TEMPORARY EROSION CONTROL CHECK DAMS

A SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT FOR THE PREVENTION OF STREAM POLLUTION BY SOIL EROSION IS DESCRIBED. THE PROJECT CONTRACT WHICH COVERS GRADING, DRAINAGE, PAVING, AND STRUCTURES, WAS DESIGNED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEMPORARY PROJECT WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROVISION. THE PROPOSED METHOD CALLS FOR TEMPORARY DITCHING TO DIRECT SURFACE RUNOFF FROM THE CONSTRUCTION AREAS TO THREE SEDIMENT BASINS LOCATED AT SEPARATE POINTS OUTSIDE THE HIGHWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY. TWO SMALL CHECK DAMS MADE OF CRUSHED STONE WERE INSTALLED ACROSS THE TEMPORARY DIVERSION CHANNEL FOR A BROOK. THEY WERE LOCATED NEAR THE END OF THE EXISTING STREAM CROSSING OF THE CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY. THE APPROXIMATE BOTTOM THICKNESS WAS 5 FEET AND THE TOP (SPILLWAY) ABOUT 1.5 FEET. RAINFALL IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLATION CAUSED FAILURE OF THE STONE CHECK DAMS, WHICH WERE THEN REPAIRED AND SUBSEQUENTLY FUNCTIONED SATISFACTORILY. EXPERIENCE WITH HEAVY RAINFALL, AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES THAT MAY BE APPLIED ARE RECOUNTED. TOTAL COST OF THE ORIGINAL DAMS, AND REMEDIAL WORK, AND REMOVAL OF TRAPPED SEDIMENTATION IS ESTIMATED AT $400.00. PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE CHECK DAMS ARE PRESENTED.

• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Tuz, N
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 31-4
• Serial:
  • Highway Focus
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue Number: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction sites; Costs; Dams; Ditches; Erosion; Erosion control; Photographs; Rainfall; Soils; Streams; Structures; Water pollution
• Uncontrolled Terms: Temporary
• Old TRIS Terms: Check dams; Remedies; Stream pollution
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Environment; Finance; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215618
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 5 1974 12:00AM