Jordan River Corridor Preservation Study
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FFINALINAL RREPORTEPORT F I N A L R E P O R T Jordan River Corridor River JJordan o Preservation Study PPreservation r r d e a s n e r JJordanordan RiverRiver CCorridororridor R v a i v t e i o r PPreservationreservation SStudytudy n C S o t r C I T Y O F u r i d Prepared for d y o CCityity ooff SSaratogaaratoga SpringsSprings r S ARATOGA S PRINGS Prepared by JE Fuller/Hydrology & Geomorphology, Inc. C I T Y O F and S ARATOGA S PRINGS March March 2007 2007 F I N A L R E P O R T JJordanordan RRiveriver CCorridororridor PPreservationreservation SStudytudy Prepared for City of Saratoga Springs 1307 NORTH COMMERCE DRIVE SUITE 200 SARATOGA SPRINGS, UTAH 84043 Prepared by JE Fuller/Hydrology & Geomorphology, Inc. 8400 S KYRENE RD SUITE 201 TEMPE, AZ 85284 and 215 SOUTH STATE STREET SUITE 1000 SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111 March 2007 Jordan River Corridor Preservation Study City of Saratoga Springs JE Fuller/Hydrology & Geomorphology, Inc. 8400 S. Kyrene Rd., Suite 201 Tempe, AZ 85284 www.jefuller.com 2-27-07 CH2M HILL 215 South State St., Suite 1000 Salt Lake City, UT 84111 www.ch2m.com Executive Summary Riverine erosion causes over $450 million in damages each year with the most severe erosion occurring in the Arid West (FEMA, 1999). Unlike flood inundation hazards, where damaged structures may be repaired or replaced, riverine erosion not only completely destroys structures in its path, but also removes the land on which the building stood, eliminating any chance of reconstruction. Therefore, erosion management is a key element for floodplain management. An erosion hazard zone was defined for the Jordan River from Utah Lake to 9600 North in the City of Saratoga Springs. The erosion hazard zone (see Figure E-1) was delineated based on state-of-the-art geomorphic mapping, field investigations, historical evidence of river movement, sediment transport analyses and principles of river mechanics. The geomorphic mapping indicates that the Jordan River lies within a several mile wide geologic floodplain in which the river has migrated over the past several thousand years. Field investigation documented an abundance of recently eroded cutbanks, as well as evidence of recent long- term degradation (scour), probably caused by dredging of the river. Comparison of historical aerial photographs and maps dating to 1856 reveals low to moderate rates of channel movement over the past 150 years. Sediment transport studies concluded that bed and bank materials are erodible, even at the low velocities experienced in the study reach. River behavior models predict continued meander migration and local bank failures that will continue to impact properties adjacent to the river. FIGURE E-1 Jordan River Erosion Hazard Zone (Red Line). JMS WB022007005SLC\FINALJORDANRIVERCORRIDORPRESERVATIONSTUDYV1.DOC ES-1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alternatives for management of the riverine erosion hazard zone are proposed for consideration by City planners and floodplain managers. The management alternatives include monitoring and inspecting future river behavior, best management practices for maintenance of existing facilities, development guidelines for lands within the erosion hazard zone, and design guidelines for new road crossings or bank stabilization. JMS WB022007005SLC\FINALJORDANRIVERCORRIDORPRESERVATIONSTUDYV1.DOC ES-2 Contents 1.0 Introduction..................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Study Objective ...............................................................................................1-1 1.2 Study Limits.....................................................................................................1-1 1.3 Reach Definition..............................................................................................1-1 1.4 Report Organization.......................................................................................1-3 2.0 Data Collection ............................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Data Collection................................................................................................2-1 2.2 Hydrology........................................................................................................2-1 2.3 Hydraulics........................................................................................................2-3 2.3.1 Aerial Photography...........................................................................2-7 2.3.2 Historical Maps..................................................................................2-7 2.3.3 Topographic Data..............................................................................2-8 2.3.4 Soil & Geologic Data .........................................................................2-8 2.3.5 Geographic Data................................................................................2-8 3.0 Field Investigation ......................................................................................................3-1 3.1 Field Observations ..........................................................................................3-1 3.2 Sediment Sampling.......................................................................................3-15 3.3 Bank Stability Assessment...........................................................................3-19 3.3.1 Natural & Man-Made Erosion Barriers........................................3-23 3.4 Summary........................................................................................................3-24 4.0 Geomorphic Analyses ................................................................................................4-1 4.1 Stream Classification ......................................................................................4-1 4.2 Geomorphic Landform Mapping .................................................................4-2 4.3 Empirical Geomorphology ............................................................................4-8 4.4 Summary........................................................................................................4-15 5.0 Bed Elevation Analysis...............................................................................................5-1 5.1 Base Level.........................................................................................................5-1 5.2 Comparison of Historical Topographic Data..............................................5-1 5.3 Longitudinal Profile........................................................................................5-9 5.4 Dredging ........................................................................................................5-10 5.5 Equilibrium Slope .........................................................................................5-11 5.6 Scour Estimates .............................................................................................5-14 5.7 Armoring........................................................................................................5-16 5.8 Summary........................................................................................................5-18 6.0 Sediment Transport Analysis....................................................................................6-1 6.1 Sediment Supply .............................................................................................6-1 6.2 Sediment Continuity Analysis ......................................................................6-1 6.3 Summary..........................................................................................................6-3 7.0 Lateral Migration Analysis........................................................................................7-1 7.1 Historical Channel Position Data .................................................................7-1 7.2 Channel Position Change...............................................................................7-7 7.3 Channel Width Change..................................................................................7-8 JMS WB022007005SLC\FINALJORDANRIVERCORRIDORPRESERVATIONSTUDYV1.DOC iii CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 7.3.1 Channel Pattern Change...................................................................7-8 7.3.2 Changes in Response to Flood.........................................................7-9 7.3.3 Cross Section Change........................................................................7-9 7.3.4 Potential Lateral Erosion From Expected Vertical Change .........7-9 7.3.5 Lateral Erosion Hazard Zone Delineation.....................................7-9 7.4 Summary........................................................................................................7-11 8.0 River Management Guidelines.................................................................................8-1 8.1 General Recommendations............................................................................8-1 8.1.1 Erosion Hazard Zone........................................................................8-2 8.1.2 Potential Urbanization & Development Impacts..........................8-3 8.1.3 Bank Stabilization Measures............................................................8-3 8.1.4 River Crossing Design Guidelines..................................................8-4 Tables 2-1 Jordan River Flood Discharge Data (cfs) 2-2 Jordan River Flow Seasonality Data (cfs) 2-3 Jordan River Flow Duration Data (cfs) 2-4 HEC-RAS 100-Year Hydraulic