Erroneous perceptions of fluvial hazards

Abstract Many times human perceptions of geomorphic hazards are fallacious. Three types of misperceptions are (1) a perception of stability, which leads to the conclusion that any change is not natural, (2) a perception of instability, which leads to the conclusion that change will not cease, and (3) a perception of excessive response, which leads to the conclusion that changes will always be major. Examples, which include the Snake, Ohio, Colorado, and Nile Rivers, incised channels, and Rocky Mountain Streams demonstrate how these perceptions can lead to litigation and unnecessary engineering works.