Limnology

• Goal
  Experiment with river dynamics from a classic DOS-style overhead view. Sculpt banks, build dams or rock riffles, and watch how flow, erosion, and meanders respond.

• Controls

  • KeyActionNotes

  • ← ↑ → ↓Move yellow cursorCursor wraps around screen edges.

  • B Toggle bank ↔ uplandBrown squares are low banks; green squares are high upland.

  • L Lower/Raise elevationBank → water (cuts a side channel) or water → bank (fills it).

  • D Place / remove DamGray square stores 12 units of water before spilling.

  • R Place / remove RockSmall boulder stores 6 units—ideal for nudging flow.

• How the Simulation Works

  • Base flow enters from the left (headwaters) each tick and moves rightward.

  • Dams/Rocks hold back water until capacity, creating pooled blue shading; once full they spill.

  • Overflow – ordinary river cells deeper than 15 units breach vertically, carving new channels.

  • Erosion – deep, fast water can:

    • erode upland ➜ bank (green → brown)

    • erode bank ➜ water (brown → blue)

    • Meandering – every ~60 seconds the channel randomly migrates, trading one bank for the other.

• Tips

  • Stabilize first – use rocks for gentle deflection before committing big dams.

  • Cut new side channels with L on banks to relieve high-flow areas.

  • Overly deep segments (> 15 units) will breach—keep an eye on depth shading.

  • Want a braided system? Alternate banks and cuts; leave space for overflow to form.

• Enjoy reshaping the river!