Master of Science / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / James M. Steichen / Military maneuvers involve effectively moving soldiers and equipment across
training lands, and this often involves crossing streams. Fording of streams by military
vehicles poses a potential for degradation of stream habitats through change of bank
angle or excess shear of stream banks and the resultant generation of excessive quantities
of sediment, possibly exceeding Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) limits for water
quality downstream. This study examines the impact of low water fords on stability of six
stream reaches at Fort Riley. Streams with constructed low water fords were mapped and
classified according to Rosgen Stream Classification System (1996). Results indicate that
some of these streams exhibit some level of instability, which includes bed form changes,
accelerated stream bank erosion and backwater pool formation in the vicinity of stream
crossings. Poorly constructed fords may act as dams disrupting the transport of sediment
along the stream reaches, posing a potential shift in stream equilibrium. Another factor
contributing to stream instability is sediment generated from upland areas and routed
through approach roads leading to stream crossing sites. The sediment deposited into
streams at these crossing locations is a water quality concern, and again poses the
potential of disrupting stream equilibrium. Field observations indicate that poorly located
stream crossings can alter the direction of stream flow, causing bank erosion on areas
immediately below stream crossings. This demonstrates the importance of locating
stream crossings on stable locations along a stream reach. Some of the stream reaches
also show signs of success ional change. These stream changes have direct implications
on the low water fords on Fort Riley. As a result of these stream changes, there will be
need to constantly modify the designs and construction techniques of the low water fords
in order to accommodate changes in stream dimensions, pattern and profile. Finally,
criteria for site selection, design and construction of low water fords are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:KSU/oai:krex.k-state.edu:2097/409 |
| Date | January 1900 |
| Creators | Malinga, Gilbert Aporu |
| Publisher | Kansas State University |
| Source Sets | K-State Research Exchange |
| Language | US_en |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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