Effect of Channel Straightening on the Movement of Flood Waves on Boyer River

摘要

Many Iowa rivers have been straightened and leveed with the objective of achieving drainage and flood control on the riparian land. Although these methods have proved beneficial to the land along the reach straightened, they have often resulted in damage to the downstream land owner's property by increasing the discharge, thus forcing the downstream owners to repair or improve their part of the channel. Litigation among drainage districts often results with downstream districts claiming partial reimbursement of the construction and maintenance costs from the districts upstream. This study was conducted to evaluate the physical effects of river straightening on the movement of flood waves with the objective of arriving at a method for the equitable apportionment of construction and maintenance costs among beneficiaries. (Author)