THOUGHTS & PHILOSOPHY ACCORDING TO DERRICK
And my daughter, Dana Derrick says CLASS GOALS One of my goals is to have YOU say “I will never look at a stream the same again” Using the conceptual thought process, let’s break down complex problems into manageable units, & think the problem through to a goal-based solution. Your job is to think about what I (and other teachers in other classes) teach and decide whether it applies to either your situation, or situations you might encounter in the future And my daughter, Dana Derrick says “You have to have that brain thing going on.” She was talking about our basset Cleophus figuring out how to climb up on the bed, but hey, it applies here too!! THINKING HARD HERE!
And rivers meander too, these are natural river functions If you can, let your river be a river!! Let it breathe and have some freedom!
A Laboratory Study of the Meandering of Alluvial Rivers. By J. F. Friedkin, Captain, Corps of Engineers - 1 May 1945. If you can, let your river be a river!! Let it breathe and have some freedom!
USE GOOD SCIENCE, FUNCTION-BASED DESIGN, & RIVER EXPERIENCE IN DECISION MAKING
Goal and Function-Based Design (WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?)
WATER IN = WATER OUT SEDIMENT IN = SEDIMENT OUT CARBON IN = CARBON OUT SIMPLE GOALS: Photo by Nate Muenks, MoDOT
GOAL: a broad statement that reflects a desired outcome GOAL: a broad statement that reflects a desired outcome. “The project needs shade” OBJECTIVES: are specific statements that state GOALS in measurable terms. “In 5 years between 45-75% of the project should be shaded”
ASK YOURSELF, IF WE “DO NOTHING” DOES THIS PROBLEM GET BETTER OR WORSE ???
STEPS IN A PROJECT Initiate Plan & develop goals Gather data & analyze Conceptually develop how water should flow through the project Develop conceptual designs Analyze and develop the final design (P&S) Construction & Inspection: Original design team members should be involved in construction oversight Monitoring
i am a minimalist, ask not how high the hard protection has to go, but how low can we take it (long, low and hydraulically smooth is the idea)… Nudge the river, never fight it!!!! Minimal hard protection has to go hand-in-hand with laying back the banks to a stable angle & planting all of the appropriate vegetation (aquatic, emergent, pioneer, veg within the protection and mid- and upper bank areas) RE-USE EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO BE MOVED OR REMOVED
First Law of River Engineering: Complex Problems Often Have Simple, Easy-to-Understand WRONG ANSWERS
Daughter Dana, the Math major! Stabilizing a stream is sometimes kind of like grabbing a snake in the middle! Daughter Dana, the Math major!
Second Law of River Engineering: COOKBOOKS COOKBOOK Tweak existing techniques for the job at hand
Third Law of River Engineering: “Streambank Stabilization Aint Rocket Science, It Is Way More Complex Than That”, (Dr. Biedenharn) “With Many More Variables and Unknowns!!” (Dave Derrick)
Do U see a shadow from the astronaut Do U see a shadow from the astronaut? Picture taken by me at the Huntsville NASA display
Fourth Law of River Engineering: "Natural Systems Are Complex, And Disturbed Systems Are Even More Complex!!!" Charlie Elliott COE-LMVD, Retired Bernice, LA
Last Law of River Engineering: When in over your head, go get help! IF ANYONE SAYS THEY HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS, THEY DON’T!!!
PROJECT MANAGEMENT NO SURPRISES !! NO DRAMA !! NO BACKING UP !!
PERMITS - get regulatory involved early First thought from regulatory ….. Avoidance & minimalization…. List all alternatives – not just your best plan. Show how U have minimized already. Regulatory folks are 99% biologists, emphasize the effects of the project on the planet. Hint: roughness = habitat… Regulatory wants it done correctly, once!!
Luxuries We Like To Have The “Luxury of Space” The “Luxury of Time” (nature strengthens the project over time) The “Luxury of Monitoring” The “Luxury of Adaptive Management” Think conceptually regarding functions, use Derrick’s “LAW OF EXTREMES” to understand how things work. Example-ditch narrow & deep, or 5 ft wide & 1 inch deep
Aftercare You will never get everything correct the first time around If you do it was a miracle Or you are the luckiest person on the planet Or it has not rained yet Or the project is overbuilt All projects should take two years to construct. Build it, monitor over the first year, then repair & apply adaptive management as required (based on project goals), then monitor some more. Aftercare
For many stabilization and habitat structures there are no hard and fast design criteria. Judgment based on riverine experience & expertise and the ability to access field conditions and modify plans and construction accordingly are a significant component of a successful project. Stream has changed since design!! Stream has changed since permitting!!
THE WEATHER AINT NORMAL ANYMORE!!! “Blackwater's flooding spurs scrutiny” Washington Times - Washington, DC. Six of the 10 worst floods on record for the river have occurred in the past eight years, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers…….. THE WEATHER AINT NORMAL ANYMORE!!!
TOP 6 REASONS THAT I SEE STREAM PROJECTS FAIL Project goals and functions not thoroughly thought out Start and end points wrong (project did not go far enough upstream or downstream, or both) Inadequate keys Scour at the toe, or foundation failure of foundation –dependant stabilization methods Inappropriate use of redirective methods (not applicable) Folks simply did not understand where water was going and what was guiding it. YOU HAVE TO THINK LIKE WATER & SEE WHAT WATER SEES!
Protection starts late & ends early, resulting in erosion at both ends of the project!!! FEMME CREEK, ST. LOUIS AREA, MO.
STUDY NATURE - UNDERSTAND WHAT IS WORKING AND WHY!!
Attack Angles, Thalweg Profile, & cross-sections. Note: There are sine waves for both stream planform, & the vertical profile!
HOW STREAMS NATURALLY DISSIPATE ENERGY !! Purloined from Brad Humber, The Nature Conservancy Longitudinal Profile Speak about habitat in reference to facet types Cover/Breeding/Food
HOW TO TELL WHEN A POOL IS WORKING PROPERLY
Gravel-cobble bed, 1% slope, rural, pool-riffle-pool Looking US at a properly functioning pool, note roostertail dies out at DS end of pool during bankfull event, 9/1/2005, McKinstry Creek, Delevan, NY
Gravel-cobble bed, 1% slope, rural, pool-riffle-pool Looking US at a properly functioning pool, note roostertail dies out at DS end of pool during bankfull event, 9/1/2005, McKinstry Creek, Delevan, NY
Looking DS at a pool that is not functioning as well, fast water through length of pool. Needs to have more volume in pool, or roughness, McKinstry Creek, Delevan, NY
STABILIZE HEADCUTS FIRST, THEN WORRY ABOUT BANK INSTABILITY SECOND
HEADCUTS GONE BAD!!
Huge problems with perchlorate interception from the groundwater table Las Vegas Wash, NV. has degraded from a 3 ft deep by 100 ft wide channel in 1975, to a 40 ft deep by up to 1,000 ft wide channel in 1995 Huge problems with perchlorate interception from the groundwater table I am standing on the roots of dead wetland plants, over 2,200 acres of wetlands lost
Then 2,400 Acres of Wetlands
Now 2000 acres of wetlands lost ! Photo by Gerry Hester
SEVERAL LOW GRADE CONTROL STRUCTURES ARE BETTER THAN ONE BIG MONSTER GRADE CONTROL STRUCTURE
SELF-ADJUSTING, GRADE CONTROL STRUCTURES WORK WELL !!
Arresting an active headcut at the downstream end of the Articulating Concrete Mattress
Looking US 10 months after project completion, veg looking good, note mat has arrested a small headcut July 2004
Submar ACM system has arrested a larger headcut LOOKING US, JULY 2004 April 2006
1-year later, larger headcut arrested by Submar mat LOOKING US, JULY 2004 March 2007
Note uneven DS edge of adjusting mat. Pipeline still well protected. April 2007
A more uniform adjustment of the mat to the headcut, but still approximately 14 ft until the headcut gets back to the pipeline. Pix by Derrick March 18, 2009
Nine Mile Run. 7 million dollars to build, Nine Mile Run * 7 million dollars to build, * 63% of structures had functionally failed in 20 months: 100K & 10 days to re-rehabilitate 800 tons of stone 3,000 plants gobs of stone reused (use used stone) “Based on the interagency publication, Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, this introductory training covers: Stream corridor ecosystems and their components Ecological processes, structure & functions Characterization and analysis of stream corridors Development of a restoration plan Design, implementation, monitoring, and Integrated, iterative, adaptive, flexible approaches”.
9 Mile Run-Looking US at a Cross-Vane. Fish passage??? “Based on the interagency publication, Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, this introductory training covers: Stream corridor ecosystems and their components Ecological processes, structure & functions Characterization and analysis of stream corridors Development of a restoration plan Design, implementation, monitoring, and Integrated, iterative, adaptive, flexible approaches”. April 2007
Looking US-Structure 18: Engineered Rock Riffle (Structures 17 &16 in background) November 12, 2007
THE SECRET TO BANK STABILIZATION: MAKE THE BANK THAT IS PROTECTING SOMETHING TOUGHER & HYDRAULICALLY ROUGHER THAN THE OPPOSITE BANK (OPPOSITE BANK SHOULD BE SMOOTHER & WEAKER)
A bank protection project should start & end in stable (usually depositional) areas.
KEY ALL STRUCTURES INTO THE BANK
A key has one main function: to connect bank protection (or a river training structure) to the rest of the world, & not let the river “flank” (get behind) the improvement or protection works.
Flanked perpendicular grade control structure Flanked perpendicular grade control structure. Water should be flowing over this structure. “Based on the interagency publication, Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, this introductory training covers: Stream corridor ecosystems and their components Ecological processes, structure & functions Characterization and analysis of stream corridors Development of a restoration plan Design, implementation, monitoring, and Integrated, iterative, adaptive, flexible approaches”. 9 Mile Run - April 2007
VEGETATE THE KEYS TO MAKE THEM HYDRAULICALLY ROUGHER
Constructed Engineered Rocked Riffle with extended vegetated keys “Based on the interagency publication, Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, this introductory training covers: Stream corridor ecosystems and their components Ecological processes, structure & functions Characterization and analysis of stream corridors Development of a restoration plan Design, implementation, monitoring, and Integrated, iterative, adaptive, flexible approaches”. Sept 27, 2007
VEGETATION CAN HOLD YOUR WORLD TOGETHER !!!
ONONDAGA COUNTY BUILT A PROJECT WITHOUT A PERMIT BUFFALO DISTRICT REGULATORY ASKED ME TO BRING THEM INTO COMPLIANCE RESULT: 1-DAY HANDS-ON WORKSHOP FOR 44 PEOPLE 2700 PLANTS PLANTED IN 6 HRS
PLANT PLANTS ON A GRID (PERPENDICULAR & PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF HIGH FLOW)
Rubber tired backhoe digs 4-5 ft deep trench with a narrow bucket Rubber tired backhoe digs 4-5 ft deep trench with a narrow bucket. Pix by Bill Frederick
Many hands get things done quickly, 2,740 plants planted in about 6 hours. That’s why they call it a workshop. Pix by Derrick
TWO-STAGE SLIT TRENCH TECHNIQUE Plant other species that require less water than the willow. In this case Sycamore & Red Osier Dogwood
LET’S SEE HOW IT GROWS
BEFORE 5-15-2007 8:00am. Pix by Derrick
AFTER 5-15-2007 noon. Pix by Derrick
Black Willow, Streamco Willow, Red Osier Dogwood & Sycamore were planted using the Slit Trench bioengineering method. 40 RPM container plants (7 species of trees & shrubs) were planted in the green oval areas. Plantings form a grid to flow. No matter how water flows through the project, it encounters rows of vegetation (Living Dikes)
Aug 3, 2007 {less than 3 months after installation} Aug 3, 2007 {less than 3 months after installation}. Looking US at right bank floodplain. Pix by Mark Schaub
2 YEARS & 1 MONTH AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION Photos by Derrick JUNE 18, 2009
2 YEARS LATER-Onondaga Cr.@ Nichol Rd Bridge-DERRICK 6-18-2009 2 YEARS & 1 MONTH LATER-Looking US @ the planted floodplain (Mark hidden in plants). Very lush growth, dense as desired from a hydraulic point of view. 2 YEARS LATER-Onondaga Cr.@ Nichol Rd Bridge-DERRICK 6-18-2009
2 YEARS & 1 MONTH LATER-Mark with 10-14 ft tall willows. 2 YEARS & 1 MONTH LATER-Onondaga Cr.@ Nichol Rd Bridge-DERRICK 6-18-09
VINES – THE OVERLOOKED RESTORATION TECHNIQUE Use to shade stone & improve aesthetics
1 YEAR LATER-Looking DS @ planted Virginia Creeper vines on stacked stone wall. Great vine growth for first year 1 YEAR LATER-BUSHKILL CR-SITE 2-A - DERRICK 9-12-2010
“NO-MOW STONES” DESIGNED TO EFFECTIVELY KEEP RIPARIAN AREAS FROM GETTING ACCIDENTALLY MOWED. Swan Cr. @ Highland Park, Toledo, OH
“NO-MOW STONES” are dug into the ground several inches to reduce movement from vandals or equipment strikes.
2. 75 YEARS LATER-”No-Mow” stones ringing an important riparian area 2.75 YEARS LATER-”No-Mow” stones ringing an important riparian area. Stones are dug in to resist movement from any force 2.75 YEARS LATER-SWAN CREEK @ HIGHLAND-DERRICK 5-12-2011
Cleophus Speed Elvis Derrick!! Here he is in action!
RIGID OBJECTS IN DYNAMIC SYSTEMS TEND TO FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY DURING THE CATASTROPHIC EVENT!!
When the concrete-lined channel breaks up it is not pretty, Vensel Creek, Tulsa, OK
SELF-ADJUSTING, SELF-HEALING BANK STABILIZATION METHODS ARE BEST!!
Longitudinal Peaked Stone Toe Protection (LPSTP) As-built After a couple of high flow events stream has scoured at the toe & stone has self-adjusted Sediment has deposited landward of the LPSTP
Johnson Creek, MS. Pre-project rapidly eroding near-vertical bank {rural, sand bed, slope < 1%, pool-riffle-pool, meandering, incised} Mini case study: 1 of 3
Johnson Creek, MS. As-built protection consists of Longitudinal Peaked Stone Toe protection (LPSTP) applied at 1 ton/ lineal foot Mini case study: 2 of 3
Johnson Creek-LPSTP one year later (note volunteer willow growth) Mini case study: 3 of 3
Longitudinal Peaked Stone Toe Protection {installed 1977, picture taken Sept 2003} at Batapan Bogue, Grenada, MS. LPSTP has launched as intended (note steep angle of repose), armored the scour hole as expected, & mature vegetation is assisting with overall bank stability
CASE STUDY- Hickahala Creek Pipeline Protection Project at milepost 347.64 Tate County, Senatobia, MS Constructed Sept. 2003 Longitudinal Peaked Stone Toe Protection {LFSTP} with upper bank paving
Looking US at the entire stream trying to flow underneath the exposed pipeline, the first bend downstream of a long straight stretch is hard to repair, the water does not want to turn!!! This stream put sediment 1,000 ft in a straight line out into the farmer’s field.
Self-adjusting stone bank protection
Looking US at impinging flow impact zone Looking US at impinging flow impact zone. Note steep angle where LPSTP was undercut & launched (self-adjusted) April 2006
Note steep angle where LPSTP was undercut and launched (self-adjusted) Original angle of repose Launched angle of repose
4 years after construction, very stable, veg growing well LOOKING US, JULY 2004 4 years after construction, very stable, veg growing well March 2007
7 years later, bank steep near water but very stable, veg growing well, no rock appears to have launched since high flows hit shortly after construction April 19, 2011
KICK THE THALWEG OUT INTO THE CHANNEL AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT WHEN USING RESISTIVE BANK STABILIZATION METHODS (Bendway Weirs, Locked Logs, Rock Vanes, etc.)
THALWEG AERIAL VIEW OF LPSTP WITH LIVE SILTATION, SOIL CHOKE, LOCKED LOGS, BENDWAY WEIRS, & A PLANTED BANK
Thalweg moved out by Locked Logs &Bendway Weirs “Based on the interagency publication, Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, this introductory training covers: Stream corridor ecosystems and their components Ecological processes, structure & functions Characterization and analysis of stream corridors Development of a restoration plan Design, implementation, monitoring, and Integrated, iterative, adaptive, flexible approaches”. Old thalweg alignment new thalweg alignment CONSTRUCTION-DUCK CR. E. OF EASTERN AVE. PIX BY DERRICK 7-1-2008
From DS looking US @ thalweg trace. “Based on the interagency publication, Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, this introductory training covers: Stream corridor ecosystems and their components Ecological processes, structure & functions Characterization and analysis of stream corridors Development of a restoration plan Design, implementation, monitoring, and Integrated, iterative, adaptive, flexible approaches”. CONSTRUCTION-DUCK CR. E. OF EASTERN AVE. PIX BY DERRICK 7-1-2008
FINAL THOUGHTS Take as many classes and learn from as many folks as you can The stream is a system, analyze it that way Design for minimum structure and maximum function Imitate nature Max veg, think little, big, and transplants Design from the edges of the riparian corridor toward the stream, not the other way around Think thalweg and energy management Use flow visualization to achieve project goals
Man’s best friend, Cleophus Speed Elvis Derrick