slows the normal Ilow rate
oI river in order to power turbines. A hydraulic structure can be built in rivers, a sea, or any body
oI water where there is a need Ior a change in the natural Ilow oI water.
OR
Hydraulic structures are anything that can be used to divert, restrict, stop, or otherwise manage
the natural Ilow oI water. They can be made Irom materials ranging Irom large rock and concrete
to obscure items such as wooden timbers or tree trunks.
A dam, Ior instance, is a type oI hydraulic structure used to hold water in a reservoir as potential
energy, just as a weir is a type oI hydraulic structure which can be used to pool water Ior
irrigation, establish control oI the bed (grade control) or, as a new innovative technique, to divert
Ilow away Irom eroding banks or into diversion channels Ior Ilood control.
Coastal structures are important assets Ior the economic health oI many coastal communities to:
O !rotect harbors and inlets that are important commercial and military navigation links
O !rotect shore-based inIrastructure
O !rovide beach and shoreline stability control
O $tabilize navigation channels
O !rotect navigation, coastal communities, roadways, bridges, etc.
O !rovide Ilood protection
O !rovide recreational activities
CHL supports numerous options Ior dealing with the Nation`s diverse coastlines. !roblems such
as chronic erosion, storm and Ilood damage, erosion adjacent to improved navigation projects,
and wetlands creation and protection are studied using the most appropriate combination oI
analytical, numerical, and physical modeling technologies.
The Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory (CHL) has the experience and expertise to develop, test,
deploy, maintain and operate water resource and environmental instrumentation systems. CHL
provides engineering support Ior hydraulic structures, harbor design and monitoring, dredging,
beach nourishment, inlet channel maintenance, land and hydrographic surveying, long term
environmental modeling, navigation eIIects monitoring, vessel tracking and sediment analysis.
CHL has the expertise to provide Ilood and storm protection structure analysis, technical review
oI engineering documents and value engineering support.
Dredging, the removal oI sediments shoals Irom navigation channels, is the primary activity that
assures saIe and eIIicient navigation.
CHL conducts a wide range oI research on dredging activities to support the Corps` navigation
mission, which is to provide saIe, reliable, eIIicient, eIIective and environmentally sustainable

waterborne transportation systems Ior movement oI commerce, Ior national security needs, and
Ior recreation.
CHL dredging related research spans a wide range oI topics including structures to stabilize
riverine channels to reduce shoaling (i.e., bendway weirs), evaluating innovative techniques Ior
dredging (see DOER Innovative Technologies), developing improved dredging equipment,
systems Ior monitoring and evaluating dredging contracts (see $ilent Inspector), predictive
models and tools Ior addressing dredging and placement processes and options (see DOER
Dredged Material Management), and methods Ior increasing beneIicial uses Ior dredged material