Erosion control practitioners are often called upon to work below the ordinary high water to complete projects in the areas regulated by the army corps of engineers. There is volumes of manuals for geomorphology and successful stream restoration and revegetation, and there is a depth of engineering manuals for large water bodies to install coffer cells and work off of barges. However the guidance on temporary works to divert small rivers, creeks and streams before and during construction begins is difficult to find. This presentation aims to fill some of that gap with strategies for working in live streams on the small or mid-size project that requires modification to the stream bed.