Since bed elevation changes are mainly dependent on the flow velocity and corresponding shear stress, it is possible to predict bed elevation numerically using velocity components. For the scour analysis due to channel contraction, a bed load transport model is developed and applied to estimate scour depth around coffer dam in the Mississippi River. During Phase I of the Lock & Dam No. 26 replacement project, a coffer dam was constructed to reduce the flow area approximately by 50%. Flow velocity increases due to the flow area reduction yields significant lowering (erosion) of the channel bed elevation. The proposed numerical model solves the sediment continuity equation using the finite element method to evaluate scour process in the vicinity of the coffer dam