Monitoring of Streambank Stabilization and River Restoration Structures on Ice-Affected Rivers in Northern Vermont

摘要

Modern river restoration and streambank stabilization designs are taking more natural approaches. Examples include vanes and weirs constructed of rocks or logs that encourage bank sedimentation and direct flow toward the channel center, also rock riffles and weirs to control grade. Successful projects help control bed and bank erosion, re-connect floodplains, increase flow diversity and improve habitat for fish and wildlife. To date, the design of these increasingly popular structures has been largely empirical and little is known about their performance on rivers with ice. In addition to the uncertainty of the structures' survival in ice, little is known about their effect on river ice processes. Recent research at CRREL has developed ice-related design guidance for these structures. This effort included performance monitoring of streambank stabilization and river restoration projects on ice-affected rivers in northern Vermont over the three year period from 2005 to 2008. Results and findings are presented in this report.