FLOOD09874

• County: Statewide
• Community: State of Colorado
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Use of Riprap for Bank Protection
• Date: 6/1/1967
• Prepared By: USDOT
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

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U.S. DEPAR'DoIElI'l' OF TRAlfSPORTATIOIf

Bureau ot Public Roads

USE OF RIPRAP FOR BAlIK PROTECTION

Prepared by
James K. Searcy, Hydraulic Engineer
Hydraulics Branch, Bridge Division

I - III'l'RODUCTION

1.1 - General

The erosive power ot moving water is impressive when its ettect is
viewed in the Grand Canyon. The same erosive torce, to a lesser extent,
can daIlIage or destroy an unprotected highway embankment. If erosion of
the highway embankment by a streu is to be prevented, the need for bank
protection must be anticipated and the proper type and UOUDt ot protec-
tion provided in the right places. Bank protection is usually costly,
but the consequential daIlIages ot not providing protection where needed
tar outweigh the initial cost. Delay in providing protection can also
lead to increased costs.

Four general methods ot protecting a highway embankment from streu
erosion are:

(1) Relocating the highway away from the streu
(2) Moving the stream away trom the highway by a channel change
(3) Changing the direction of the current with training works
(4) Protecting the embankment from erosion

This circular is limited to discussing protection of the highway embank-
ment by use ot riprap.

Riprap has been defined (1)1 as "a layer, facing or protective mound
of stones randomly placed to prevent erosion, scour or sloughing of a

1. Underlined numbers in parentheses refer to publications listed in
the references at the end of this circular.