STABILITY OF RELOCATED STREAM CHANNELS

Data gathered to document the stability of streams at 103 sites in different regions of the United States where stream channels were relocated for the purposes of highway construction indicate varied responses. In comparison with prior stream stability, bank erosion of the relocated channel was the same at 45 sites, better at 28 sites, and worse at 14 sites. Channel degradation, mostly minor, was discerned at 17 sites. Length of relocation contributed significantly to channel stability only at sites where its value exceeded 250 channel widths; below 100 channel widths, the effects were dominated by other factors. Among the factors identified as critical to the stability of relocated channels are: growth of vegetation on banks (40 sites); bank revetment (33 sites); and stability of prior channel (19 sites). Factors identified as critical to instability are: bends in the channel (21 sites); erodibility of bed-bank materials (16 sites); and instability of prior channel (8 sites). Documented case histories of stream relocation projects on the scale done by highway agencies do not indicate the disastrous effects commonly associated with much larger scale river channelization projects.

• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/54075
• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Geological Survey

  F Street Between 18th and 19th Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20244

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Research, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Brice, J C
• Publication Date: 1981-3

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 184 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bank protection; Channels (Waterways); Erosion; Highway curves; Relocation (Facilities); Revetments; Road construction; Stability (Mechanics); Streams; Vegetation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Degradation; Relocation; Stream channels
• Old TRIS Terms: Bends
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Marine Transportation; I25: Design of Tunnels;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00373172
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-80-158 Final Rpt., FCP 35H1-062
• Contract Numbers: PO No. 5-3-0199
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1983 12:00AM