ABANDONED RIVER CHANNELS
A river’s meanders move outward and down-slope if not constrained. These
movements can contribute towards formation of an avulsion in the river.
An avulsion is connected with a change in river alignment which results
in abandonment of all or part of a river channel.
The legal effect of avulsion is to fix the boundaries within the avulsed
area as they were at the time the avulsion became complete.
Man-caused avulsions and channelization are covered as are international
boundary river avulsions. Surveys and resurveys where avulsion has occurred
are discussed here as well. Litigation involving avulsions are also
covered in Chapter 7.
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