THE INFLUENCE OF RIVER FLOODS AND RAINFALL ON PROTECTION LEVEES IN THE VALAIS

摘要

The Rhone valley is protected by an extensive levee system that requires remediation due to the higher river levels for key "design" extreme events. Some levee cross sections around Visp were instrumented, close to a large chemical factory located on both sides of the river. Data was recorded during the most recent severe event in October 2000 and is used to calibrate a numerical analysis of the saturation and desaturation of the levees during and following the event. Severe rainfall was also modelled and was found to have a significant influence by increasing saturation in more critical areas of the levee. Conclusions will be drawn about the degree of risk for levee failure due to slope instability during a combination of extreme events.