canalize

verb3

1. •
   To convert (a river or other waterway) into a canal.

   • . . . owing to the recent commencement of works about to be carried on on a large scale to improve and canalise the navigation of the Ebro . . . — 1854
2. •
   To build a canal through.
3. •
   To channel the flow of.

   • On the desk lay the final version of the Birth Control speech, mastered and canalized by the skilful Maisie. — 1927