  We present local existence and uniqueness results for the following $2+1$
dispersive diffusive equation due to P. Hall arising in modeling of river
braiding: $$u_{yyt} - \gamma u_{xxx} -\alpha u_{yyyy} - \beta u_{yy} + \left
(u^2 \right)_{xyy} = 0$$ for $(x,y) \in [0, 2\pi] \times [0, \pi]$, $t> 0$,
with boundary condition $u_{y}=0=u_{yyy}$ at $y=0$ and $y=\pi$ and $2\pi$
periodicity in $x$, using a contraction mapping argument in a Bourgain-type
space $T_{s,b}$. We also show that the energy $\| u \|^2_{L^2} $ and cumulative
dissipation $\int_0^t \| u_y \|_{L^2}^2 dt$ are globally controlled in time.
