Canal 18, Florida


Project Background and Details
In early March 2008, we began a case study at Lock and Dam #17 on the Mississippi River near New Boston, Ill., about 40 miles south of Davenport, Iowa (the Quad Cities area). The project is on a levee about 1,000 yards upstream of Lock 17. The levee was constructed entirely of non-cohesive soil, directly behind the existing riverbank trees and flora. However, a 150 ft. section of the naturally-stabilized riverbank was destroyed by human intervention over the last couple of years, allowing erosion from wind and boat-driven waves. Costly, traditional rock rip rap repairs were not really an option, both from a mechanical aspect and a funding aspect. The levee owners were happy to try a new, proven technology that offered an alternate means of repair. The site was re-graded at significant effort (non-cohesive soils on a 3:1 slope); a geotextile laid down; and ScourStop transition mats anchored to secure the geotextile and soil beneath. The local water district supplied the necessary installation labor to minimize their costs but purchased the ScourStop at a reduced rate for the case study. The river rose as expected over the next few weeks. In fact, it rose above the installed coverage of ScourStop protection. The flooded area above the ScourStop shows significant wind and boat-driven erosion, while the ScourStop protected area is quite stable.

Project Background and Details

In early March 2008, we began a case study at Lock and Dam #17 on the Mississippi River near New Boston, Ill., about 40 miles south of Davenport, Iowa (the Quad Cities area).

The project is on a levee about 1,000 yards upstream of Lock 17. The levee was constructed entirely of non-cohesive soil, directly behind the existing riverbank trees and flora. However, a 150 ft. section of the naturally-stabilized riverbank was destroyed by human intervention over the last couple of years, allowing erosion from wind and boat-driven waves.

Costly, traditional rock rip rap repairs were not really an option, both from a mechanical aspect and a funding aspect. The levee owners were happy to try a new, proven technology that offered an alternate means of repair.

The site was re-graded at significant effort (non-cohesive soils on a 3:1 slope); a geotextile laid down; and ScourStop transition mats anchored to secure the geotextile and soil beneath. The local water district supplied the necessary installation labor to minimize their costs but purchased the ScourStop at a reduced rate for the case study.

The river rose as expected over the next few weeks. In fact, it rose above the installed coverage of ScourStop protection. The flooded area above the ScourStop shows significant wind and boat-driven erosion, while the ScourStop protected area is quite stable.

Click to enlarge

PROVEN RESULTS

Canal 18, Florida