River Dynamics/ Fluvial Geomorphology
ESI has conducted numerous field studies of channel changes due to fires, floods, landsliding, and land uses. We employ field studies and numerical models to evaluate the relationship among changing sediment supply, sediment transport, and channel morphology. Applications include river restoration, hazard prediction, and identification of habitat forming processes.

Erosion Assessment/ Hillslope Geomorphology
ESI conducts field studies of erosion including landsliding, surface erosion, and bank erosion and their relationship to land use and natural disturbances, such as fires and storms. We also develop and apply numerical models to predict the susceptibility of hillslopes to erosion, including landslides and debris flows.

Sediment and Wood Budgeting
ESI constructs sediment budgets at the scale of hillslopes to entire watersheds employing a combination of field studies, aerial photography, and modeling. We have led the development of wood budgeting technology with applications for watershed management.

Terrain Analysis
Management and conservation of large tracks of land need to characterize geomorphically and ecologically relevant terrain attributes over large areas at low cost. ESI has developed a system that is based on current concepts in riverine ecology and on newly available techniques for topographic analysis of digital data.

Watershed Modeling
Field studies represent only snapshots in time and often fail to provide the bigger environmental picture. We have been a leader in developing interdisciplinary computer simulation models of forest fires, erosion, wood recruitment, and changes in aquatic habitats.