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Robinson Bayou Bank Stabilization Case Study

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Robinson Bayou Bank Stabilization Case Study case study THIS DESIGN MAINTAINED THE NATURAL RIPARIAN HABITAT WHILE STABILIZING THE BANKS OF A TIDALLY- INFLUENCED BAYOU USING ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY, BIO-ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS; CREATING A NICE AMENITY LAKE, TRAIL, AND BRIDGE, AND INCREASING SUSTAINABLE, HIGH QUALITY WETLANDS IN THE PROJECT AREA. Robinson Bayou Bank Stabilization disciplines + services hydraulic & hydrologic analyses BACKGROUND Huitt-Zollars conducted preliminary civil engineering Robinson Bayou is a natural, tidally- engineering work including field and bridge engineering influenced waterway located in League City, geotechnical investigations, topographic trails & greenspace Texas, that flows into Clear Lake and then surveys, and identification of trees which wetland creation to the Galveston Bay. Heavy rain events should be protected under the City’s Tree were causing significant bank erosion Protection Plan. surveying along Robinson Bayou from Abilene Street geotechnical to FM 270. The erosion threatened adjacent A report describing the results of the USACE permitting commercial and residential developments. investigations and providing three conceptual designs with cost estimates client In addition, the erosion had exposed the was submitted to the City. Huitt-Zollars root systems of large trees along the bayou, prepared final design documents based on John Baumgartner increasing concerns that the trees would fall the plan selected by the City, coordinated City of League City into the bayou and create a dam at the FM the plan with the US Army Corps of Engineers 518 and FM 270 bridges. The City sought (USACE), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and General Land Office of Texas location a solution to address these problems while League City, Texas retaining the natural aesthetic appeal of (GLO), and obtained required permits. As part the riparian habitat along this reach of the of the USACE Permit, Huitt-Zollars utilized bayou. USACE’s Stream Assessment Tool (SAT) to determine impacts and stream mitigation Winner of the 2015 PROJECT APPROACH requirements, the first time this tool had been used in the Galveston District. Project of the Year The City of League City selected Huitt-Zollars to provide professional engineering and Award from the A tree preservation plan was also prepared surveying services to develop eco-friendly and submitted to the City for approval. American Public Works solutions to mitigate the bank erosion Huitt-Zollars also provided bidding and problems along Robinson Bayou from 100 Association, Texas construction phase services. feet upstream of Abilene Street downstream Chapter to the FM 270 Bridge. www.huitt-zollars.com ©2018 Huitt-Zollars, Inc. Innovative bio-engineering bank disciplines + services hydraulic & hydrologic analyses wetland creation stabilization systems were used civil engineering surveying to protect trees and control the bridge engineering geotechnical eroding banks of the bayou. trails & greenspace USACE permitting The project design involved the use of several innovative bank stabilization systems. In addition to standard earthen bank stabilization, these systems included the use of riprap, coir logs, geoweb walls, rock gabions, and timber poles for selected tree protection and wetland creation. This integrated bio-engineering solution maintains the natural riparian habitat and wetlands along the bayou while protecting the community from property damage associated with continued erosion and flooding. Plus, Huitt-Zollars required the placement of the rocks in the gabions to have their flat sides facing out. This resulted in a nice seating area for the local patrons of a BBQ restaurant to sit on the gabions while enjoying their lunch. SOLUTIONS During the initial investigation, Huitt-Zollars Huitt-Zollars developed a bio-engineering inspected a large scour hole just downstream of Abilene Street. High-velocity flows over an Huitt-Zollars, utilizing their stormwater design solution which preserved the natural drainage expertise and understanding of riparian habitat of the bayou, enhanced the existing drop structure were causing the scour. Huitt-Zollars determined that the City the local community, partnered with the City environment, and served the needs of the and local regulatory agencies to implement community. owned the property adjacent to the bayou in the area of the scour hole. The design an innovative, eco-friendly design solution. team saw the potential use of this land as This has ultimately increased the amount of Huitt-Zollars’ design included a pedestrian sustainable wetlands in the Robinson Bayou trail and bridge over Robinson Bayou that an opportunity to widen the bayou, which would slow the flood flows from the drop area and has created sustainable benefits. connects the City’s trail system to the Huitt-Zollars also led public meetings on the project area. This provides neighborhood structure, thereby reducing further scour while at the same time creating an amenity project to discuss it with local residents and residents with access to hiking and biking business owners. trails for recreational use and easy access for fishing and recreation. The pedestrian to commercial development along the bayou. trail encompassed the new pond, giving the citizens easy access. case study.
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