Evaluation of bendway weir bank stabilization techniques for stream restoration

Abstract

In this study, velocity distribution patterns in a stream in the presence of bendway weirs were assessed for their effectiveness in bank stabilization in a demonstration site in the Las Vegas Wash, Nevada, USA. Streambanks of the target stream had been stabilized previously by longitudinal stone toe protection (LSTP) and stone spur dikes. Stone toes are meant to protect the toe of streambanks. Similarly, stone spur dikes consist of a series of dikes (of a crest relatively higher than that of the bendway weirs) protruding at right angles from the convex side of the streambanks. Velocity measurements were taken to evaluate the velocity field in the channel in the following three different cases: Case 1, channel with LSTP and the pre-existing spur dikes; Case 2, channel with LSTP with no deflecting structures (spur dikes removed); and Case 3, channel with LSTP and bendway weirs. The results suggested that bendway weirs caused a reduction in the uncontrolled high-velocity flow near the outer bank (right bank), allowing only controlled flow. Thus, bendway weirs were found to be more effective than spur dikes in reducing the velocity of flow at the vulnerable weir zones near the outer banks, thus providing a means to stabilize the streambanks.

Keywords:

• Streambank stabilization
• restoration
• spur dikes
• Las Vegas Wash

Acknowledgement

This is a subset of the larger dataset under Urban Flood Demonstration Project funded by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. We would like to acknowledge Dr. Mark Stone's help in designing the overall project and data collection. Achyut Adhikari and Candi Schulman also contributed in data collection.

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