Book Description

Many negative environmental impacts can be avoided by designing flood channels that are in harmony with other fluvial components, minimizing disruptions to existing fluvial and biological systems, and incorporating environmental features into flood channel design. Environmental features are defined as any structures or actions employed in the planning, design, construction, or maintenance of flood control channels that produce environmental benefits. Environmental features may include modifications of standard techniques, such as selective clearing and snagging or single bank construction; modified channel designs, such as low flow channels, pools and riffles, and meandering alignments; structures for erosion and sediment control, water level management, and instream habitat; inclusion of recreational features in project design; and special designs and treatments for aesthetic purposes. Procedures are presented for the design of environmental features. These procedures are based largely on prior experience with the use of environmental features on modified channels and on fluvial processes and natural stream geometry. Tables are provided to help select the best environmental features based on environmental objectives and stream and watershed conditions.