Siting Low Profile Grade Control Structures for the Muddy Creek Demonstration Stream Restoration Research Project

Wittler, R. J.; Eby, D. R.; Keeney, S. D.; Watson, C. C.; Abt, S. R.; ,

Siting Low Profile Grade Control Structures for the Muddy Creek Demonstration Stream Restoration Research Project

by R. J. Wittler,
D. R. Eby,
S. D. Keeney,
C. C. Watson,
S. R. Abt,

Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: North American Water and Environment Congress & Destructive Water

Abstract:

In the Fall of 1993 Reclamation began a demonstration stream restoration research project on Muddy Creek, near Great Falls, Montana. Muddy Creek captures return irrigation flow from a nearby irrigation district. The return flows increase the average discharge in Muddy Creek to eight times the historical mean. The increase in discharge in Muddy Creek since the 1930s has led to severe incision of the channel. In the lower reaches of the creek incision approaches ten meters in elevation. The demonstration stream restoration project includes grade control and lateral control using chevron weir rock ramps and barbs. This paper describes the process of siting the rock ramps based upon a water surface profile of the reach and a site reconnaissance. Siting criteria include discontinuities in the low-water water suthce proffle, identification of a stable reach of the creek for emulation, access for constrnction, and economics of the project.

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