Design of Flood Protection for Transportation Alignments on Alluvial Fans

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)0733-9437(1992)118:2(320)· OSTI ID:5964083

French, Richard H. ^[1]

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1. Desert Research Institute (DRI), Las Vegas, NV (United States)

The method of floodplain delineation on alluvial fans developed for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) may be modified to provide estimates of peak flood flows of specified return periods at transportation alignments, such as aqueducts or railroads, crossing alluvial fans. The modified methodology divides the total length of the alignment into segments, and the peak flow expected in each segment during a flood event is estimated as a function of the return period of the event, the segment length, and the location of the alignment on the alluvial fan. Further, this estimate of the peak flow can be used to properly size the facilities such as dikes, berms, and culverts to protect the alignment from flood damage. The proposed methodology has potential applications in any environment where transportation alignments must cross alluvial fans on which the hydraulic processes are similar to those for which the NFIP methodology was developed. An example of the use of this methodology is provided.

• Research Organization: Nevada Univ., Las Vegas, NV (USA). Water Resources Center
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC08-90NV10845
• OSTI ID: 5964083
• Report Number(s): DOE/NV/10845-T1; ON: DE91011198
• Journal Information: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Vol. 118, Issue 2; ISSN 0733-9437
• Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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