StormCon 2021 – John McCullah Presents Alternatives to Rip Rap- Environmentally-Sensitive Stream Stabilization Methods and Case Studies

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11:00 am – 7:00 pm Toronto Time (8:00 am – 4:00 pm Pacific Time)

Overview

In 2005 the Transportation Research Board received a “problem statement” from its member Highway Department DOTs – “Are there any alternatives to the traditional bank and channel protection measures, such as riprap, gabions, cable-tied blocks, or grout-filled bags, that offer beneficial “in-stream functions”, such as: habitat diversity, fish passage, water quality and aquatic habitat?”

A 3-year research project was awarded to Salix Applied Earthcare to develop a list of environmentally-sensitive methods, such as bioengineering, root wads, large woody debris, bendway weirs, and engineered riffles, intended to protect highway facilities from erosion, incision, and lateral migration.

This course is presented by the research Principle Investigator who is also a CPESC, fluvio-geomorphologist, and bioengineering practitioner who also, as a Licensed Contractor, has been building and monitoring dozens stream projects that utilize NCHRP Report 544 as “the basis of design”.

Techniques that are 30% cheaper than riprap and get stronger with time. Not only will the techniques be presented, both before, during and after construction but other topics will be covered also, such as; the use of clean, self-launching (well-graded) stone to facilitate construction with no water quality impacts, the use of re-directive, thalweg management strategies that effectively move the high velocity flow vectors away from the sensitive banks, and the use of biotechnical methods that combine vegetative and structural in a mutually beneficial manner. Methods that grow stronger with time.

The “proof is in the pudding” so this course is packed with documented case studies using photos and Dirttime.tv video clips. See the techniques employed in Alberta, AK, New Zealand, California, and Malaysia.

Learning Objectives

1. The learner will learn techniques that are 30% cheaper than riprap and get stronger with time
2. The learner will learn the use of clean, self-launching (well-graded) stone to facilitate construction with no water quality impacts.
3. The learner will learn the use of re-directive, thalweg management strategies that effectively move the high velocity flow vectors away from the sensitive banks
4. The learner will learn the use of biotechnical methods that combine vegetative and structural in a mutually beneficial manner. Methods that grow stronger with time.

Instructors

John McCullah, CPESC #311, Geomorphologist, Community College Instructor, CA Contractor, SALIX Applied Earthcare LLC

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