Repairing Entrenched, Incised and Degraded Urban Streams - Techniques and Case Studies
Presented by: John A McCullah
Education Track: Wetland, Stream Bank, and Shoreline Restoration
Course Length: Full Day
Credit: 7 Professional Development Hours
Technical Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Urbanization, with its associated decrease in overall infiltration and increases in impermeable surfaces, along with a proliferation of hydrologic and hydraulic sciences that get the water off the site, frequently result in incision of the associated urban streams. Urban stream entrenchment, incision, and degradation are a high-priority, national issue leading to poor water quality, loss of riparian function, loss of aquatic habitat and costly threats to infrastructure. The new provisions of the Clean Water Act are an attempt to deal with these issues. Post-construction BMPs and revegetation requirements, along with LID and other reductions of hydromodification during development and construction are now required as part of the NPDES program. This course will deal with some of the tools needed to design and build naturally-functioning stream, river, and creek reaches. The material will be presented with the extensive use of Case Studies. John McCullah will present projects utilizing Bioengineering and Environmentally-Sensitive techniques from US, and Canada, to New Zealand, some spanning over 15 years. In 2005, the Transportation Research Board and National Cooperative Highway Research Board published NCHRP Report 544 Environmentally Sensitive Channel and Bank Protection Methods Report 544 Environmentally Sensitive Channel and Bank Protection Methods. This report, authored by J. McCullah, D. Gray, and D.F. Shields was published on CD and includes over 50 Techniques, from re-directive Rock Vanes and Bendway Weirs to Vegetated Rip Rap and Longitudinal Stone Toe with Live Siltation. It incorporates design considerations, construction specifications and detailed drawings. An Educational Version of this design guidance document will be provided free to all class attendees.
Learning Objectives:
- Basic Fluvio-geomorphology, stream form and process, Lanes equation, CEM etc.
- The NCHRP Report and current research.
- Environmentally-sensitive techniques.
- Redirective vs resistive.
- Case Studies and Dirt Time video clips to take you there.
Interested in this course? Please contact IECA Education at: education@ieca.org | 303-640-7554