Flood Risk Below Steep Mountain Slopes

by L. Douglas James, Utah State Univ, Logan, UT, USA,
David O. Pitcher, Utah State Univ, Logan, UT, USA,
Scott Heefner, Utah State Univ, Logan, UT, USA,
Brad R. Hall, Utah State Univ, Logan, UT, USA,
Scott W. Paxman, Utah State Univ, Logan, UT, USA,
Aaron Weston, Utah State Univ, Logan, UT, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Forum '86: World Water Issues in Evolution

Abstract:

Alluvial fans spread at approximately the critical hydraulic slope below apexes at canyon mouths. Periodic torrents that rage out of the canyons are devastating at the apex and have diminishing effects downstream. This paper addresses that hazard. The torrents are of two types. Floods obey open channel flow and sediment transport equations and leave deposits graded from coarse to fine as the flow slows. Debris flows move as water-lubricated masses that destroy by churning action and leave giant tongues of well mixed materials where water loss makes them too viscous to move further (Johnson and Rodine 1984). This paper addresses flood risk but considers the effect of debris flows in catchment headwaters. Refs.

Subject Headings: Floods | Sediment transport | Debris | Solids flow | Slopes | Alluvial channels | Water flow

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