Large pieces of wood protect the road and river bank and provide
habitat for fish. Hydrology is the study of the properties of
water - its movement and distribution on the earth's surface, in
the ground, and in the air. We provide a scientific approach for
planning and design of highways and bridges threatened by
erosion and flooding. This protects our transportation system
while helping the salmon recovery effort and protecting the
environment. Hydrology and Geomorphology: Applied Earth Sciences
WSDOT staff apply the sciences of hydrology and geomorphology to
protection of our state's transportation system. Hydrologists
study hydrology and geomorphologists study all the processes
that shape the earth's surface. Our engineers, hydrologists and
geomorphologists provide technical assistance for highway and
bridge design and maintenance, flood-control, stream bank
protection, and emergency response. We help design
environmentally-friendly and cost-saving alternatives for the
protection of highways and bridges. O