Cold Regions Data Acquisition and Analysis for Section 227 National Shoreline Erosion Control Development and Demonstration Program Miami Park South, Allegan County, Michigan
Abstract
Bank recession resulting from erosion and mass failure is a consequence of hydraulic forces and geotechnical processes. One important set of processes is soil freeze-thaw (FT) cycling and associated ground-ice growth and melt. In regions where seasonal frost forms soil FT processes usually cause more bank recession annually than other processes. The magnitude of FT effects is variable depending on soil type water content and freezing rate. The stability of the bluffs along Lake Michigan in Allegan County has been well documented with quality data and this site was selected as a demonstration project for the National Erosion Control Development and Demonstration Program. Slope stability analyses of these bluffs indicated groundwater and soil FT effects as central to slope stability. Therefore dewatering of the slopes is a potential means of stabilization. This technical note documents field observations measurements and analysis for the first year of monitoring a high bluff at Miami Park South Allegan County Michigan. Our data acquisition equipment focused on freeze-thaw processes was installed in May 2004 at a pair of adjacent bluff locations. One site was located in a section of the bluff where groundwater was removed by pumping and the other was at a nearby control site without pumping wells. Identical instrumentation was installed at each site. The primary purposes of the field program were to evaluate: 1) the hypothesis of soil freeze-thaw as a primary cause of slope failure 2) the effects of dewatering on soil FT processes and 3) the timing effects and depth of any slope failures at either site.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA473830
Entities
People
- Christopher R. Williams
- Lawrence W. Gatto
- Michael G. Ferrick