This document discusses bridge scour, which is the removal of sediment around bridge piers and abutments due to moving water. Scour can undermine bridge foundations and has caused 46 major bridge failures in the US from 1961-1976. The basic components of a bridge are the substructure, which includes piers, abutments and foundations, and the superstructure, which is the deck. Piers can be column or wall types and are vulnerable to scour, which forms scour holes through vortex formation and increased shear stress on sediments. The document presents photos of bridge failures from scour and methods to monitor and protect against scour using gravel bags, rock armor, and sonar scour monitors.