Assessment of Environmental Considerations in the Design and Construction of Waterway Projects.
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. 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. 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. Major adverse effects of streambank protection include loss of riparian vegetation and reduction in the rate of channel migration. The major environmental impact of levees is related to their purpose: the creation of drier conditions on the landslide 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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADA121361
Entities
People
- F. Douglas Shields Jr.
- Michael R. Palermo