The study explores the feasibility of maintaining and restoring sediment damaged aquatic and riparian habitats through managing reservoir releases to flush deposits of accumulated stream bed sediments. Considered are: (1) classifying situations where controlled flushing or scouring could be applied beneficially, predict or evaluate effects, and by purpose; (2) review of past successes or failures; (3) methods of predicting flow requirements; and (4) presentation of two case studies (Platte R., NE and Trinity R., CA). Two major problems are the reliability of predictive methods and the prediction of sediment loads from disturbed watersheds. Development of flows sufficient to contend with armored or cemented substrates and well developed bank vegetation may be especially difficult because of technical, legal and cost constraints.