This research involves the study of the hydraulic and geotechnical aspects of bank erosion and slope stability in the lower Roanoke River near Scotland Neck, North Carolina, where the river water elevation changes mostly depending on the discharge patterns from an upstream dam. The processes and the major factors that affect river bank stability include: 1) fluvial erosion due to shear stresses induced by hydraulic forces, and 2) slope failure due to changes in bank geometry, river water elevation, pore pressures, seepage forces and soil shear strength. Due to changes in ground table, unsaturated soil behavior will also play important role. Hence, slope stability analysis which integrates erodibility effects and unsaturated soil mechanics is expected to provide better prediction of a riverbank failure and erosion in the field.  A comprehensive study of the processes and factors affecting river bank stability downstream a dam can provide a more ecologically-friendly discharge pattern which can limit the damaging effects of bank failure and erosion.