Evaluation of Debris Flow Removal Protocol, Mitigation Methods, and Development of a Field Data Sheet

The purpose of this report is to discuss protocol for the removal of debris on roadways, maintaining worker safety, recording of key information for future use, and selecting feasible mitigation measures to protect the roadway from debris-flow hazards. Collection of data during removal of debris from roadways will provide a database that may assist in ranking and/or mitigating roadways with frequent debris-flow hazards. A debris flow, sometimes referred to as a mudslide, is a flowing mixture ranging from watery mud to thick, rocky mud that can carry large items such as boulders, trees, and other debris. Debris flows travel rapidly down a slope along drainage channels or stream valleys, often transporting and depositing a large volume of material in areas where the gradient flattens, such as roadways. Because of their relatively high density and viscosity, debris flows can move, and even carry away, vehicles and other objects as large as bridges and railroad cars. The first part of this report provides a brief description of historic debris flow locations throughout Colorado. The second part details what systems other state and federal agencies have in place to collect information regarding debris flows and unstable slopes. As background research for this report, numerous state and federal agencies were contacted to determine what methods—if any—were in use by other departments of transportation or geological surveys.

• Record URL:
  https://www.codot.gov/programs/research/pdfs/2006/debris.pdf/
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Colorado School of Mines

  Office of Research, 1500 Illinois Street
  Golden, CO  United States  80401

  Colorado Department of Transportation

  Research Branch
  Denver, CO  United States  80204
• Authors:
  • Santi, Paul M
  • Soule, Nathan C
  • Brock, Rebecca J
• Publication Date: 2006-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 25p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Databases; Debris flows; Debris removal; Debris slides; History; Mudslides
• Geographic Terms: Colorado
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; History; I42: Soil Mechanics; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01047595
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CDOT-2006-16
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 4 2007 9:07AM