EVALUATION OF CHANNEL-RESTORATION
TECHNIQUES
Channel restoration is a growing practice in the United States and abroad. The Blackledge River in Connecticut, contains many good examples of traditional restoration techniques including extensive efforts to prevent lateral and vertical erosion. Despite these efforts, a severe erosion problem did develop and a large section of a constructed meander bend has been abandoned by a channel avulsions. Surprisingly, the failures of this particular restoration project can be traced back to the overwhelming concern with erosion control, and a failure to consider the importance of sediment deposition. This project involves a review of the history of the channel-restoration efforts on the Blackledge River, and describes the sequence of events and design flaws that resulted in the failure of the most recent channel-relocation project. Ultimately, a better understanding of natural pool and riffle-maintenance processes and a lesser reliance on instream structures and bank protective works may provide the most cost effective and successful approach to channel-restoration design.
Upstream view of the channel avulsion on the Blackledge River in Veteran's Fishing Area (1999).
Downstream view of channel avulsion and large pool exit-slope deposit (1999).
Upstream view of the relocated channel constructed in the late 1950's (1999).
Jaime Goode (’02) surveys wing deflectors on the 1950’s-era channel (2000).
This material is based upon work supported by
the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 9874751. Any opinions,
findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are
those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National
Science Foundation.
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