Handbook for Predicting Stream Meander Migration and Supporting Software (2004)

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T R A N S P O R T A T I O N R E S E A R C H B O A R D WASHINGTON, D.C. 2004 www.TRB.org NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM NCHRP REPORT 533 Research Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in Cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration SUBJECT AREAS Highway and Facility Design • Bridges, Other Structures, and Hydraulics and Hydrology • Soils, Geology, and Foundations • Materials and Construction Handbook for Predicting Stream Meander Migration P. F. LAGASSE W. J. SPITZ L. W. ZEVENBERGEN AND D. W. ZACHMANN OWEN AYRES & ASSOCIATES, INC. Fort Collins, CO

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM Systematic, well-designed research provides the most effective approach to the solution of many problems facing highway administrators and engineers. Often, highway problems are of local interest and can best be studied by highway departments individually or in cooperation with their state universities and others. However, the accelerating growth of highway transportation develops increasingly complex problems of wide interest to highway authorities. These problems are best studied through a coordinated program of cooperative research. In recognition of these needs, the highway administrators of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials initiated in 1962 an objective national highway research program employing modern scientific techniques. This program is supported on a continuing basis by funds from participating member states of the Association and it receives the full cooperation and support of the Federal Highway Administration, United States Department of Transportation. The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies was requested by the Association to administer the research program because of the Board’s recognized objectivity and understanding of modern research practices. The Board is uniquely suited for this purpose as it maintains an extensive committee structure from which authorities on any highway transportation subject may be drawn; it possesses avenues of communications and cooperation with federal, state and local governmental agencies, universities, and industry; its relationship to the National Research Council is an insurance of objectivity; it maintains a full-time research correlation staff of specialists in highway transportation matters to bring the findings of research directly to those who are in a position to use them. The program is developed on the basis of research needs identified by chief administrators of the highway and transportation departments and by committees of AASHTO. Each year, specific areas of research needs to be included in the program are proposed to the National Research Council and the Board by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Research projects to fulfill these needs are defined by the Board, and qualified research agencies are selected from those that have submitted proposals. Administration and surveillance of research contracts are the responsibilities of the National Research Council and the Transportation Research Board. The needs for highway research are many, and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program can make significant contributions to the solution of highway transportation problems of mutual concern to many responsible groups. The program, however, is intended to complement rather than to substitute for or duplicate other highway research programs. Note: The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the National Research Council, the Federal Highway Administration, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the individual states participating in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this report. Published reports of the NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from: Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet at: http://www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore Printed in the United States of America NCHRP REPORT 533 Project E24-16 FY’98 ISSN 0077-5614 ISBN 0-309-088143 Library of Congress Control Number 2004114420 © 2004 Transportation Research Board Price $32.00 NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. Such approval reflects the Governing Board’s judgment that the program concerned is of national importance and appropriate with respect to both the purposes and resources of the National Research Council. The members of the technical committee selected to monitor this project and to review this report were chosen for recognized scholarly competence and with due consideration for the balance of disciplines appropriate to the project. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied are those of the research agency that performed the research, and, while they have been accepted as appropriate by the technical committee, they are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. 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The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished schol- ars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. On the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and techni- cal matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Acad- emy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achieve- ments of engineers. Dr. William A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, on its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Acad- emy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both the Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts and Dr. William A. Wulf are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. The Transportation Research Board is a division of the National Research Council, which serves the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. The Board’s mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation through research. In an objective and interdisciplinary setting, the Board facilitates the sharing of information on transportation practice and policy by researchers and practitioners; stimulates research and offers research management services that promote technical excellence; provides expert advice on transportation policy and programs; and disseminates research results broadly and encourages their implementation. The Board’s varied activities annually engage more than 5,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org www.national-academies.org

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS STAFF FOR NCHRP REPORT 533 ROBERT J. REILLY, Director, Cooperative Research Programs CRAWFORD F. JENCKS, NCHRP Manager TIMOTHY G. HESS, Senior Program Officer EILEEN P. DELANEY, Director of Publications ELLEN M. CHAFEE, Assistant Editor NCHRP PROJECT E24-16 PANEL Field of Soils and Geology—Area of Mechanics and Foundations HOWARD H. CHANG, San Diego State University (Chair) CATHERINE CROSSETT AVILA, Avila and Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., Walnut Creek, CA STEVE G. GEORGOPOULOS, New York State Department of Transportation LARRY HARRISON, CH2M HILL, Denver, CO DAVID S. MUELLER, U.S. Geological Survey JORGE E. PAGÁN-ORTIZ, Federal Highway Administration THOMAS E. SCRUGGS, Georgia DOT ROBERT F. SHATTUCK, Vermont Agency of Transportation WILLIAM J. SNODGRASS, Ontario Ministry of Transportation J. STERLING JONES, FHWA Liaison Representative G. P. JAYAPRAKASH, TRB Liaison Representative AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge the comments, input, and methodologies provided by many reviewers of this handbook. Dr. C. Thorne (University of Nottingham, UK, Project Consultant) and Dr. R. Mussetter (Mussetter Engineering, Inc., Project Subcontrac- tor) provided comments on the handbook and staff support for the project’s internal testing and evaluation task (beta test). Dr. F. Halfen (Vice President, Photogrammetry, Owen Ayres & Associ- ates, Inc.) also provided comments on this handbook. Internal beta testing of the methodologies was conducted by Ms. C. Brennan (University of Nottingham, UK), Mr. D. Thomas (Mussetter Engineering, Inc.), and Mr. J. McConahy (Owen Ayres & Associates, Inc.); these three testers provided many helpful com- ments. External beta testing was conducted by several agencies, including the departments of transportation of Alabama, Alaska, California, Maryland, Nevada, and Wyoming; the City of Austin, Texas, also provided external beta testing. These agencies also pro- vided many helpful comments, and their assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

This report presents the findings of research to develop a practical methodology for predicting the rate and extent of channel migration in proximity to transportation facilities. The report presents, in the form of a handbook, an empirical methodology developed for predicting stream meander migration. The methodology presented in the handbook will assist practicing engineers in evaluating bridges and other structures and in determining the need for countermeasures to address the potential impacts of chan- nel meander migration over the life of the facility. This report will be particularly use- ful to structural, hydraulic, and highway engineers responsible for the design and con- struction of bridges or other structures in proximity to naturally meandering stream channels. Rivers prone to channel migration may be spanned by structures or paralleled by fixed highway alignments and appurtenances. Channel migration is a major consider- ation in designing bridge crossings and other transportation facilities. Channel migra- tion is typically an incremental process. On meandering streams, the problem at a bridge site may become apparent two or three decades after the bridge is constructed. Channel migration is often evident throughout large sections of a drainage basin and is not localized in the vicinity of a bridge. It is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the absence of specific disturbances, but it may be exacerbated by such basin-wide factors as land use changes, gravel mining, dam construction, and removal of vegetation. Remedial action, such as constructing guide banks or installing bank protection, becomes increasingly expensive or difficult as the channel migrates. Given the expense of countermeasures and difficulty in accurately predicting channel migration, there was a need for a methodology to evaluate the potential for channel movement and to predict future channel migration. Under NCHRP Project 24-16, Ayres Associates developed a methodology for pre- dicting the rate and extent of stream meander migration. After conducting an extensive literature review, the research team developed a screening and classification system for meandering streams. Using photogrammetric principles, the research team also devel- oped map and aerial photo comparison techniques. A stream meander prediction methodology was then developed, and limitations and sources of error were identified. Finally, the results of the research were incorporated into a handbook for use by prac- titioners. NCHRP Report 533: Handbook for Predicting Stream Meander Migration describes the application of the prediction methodology and provides illustrated exam- ples for applying the methodology as well as a CD-ROM (CRP-CD-48) that contains an ArcView-based data logger and channel migration predictor. The contractor’s final report for NCHRP Project 24-16 is available as NCHRP Web Document 67 and can be accessed by clicking on “NCHRP Web Docs” at www4. trb.org/trb/onlinepubs.nsf. A companion product to NCHRP Web Document 67 is FOREWORD By Timothy G. Hess Staff Officer Transportation Research Board

CRP-CD-49, a four-set CD-ROM that contains all meander site data acquired for this research. The database includes 141 meander sites containing 1,503 meander bends on 89 rivers in the United States and will be of particular interest to those conducting research in the area of stream meander migration.

1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Applications 1.1 Introduction, 1 1.2 Applications, 2 5 CHAPTER 2 Background 2.1 Project Description and Objectives, 5 2.2 River Channel Patterns, 5 2.3 Stream Meandering, 6 2.4 Hazards to Highways Caused by Incremental Meander Migration, 11 2.5 Hazards to Highways Caused by Avulsions and Cutoffs, 12 14 CHAPTER 3 Screening and Classification of Meandering Streams 3.1 Introduction, 14 3.2 Initial Screening, 14 3.3 Meander Classification, 14 3.4 Secondary Screening, 14 17 CHAPTER 4 Photogrammetry 4.1 Introduction, 17 4.2 Basic Principles of Photogrammetry, 17 4.3 Application of Photogrammetry to Meander Migration Analysis, 20 4.4 Map and Aerial Photography Requirements and Sources, 21 23 CHAPTER 5 Map and Aerial Photo Comparison Techniques 5.1 Introduction, 23 5.2 Manual Overlay Techniques, 23 5.3 Computer-Supported Techniques, 24 5.4 GIS-Based Measurement and Extrapolation Techniques, 25 26 CHAPTER 6 Sources of Error and Limitations 6.1 Introduction, 26 6.2 Map and Aerial Photo Errors and Limitations, 26 6.3 Measurement Error, 28 6.4 Limitations of Overlay Techniques, 28 30 CHAPTER 7 Methodology 7.1 Introduction, 30 7.2 Manual Overlay and Prediction, 30 7.3 Computer-Assisted Methodology, 36 7.4 Data Logger and Channel Migration Predictor, 37 7.5 Frequency Analysis, 44 47 CHAPTER 8 Illustrated Examples 8.1 Introduction, 47 8.2 Screening Task, 47 8.3 Classification Task, 47 8.4 Examples Using Aerial Photo Comparison and Prediction Techniques, 47 8.5 Example Using Frequency Analysis, 61 64 CHAPTER 9 Summary 65 REFERENCES A-1 APPENDIX A Downloading Microsoft TerraServer Images from the Internet B-1 APPENDIX B Delineating Banklines and Bends C-1 APPENDIX C Instructions for Installing Data Logger and Channel Migration Predictor and Description of the Circle-Fitting Algorithm D-1 APPENDIX D Tips for Delineating Banklines from Historic Aerial Photos for Use with the Channel Migration Predictor E-1 APPENDIX E Predicting Change in Migration Direction F-1 APPENDIX F Glossary CONTENTS