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https://hdl.handle.net/11681/4541| Title: | Assessment of environmental considerations in the design and construction of waterway projects |
| Authors: | Environmental and Water Quality Operational Studies (U.S.) Shields, F. Douglas. Palermo, Michael R. |
| Keywords: | Environmental analysis Water quality Environmental effects Environmental aspects Environmental management Waterways Water quality |
| Publisher: | Environmental Laboratory (U.S.) Engineer Research and Development Center (U.S.) |
| Description: | Technical Report Abstract: This report identifies factors and constraints in design and construction of waterways projects affecting environmental quality. Waterway projects covered in this report include channel modifications for both flood control and navigation, dikes, streambank protection, and levees. Locks and dams and flood control dams are not addressed. Flood-control channel modifications include clearing and snagging; channel enlargement, alignment, and relocation; and channel stabilization using grade-control structures or streambank protection. The information presented in this report was collected from literature reviews, personal interviews, and visits to Corps of Engineers (CE) field offices and waterway projects. Design and construction practices for each major project type are summarized and environmental impacts are identified. Recent developments in design and construction practices to reduce adverse impacts and ongoing relevant research are reviewed. Adverse environmental impacts of flood-control channel modification include loss of valuable habitats and habitat diversity, channel instability, reduction of aesthetic value, water quality degradation, and undesirable hydrologic changes. The severity and nature of environmental impact varies considerably from project to project. Methods to reduce adverse impacts include stream restoration, artificial instream structures, modified channel cross sections, and management of cutoff meanders. Immediate and eventual losses of backwater habitat are a major impact of navigation channel modification projects. The major environmental impact associated with dikes is the reduction in water surface area and loss of habitat diversity due to sediment accretion in the dike field. In some situations, the rate of sediment accretion may be reduced by constructing notches or gaps in the dikes. Major adverse effects of streambank protection include loss of riparian vegetation and reduction in the rate of channel migration. Innovative streambank protection designs that reduce adverse impacts feature vegetation and combinations of structure and vegetation. The major environmental impact of levees is related to their purpose : the creation of drier conditions on the landside of the levee is frequently associated with land use changes. Recent efforts to incorporate environmental considerations in levee projects include management of vegetation on and around levees for wildlife and aesthetics and recreational features. NOTE: This file is large. Allow your browser several minutes to download the file. |
| Rights: | Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11681/4541 |
| Appears in Collections: | Technical Report |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Report E-82-8.pdf | 26.56 MB | Adobe PDF |  View/Open |