Riverbank Protection

CIVE 717
Assignment 4 Problem 2
Nathan Holste, Jon Renholds & Mick Ursic
REF: http://project.jica.go.jp/laos/0245124E0/pdf/seminar_program_200603.pdf

Riverbank Protection
Purpose - Usually defined as measures to
strengthen the banks other than using riprap
Objective - Show examples of many different
types of riverbank protection
Types
Vegetation
Windrows and Trenches
Sacks and Blocks
Gabions and Mattresses
Articulated concrete mattresses
Soil-Cement
Retaining Walls
Many others possible
Sketches of different types of riverbank protection

Vegetation 3 Main Types

Shrubs

Trees
Application of
native
Mangrove
trees along
Hastings
River (near
Sydney,
Aust.)
Estuary along
with rock toe
protection
REF: http://www.hastings.nsw.gov.au/resources/images/McInherny-004.jpg

Application of small shrubs along with

terracing the slope in Wilmington,
North Carolina
REF: http://www.sotir.com/case_studies/study_wilmington_detail.html

Grasses
Application of vetiver grass for bridge
protection in Queensland, Aust.
REF:www.vetiver.org/TVN_past_pict_gallery_htm

Vegetation Structure- Fascines

Bundles of cuttings tied together
Placed in shallow trenches parallel
to the bank
Partially buried and staked in place

Creates log-like structure

that will quickly root, grow
and provide plant cover
Holds soil in place to protect
streambank from erosion
REF: Streambank Revegetation and Protection: A Guide for Alaska

Vegetation Planting Methods

Live Staking/Brush Mattress
Provides slope with
protective vegetative
covering
Provides erosion control
with fish and wildlife
habitat
Creates good plant
coverage and soil stability
Labor intensive

REF: Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices

10/98 by FISRWG

Vegetation - Advantages
Least expensive of
Riverbank
Protection
measures
Improves habitat
Aesthetically
pleasing
Before & After planting grass on eroded
slope on Ottawa River, Ottawa Canada
REF: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/detroitriver/report_chapter2.html

Vegetation - Disadvantages
On high banks tree roots may be
not able to stabilize toe and weight
of tree will cause bank failure when
undercut
May be hard to grow in some areas
May suffer wildlife or livestock
damage
Only certain plants can withstand
conditions (wetting/drying,
freeze/thaw, etc.)
Shrubs can result in significant
hydraulic resistance during flooding
Sketch of bank failure due to undercutting
and the weight of large vegetation

Windrows
and Trenches
Windrows involve piling sufficient
supply of erosion-resistant material
on bank
Trenches are similar except they are
buried to be less unsitely
When bank erodes further, erosionresistant material slides down and
protects bank as the figure
indicates.
Advantages
Very little design work needed
Easier to install on high banks

Conventional Windrow placement

REF: Top figure from WES Streambank Handbook CIVE717 website

Trench

Disadvantages
Will lose more bank material until
intersects erosion-resistant material
Inconsistent results and steep side
slopes result in high velocity rivers

Trench exposed and protecting bank

REF: Bottom two figures from Figure 8.8 in River Mechanics

Sacks
Filled with soil or sand-cement mixture
Primarily used for emergency work
during floods
Protects streambanks when proper
riprap isnt available
Advantages compared to stone riprap

Allow placement on steep slopes

Use locally available materials
Creates smooth boundary
Cobblestone effect may be more
aesthetic

Disadvantages
Highly labor intensive (more costly)
Susceptible to excess hydrostatic
pressure
Uniformly sized may require a filter
material
Vulnerable to environmental hazards

REF: Figure 8.9 in River Mechanics

Blocks

REF: www.wateronline.com/Content/ProductShowcase

REF: http://www.incacape.co.za/landscaping.erosion.control.htm

Manufactured with local materials or obtained commercially

Cast with openings to provide for drainage
Openings also allow vegetation to grow so that the root structure can
strengthen the bank

Can be used with a filter if erosion is a concern

Advantages

Durable, less susceptible to freeze/thaw

Easy pedestrian access to river
Low channel boundary roughness
Sufficient flexibility to conform to minor changes in bank shape

Gabions
Rectangular wire boxes (baskets)
filled with small-sized stones
Used where flow velocities are too
high for riprap of small stones
Made of heavy galvanized steel
with PVC coating for corrosive
environments
Stacked on relatively steep slopes
to resist river flows and unstable
banks
Need to be periodically inspected
and maintained from damage
Advantages

REF: www.ieca.org/photogallery/GabionIllustrations1.asp

Record of satisfactory performance

Disadvantages
Labor intensive
Expensive

REF: Ohio Stream Management Guide

Mattress Gabions
Shaped into shallow, broad baskets
Tied together side by side to form continuous
blanket of protection
Placed on a smoothly graded riverbank slope
May still allow some natural vegetation
growth

Site under construction

6 months later

REF: www.ieca.org/photogallery/GabionIllustrations1.asp

REF: www.ieca.org/photogallery/GabionIllustrations1.asp

Articulated Concrete Mattresses

Used in large rivers (Mississippi)
Precast concrete blocks held together
by steel rods or cables
Advantages

REF: Figure 8.11 in River Mechanics

Flexible, strong, and durable

Completely covers riverbank when
properly placed
Can be placed quickly
Excellent service record

Disadvantages

REF: www.greenvillebridge.com/1a1_jan_02.htm

~8% of surface area is open, allows

fines to pass through
Open spacing between blocks permits
removal of bank material
Difficult to fit sharp curves
Yearly inspection/maintenance
Expensive plant required for placement

Soil Cement
Good for arid
environments
where freeze/thaw
cycles are not likely
to occur.
Works well with
sandy soils where
vegetation growth
is difficult.
Has very little
strength and is
impermeable, both
weaknesses may
induce failure.
http://planning.co.la.ca.us/doc/case/TR53108_Vol5ApxB26
_FinalTechMemoBuriedSoilCementEval.pdf

Retaining Walls
Three distinct types:
1)

Gravity Walls

2) Cantilever Walls

3) Sheet-Piling Walls

http://www.stormcon.com/ecm_0401_retaining.html
http://www.menlopark.org/creek/MPSection4.pdf
Das, Baja M. 2004. Foundation Engineering, Fifth Edition
Thomson Brooks Cole.

Gravity Walls

Crib Structure on South Platte

Gravity walls
resist active and
passive forces by
the mass of the
structure.
Gabions - Waterton Glacier International Peace Park 2007
Figure 8.13 River Mechanics

Cantilever Walls
Cantilever walls are
used when there is a
large amount of soil
to be retained. The
counterfort wall is an
application that
increases stability.
These walls are
typically made out of
reinforced concrete.
An anchor may also
be used to increase
stability.

Das, Baja M. 2004. Foundation Engineering: Fifth Edition

Thomson Brooks Cole.
http://www.humes.com.au/ctryimages/storage%20walls%20main.jpg

Sheet-Piling Walls

http://www.cmisheetpiling.com/img/bigwall.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Sheet_pile_New_Orle
ans-09-04-05.JPG/800px-Sheet_pile_New_Orleans-09-04-05.JPG

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

1) Easily installed

1) Limited height due to flexibility

2) Highly effective

Retaining Wall Stability

Design concerns for all vertical structures include:
1)

Earth Pressure

2)

Hydrostatic Pressure (Groundwater)

3)

Soil Type (Erosive Capability and Strength)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commo
ns/b/bd/Retaining_Walll_Type_Function.jpg

4 typical modes of failure (Cantilever):

a)

Overturning

b)

Sliding

c)

Bearing Capacity Failure

d)

Deep-seated shear failure

Das, Baja M. 2004. Foundation Engineering: Fifth Edition Thomson Brooks Cole.

Conclusions
Many other types of riverbank protection
Other river stabilization measures
include riprap and river control structures
Many times these are used together,
however riverbank protection is a very
important part of overall river stabilization
to protect life and property
One of many tools for Riverbank Protection EPA guidebook for Riverbank Protection

REF: http://www.mtwatercourse.org

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