Factors in Stability of Relocated Channels
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 109, Issue 10
Abstract
Lateral and vertical stability are assessed for 100 unlined channels, in different parts of the United States, that were relocated by highway agencies 10 years or more before assessment. Median length of natural channel cut off by relocation is 50 times natural channel width, or about 2,100 ft (650 m). Of all the relocated channels, banks are assessed as stable at 78 percent and unstable at 22 percent; of the shorter relocated channels (less than 50 channel widths), banks are assessed as stable at 84 percent and no significant degradation was observed. After an initial period of adjustment, the relocated channels tend to have about the same stability as that of the prior natural channel. Increase in channel slope by relocation is not clearly related to instability; and stable channels of similar drainage area range widely in slope. Factors commonly associated with instability are: (1) Bends in channel; (2) erodibility of bed‐bank materials; (3) floods of large recurrence interval; and (4) instability of natural channel before relocation.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 109 • Issue 10 • October 1983
Pages: 1298 - 1313
Copyright
Copyright © 1983 ASCE.
History
Published online: Oct 1, 1983
Published in print: Oct 1983
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