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    Introduction To Check Dams: Kabul, Afghanistan February 2011

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    yousuf
    This document provides an introduction to check dams, which are structures used to stop erosion in watersheds. Check dams are typically used in collection zones but can also be used in transport zones with caution. The key components of a properly designed check dam include a control section to keep water in the channel, an energy dissipation section, being keyed into the channel bottom and banks, and appropriate spacing between check dams. Check dams work to stop the degradation of channels and gullies that would otherwise continue eroding and widening without intervention. Design guidance is available to ensure check dams and other grade control structures are properly implemented.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Introduction To Check Dams: Kabul, Afghanistan February 2011

    Uploaded by

    yousuf
    216 views50 pages
    This document provides an introduction to check dams, which are structures used to stop erosion in watersheds. Check dams are typically used in collection zones but can also be used in transport zones with caution. The key components of a properly designed check dam include a control section to keep water in the channel, an energy dissipation section, being keyed into the channel bottom and banks, and appropriate spacing between check dams. Check dams work to stop the degradation of channels and gullies that would otherwise continue eroding and widening without intervention. Design guidance is available to ensure check dams and other grade control structures are properly implemented.

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    This document provides an introduction to check dams, which are structures used to stop erosion in watersheds. Check dams are typically used in collection zones but can also be used in transport zones with caution. The key components of a properly designed check dam include a control section to keep water in the channel, an energy dissipation section, being keyed into the channel bottom and banks, and appropriate spacing between check dams. Check dams work to stop the degradation of channels and gullies that would otherwise continue eroding and widening without intervention. Design guidance is available to ensure check dams and other grade control structures are properly implemented.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    216 views50 pages

    Introduction To Check Dams: Kabul, Afghanistan February 2011

    Uploaded by

    yousuf
    This document provides an introduction to check dams, which are structures used to stop erosion in watersheds. Check dams are typically used in collection zones but can also be used in transport zones with caution. The key components of a properly designed check dam include a control section to keep water in the channel, an energy dissipation section, being keyed into the channel bottom and banks, and appropriate spacing between check dams. Check dams work to stop the degradation of channels and gullies that would otherwise continue eroding and widening without intervention. Design guidance is available to ensure check dams and other grade control structures are properly implemented.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 50

    Introduction to

    Check Dams

    Kabul, Afghanistan
    February 2011

    3
    This watershed rehabilitation and restoration training was prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) team of Jon Fripp (Civil Engineer – USDA/NRCS), Melvin Westbrook
    (Director USDA-NRCS/IPD), Otto Gonzalez (International Agricultural Development Specialist - USDA Foreign Agricultural Service), Clark Fleege, (Nursery Manager, USDA Forest
    Service, and George Hernandez (Forester - USDA Forest Service), in consultation with Lief Christenson, (USA CJTF101 Water Resources Coordinator, Afghanistan). Contact Jon Fripp at
    [email protected] or Otto Gonzalez at [email protected] for more information on this workshop.
    Module Topics:
    • Purpose of Check Dams
    • Design basics
    • Design basics of a check dam in
    collection zone
    • Design overview of a check dam in
    transport zone
    Check Dams
    •Typically used in Collection Zone
    •Can also be used in Transport Zone (use caution!)
    •Stop erosion
    •Traps sediments and promotes infiltration
    •Watershed rehabilitation
    These are structures
    • Use caution
    • Understand the processes at work in the
    system
    • Know the components of a check dam
    Understand the processes at work in the system

    What happens in if all the vegetation is


    removed from a watershed?

    Answer:
    More erosion of surface
    So what happens if you have
    more water running down the
    watershed collection zone?

    Answer: Erosion. Gullies will form and


    grow. The channel will get hungry and
    eat its boundary.
    The stream or gulley will start by
    attacking the bottom of the channel first.
    The channel will get deeper

    Section
    What else happens when a channel degrades?

    Groundwater can drop


    The channel will keep getting
    deeper until the sides start to fall in

    Section
    Then it starts to get wider

    Now it is really starting to get bad


    This is process is called the channel stages
    Assessment Tool: Channel Stages
    Good for collection and transport zone
    Stage 1

    Stage 2

    Stage 3

    Section
    Test Time

    STAGE 1
    Headcut

    STAGE 2

    Channel downcutting creates


    straighter, steeper gully.
    STAGE 3
    widening

    Channel widening, cut


    banks on both sides.
    It is best to stop this
    process early in Stage 2
    To stop it: use a check dam

    Stage 2

    Profile
    A check dam will keep the channel
    from getting too deep

    Profile
    Check Dams
    Lots of different types
    Lots of different materials
    Components of a check dam

    A Check Dam must


    • Have a Control Section
    • Have a Energy Dissipation Section
    • Be Keyed into Channel Bottom
    • Be Keyed into Channel Bank
    • Be appropriately spaced

    This introduction is going to cover the basics


    You may want to get more detailed training
    Control Section: Keeps
    the water in the channel

    Bank Key: Keeps


    water from eroding
    around check dam
    •Control Section should have the same area as a
    stable section of the stream or gully.
    Energy dissipation section should be two
    times the structure height

    Maximum height should be less than 1.5 m


    shorter is better!

    2H
    Key into channel bottom for a minimum of
    60 cm

    Key into channel bank for a minimum of 1 m

    Top of check dam should be at least 30 cm


    below top of channel
    1m

    60 cm

    section
    May need a
    filter with log
    check dams

    Energy Dissipation
    Section: Absorbs energy
    as water flows over top.

    Key into Channel


    Bottom: Keeps
    Same rules for all
    water from types of check dams
    eroding under
    check dam
    Profile
    The check dams work as a team

    Downstream erosion might


    undermine the upstream check
    dam

    Profile
    Space so that the slope can be level
    between the check dams and the
    upstream one will not be
    undermined.

    Profile
    Test Time

    Question: What is wrong with this check dam

    Answer: bank key and adjacent protection


    Question: What is wrong with this check dam?

    Answer: no control section.


    Question: What is wrong with this check dam?

    Answer: no control
    section. Made worse
    by bad bank key
    Question:
    What is
    wrong with
    this check
    dam?

    Answer: everything, bad spacing, no


    control section, no bed or bank key
    in, no energy dissipation
    Question: What is
    wrong with this
    check dam? Answer: nothing major
    Question: What is
    wrong with this
    check dam?

    Answer: nothing major


    Question: What is wrong with these check dams?

    Same site
    1+ years later

    Answer: nothing major


    Rock and Brush Grade Stabilization

    Arid areas
    Excellent design
    guidance is
    available

    Note the
    basics remain
    the same!
    Check Dams
    •Can Also be used in Transport Zone
    But be careful!
    •Prevents serious stream/river erosion
    •Irrigation diversions
    •Water supply
    Rock Ramp
    Largest stones are placed at crest
    and on downstream face of structure
    Rock Chute
    Stone Sizing
    For S < 0.1

    For So less than 10%

    D50 = 12 1.923qS ( )
    1.5 0.529

    0.10<S<0.40 For So between 10% and 40%

    D50 = 12 0.233qS ( )
    0.58 0.529

    Robinson et. al, 1998


    D50 in inches
    Oklahoma
    Oklahoma
    Chevron Weir
    Traditional or Rigid grade control and drop
    structures

    Figure 12.12 St. Anthony Falls (SAF) Type Drop Structure (Blaisdell, 1948)
    Excellent design guidance is available for
    the design of rigid drop structures

    NEH 654 14G


    Be Careful!!
    • Especially in transport zone
    Example Problem:
    • Interruption of sediment flow •Water backed up behind
    irrigation diversion
    • Upstream effects •Water overtopped banks
    •Flanked structure
    • Fish Passage •Damaged pasture land

    • Flood Control
    • Dam Safety Issues
    • Bank Stability
    • Infrastructure
    You need an engineer to help
    with the design if:

    • If project is in the transport zone


    • The river has high velocities
    • The river is large
    • The erosion is significant
    • The river system is unstable
    • There is something very important on the bank
    • The project will cost a lot of money
    • Laws state you must have an engineer
    Questions?

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