This report has been prepared for design engineers, developers, and regulatory agency personnel interested in either designing new canal systems or rehabilitating existing ones. It describes the rational approach to canal design, the basic theory describing canal hydrodynamics and dispersion, guidelines for canal design, site surveys, canal design elements, and a procedure for evaluating an existing or proposed canal network. At the time of the original publication, F. W. Morris IV was Senior Water Resource Engineer of the South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, Florida.