Stabilization of an Alluvial Channel in an Urbanized Area

Sheydayi, Alex; ,

Stabilization of an Alluvial Channel in an Urbanized Area

by Alex Sheydayi, Ventura County PWA - Flood Control, District, Ventura, United States,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

Grade stabilization structures have been used for many years to control degradation of alluvial stream in the southwest. These structures result in reducing the gradient of the stream to an acceptable level commensurate with flow quantity and soil conditions. Grade stabilization structures have been constructed of rock, wood, metal and reinforced concrete, depending on stream size and life expectancy. The reinforced concrete structures have generally followed the configuration used for drop spillways in small dams. However, seldom can the design of these stream structures actually fit the design criteria developed for spillway application; and generally some simplifying assumptions are made for lack of adequate data. Furthermore, due to inherent conservatism built into the limited design criteria, use of these designs for instream criteria, use of these designs for instream application becomes very costly. This paper describes the application of hydraulic modeling to the design of instream grade stabilization structures. The major advantages of this approach is the ability to customize the configuration to the actual site conditions and to substantially reduce the construction costs from that of a conventional design.

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