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Avoiding Geohazards in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands by Using “Natural Stream” Principles J

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Avoiding Geohazards in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands by Using “Natural Stream” Principles J Avoiding Geohazards in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands by Using “Natural Stream” Principles J. Steven Kite, WVU Neal Carte, WVDOT Will Harman, Michael Baker Corp. Donald D. Gray, WVU Photo: W. Gillespie North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville, WV “Natural Stream” Principles? Fluvial Geomorphology Applied with Goal of Maintaining River & Stream Channels & Floodplains in Equilibrium. Developed from Relatively Unimpaired Streams “Packaged” by Dave Rosgen.1 Must Be Fine Tuned to Region’s flood meteorology, topography, geology, ecology, land-use, politics, & culture. 1Rosgen, D. L. 1996, Applied River Morphology, Wildland Hydrology, Pagosa Springs, Co. Why Use Natural Stream Principles in Engineering & Construction? 1. Aesthetics 2. Ecosystem Support 3. Long-Term Cost Effectiveness 4. Reduce Flood Hazard – In Face of Increasing Flood Severity Image from Will Harman, Michael Baker Corp. Floodplain = Part of River Floodplain: Low Energy We should not be surprised when, sooner or later, the River exerts its authority over its whole domain. Channel: High Energy Photo: J.S. Kite Mill Creek, Canaan Valley, W. Va What is the “Work” of a Stream? 1. Water Delivery Little Conemaugh River, Johnstown, PA Photo: J.S. Kite “Work” of a Stream? Todd Petty Photo Todd Petty Photo 2. Framework for Ecosystem Constructed Floodplain Structure Mitchell River Basin, NC Michael Baker Corp “Work” of a Stream? 3.3. SedimentSediment TransportTransport IgnoreIgnore SedimentSediment Transport:Transport: OtherOther SystemsSystems DoDo NotNot WorkWork Photo: J.S. Kite “Grade” Delicate Balance between sediment supply & system’s ability to transport sediment Ω sediment stream resistance power J.S. Kite S. Kite, Graphic: Frequency Wolman-Miller Dominant FlowHypothesis W Event Sediment Transport V U Cumulative Sediment Transport Entrainment Threshold 0.2 Dominant Flow Recurrence Interval (Years) 1 (1-3 Year) 2 10 20 200 100 Bank-Full = Dominant Flow Controlling Hydraulic Geometry Overbank Silt Loam Bank-Full Stage Sand & Gravel Channel Deposits Bedload Bedrock Graphics: J.S. Kite,J.S. WVU Kite Road Crossings Conventional Culverts May Be Migration Barriers & Block Sediment Transport Photo: J.S. Kite Culvert Area - Bankfull Channel Area Ratio Addresses Culvert’s Ability to Pass “Floods” D Culvert Area - Bankfull Channel Area Ratio = AreaCulvert / AreaBankfull Channel Graphics: J.S. Kite,J.S. WVU Kite Channel Area vs. Culvert Area: Non-aggrading and Aggrading Reaches 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 Culvert Area Culvert 3 2 No Aggradation Reaches Aggradation Reaches 1 Linear (1:1 Ratio) 0 0246810 Shavers Fork, W.Va. Approx. Channel Area White, J.A., 2004, MS Arch Culvert Photo: J.S. Kite Lower Culvert Allows Bank-Full Flow, Sediment Transport, Fish Migration Constructed Floodplain Higher Culverts for Image from Will Harman, Flood Passage Michael Baker Corp. Prefab Concrete Box Culverts ≈ Bridge Constructed Constructed Floodplain Constructed Channel Floodplain Image from Will Harman, Michael Baker Corp. Devotion Road (Rt. 1330) Bank Erosion Hazard MitchellMichael River Baker Basin,Corp. Photo NC Natural Stream Design May Rely on Structures (e.g. Cross Veins) Flow Directed to Mid-Channel to Reduce Bank Shear Stress Constructed Reach WVU Stream Design Workshop, Photo: J.S. Kite Mitchell River Basin, NC Good “Design” Must Address Dominant (1-3 Year) Flow, Not Just Big (10-200 Year) Floods Bank-Full “Flood” = Dominant Flow Constructed Channel Reach WVU Stream Design Workshop, Mitchell River Basin, North Carolina J.S. Kite, WVU Mitchell River at Devotion Road (Rt. 1330), End of Construction Floodway for Extreme (e.g. 50 year) Floods Channel for Dominant (e.g. 1-3 year) Floods Photo by Will Harman Michael Baker Corp. Color Overlay: J.S. Kite Common Flood Mitigation Error – Over-Widening of Channel Overbank Silt Loam Bank-Full Stage Sand & Gravel Channel Deposits Bedload Bedrock Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Common Flood Mitigation Error – Over-Widening of Channel Old Bank-Full Stage Old Bank-Full Flow Can’t Fill Banks & Can’t Transport Sediment Bedrock Ω sediment Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Common Flood Mitigation Error – Over-Widening of Channel Old Bank-Full Discharge Becomes a Flood Old Bank-Full Stage Old Bank-Full Flow Can’t Fill Banks & Can’t Transport Sediment Bedrock Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Common Flood Mitigation Error – Over-WideningOld Flood Becomes aof Worse Channel Flood Old Bank-Full Stage Old Bank-Full Flow Can’t Fill Banks & Can’t Transport Sediment Bedrock No Matter What the Mayor Says! Don’t Over-Widen Channels after a Flood. Re-Construct Bank-Full Channel Dimensions for Sediment Transport J.S. Kite, WVU Base Level & Profile Equilibrium Base Level = Lowest elevation to which a stream can erode (e.g. Sea Level, Lake, Falls, Downstream Reach, etc.) Image Source: http://www.rustycans.com/OhioFalls.jpeg Stream Adjustments to Lower Base Level • Equilibrium - Concave Profile Lake Bedrock Outcrop Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Stream Adjustments to Lower Base Level • Incision to Adjust Profile Retreating Knickpoint Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Lewis Run, Rockingham County, VA Large Gravel Pit Operations Lowered Channel Causing Retreating Knickpoint 1987 Topo Map: TerraServer-USGS Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Lewis Creek, Rockingham Co., Va., 10 Nov 1985 Photo: J.S. Kite Key to Reducing Flood Damage: Bank Stability Anthony Creek, Greenbrier Co., W.Va. Photo: J.S. Kite W.Va. Rt. 28/55, Near Champe Rocks: Before 1985 Flood USGS Photo Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU W.Va. Rt. 28/55, Near Champe Rocks: After 1985 Flood WV DOT Photo Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU W.Va. Rt. 28/55, Near Champe Rocks: Before 1985 Flood Old Channels USGS Photo Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Vegetation = Nature’s Bank Protection Image from Will Harman, Michael Baker Corp. Photo by Will Harman, Michael Baker Corp. Dense Root Wads Reduce Bank Shear Mitchell River Basin Photo: J.S. Kite Hydraulic Geometry in Plan View Sinuosity Rosgen Class Sinuosity = P = River Distance Along Thalweg / 1.0 - 1.2 Low 1.2 - 1.5 Moderate Straight-Line Distance 1.5 + High Meander- Radius of Belt Width Curvature λ = Meander Graphics: Wavelength J.S. Kite, WVU North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville: Before USGS Photo North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville Anticline Photo: J.S. Kite North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville: After WV DOT Photo North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville: After WV DOT Photo Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Rc= 250 m (800 ft) Rc= 310 m (1020 ft) Rc= 330 m (1080 ft) North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville, WV, 1987 Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU Rc= 290 m (950 ft) Rc= 310 m (1020 ft) Rc= 310 m North Fork South Branch (1020 ft) Potomac River, Photo: TerraServer-USGS Hopeville, WV, 1987 Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU 7 Upstream Meanders Mean Rc = 302 m Rc= 315 m Rc= 135 m (440 ft) (1030 ft) North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville, WV, 1987 Photo: TerraServer-USGS After Flood Mitigation Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU 7 Upstream Meanders Mean Rc = 302 m Rc=302 m Rc= 315 m (990 ft) (1030 ft) North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville, WV, 1987 After Flood Mitigation Graphics: J.S. Kite, WVU North Fork South Branch Potomac River, Hopeville 1985 1985 Flood Rc= ~400 m (~1300 ft) When ‘Rules of the River’ are not respected, adverse channel adjustments often result.” Photo: W. Gillespie (Luna Leopold, 1994) Graphics: J.S. Kite National Interactive Forum on Geomorphic Reclamation “Putting a New Face on Mining Reclamation” September 12-14, 2006 Farmington Civic Center Farmington, New Mexico Sponsored by the Office of Surface Mining, Western Region, and OSM’s National Technical Training Program www.ott.wrcc.osmre.gov/forums/Geomorphic%20Reclamation/nifgr.htm.
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