Ice Jam at the Rio Blanco Diversion Weir on the White River in Colorado: A Case Study of In-Stream Structures and Ice

Abstract

In-stream structures constructed of natural materials are increasingly popular on US rivers. Examples include rock weirs that provide an aesthetic means of pooling and diverting flow for irrigation and lake filling. Though considerable progress has been made in the design and construction of these soft engineering structures, most applications to date have been on rivers that are unaffected by ice. Recent experience shows that the presence of ice can have unexpected and possibly negative results. This report presents a case study of a rock diversion weir that caused a freezeup ice jam, channel shifting, and upstream flooding. The event is described and its causes analyzed. Preliminary guidance is offered on designing against similar ice problems when locating these new types of structures on rivers with ice.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA484152

Entities

People

  • Andrew M. Tuthill

Organizations

  • Engineer Research and Development Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Temperature
  • Army
  • Case Studies
  • Cold Regions
  • Colorado
  • Construction
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Explosives
  • Floods
  • Flow
  • Geographic Regions
  • Guidance
  • Materials
  • New Hampshire
  • Open Water
  • Water

Readers

  • Archaeological Resource Survey
  • Hydrologic Risk Analysis and Mitigation.
  • Polar and Arctic Studies