LEGAL ASPECTS OF BACKWATER FROM CULVERTS

THIS PAPER DEALS WITH THE EFFECTS OF PONDING IMMEDIATELY UPSTREAM OF CULVERTS AND EXAMINES THE PROBLEM OF LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES TO PRIVATE PROPERTY. IT DOES THIS BY CITING SEVERAL ACTUAL AND HYPOTHETICAL CASES THAT ILLUSTRATE AT LEAST THREE SPECIAL CONDITIONS' /1/ FLOODING CAUSED ONLY BY NATURAL RUNOFF IN EXCESS OF THE DESIGN FLOOD FOR THE STRUCTURE; /2/ A PROGRESSIVE INCREASE IN RUNOFF CAUSED BY URBANIZATION OF THE WATERSHED; /3/ INCREASED RUNOFF CAUSED BY PHYSICAL CHANGES WITHIN THE WATERSHED, SUCH AS DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS OR DIVERSION OF FLOW FROM OUTSIDE DRAINAGE AREAS. THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR FLOOD DAMAGES IN EACH CASE IS EXAMINED IN THE LIGHT OF CASE HISTORIES. FINALLY, SOME GUIDELINES ARE DEVELOPED TO ASSIST THE HIGHWAY DRAINAGE ENGINEER IN COPING WITH THESE PROBLEMS. /AUTHOR/

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
  • Authors:
    • Gronfield, Ward P
    • Thorstenson, Frederick W
  • Publication Date: 1964

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Pagination: pp 8-15
  • Monograph Title: Drainage law; Flood plain planning; Depressed curb-opening inlets
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00203941
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Apr 1 1994 12:00AM