Stream Restoration Hydraulics

Twenty Canadian stream studies and restoration projects based on

traditional one-dimensional steady flow hydraulic equations and natural

channel reference sites are collected as case studies in this volume. The

projects were undertaken between 1976 and 2010 and continue to

function, often with new features created by subsequent flood flows and

riparian zone recovery.

Robert Newbury PhD PEng Canadian Rivers Institute

www.newbury-hydraulics.com www.unb.ca/cri

Table of Contents

Introduction: Stream Restoration 1

Casebook Studies 1

Stream Restoration Process 3

Chapter 1: River Forms and Forces 4

River Classification 4

Canadian River Classification 5

Quesnel River 6

Miramichi River 8

River Dimensions Predicted From Discharge 10

Characteristic Discharge Frequency 13

Channel Dimensions Predicted From Drainage Area 16

Characteristic Bed Forms in Pools, Riffles and Meanders 18

River Bed Stability 22

Stream Power and Profiles 26

Kettle River 27

Saskatchewan River 29

Nelson River 30

Sediment Transport 30

Hydraulic Forces in the Flow 32

Hydraulic Geometry Surveys 36

Stream Survey Short Form 39

Chapter 2: Open Channel Hydraulics Review 40

Flow in Rivers and Streams 40

Uniform Flow Equations 40

Chezy and Manning Uniform Flow Equation s 42

Flow Resistance and Roughness Factors 43

Bed Material Approach 43

Composite “n” Approach 44

Reference Channel Approach 45

Chapman Creek Example 47

Gradually Varied Uniform Flow in Backwater Curves 49

Before/After HEC-RAS Models 54

Flow Analysis Methods 56

Storage Requirements 57

Chapter 3: Local Hydraulics and Habitats 59

States of Open Channel Flow 59

Bernoulli’s Equation 60

Froude Number 62

Reynolds Number 62

Flow Transitions 62

Hydraulic Jumps 64

Hydraulic habitats in the Flow 66

River Continuum Concept 66

Scale of Hydraulic Conditions 66

The Range of Habitat Hydraulic in Natural Streams 68

Mapping Hydraulics and Habitats 69

Fish Size and Species: Jumping Pound Creek 71

Hatchery Fish Preferences: Chapman Creek 72

Spawning Bars: Okanagan River 73

Benthic Habitats: Battle Creek, Wilson Creek 74

Fish Passage 76

Chapter 4: Designing Pools, Runs and Riffles 79

Design Objectives 79

Riffle Height Calculations 81

Chapman Creek 82

Channel Constrictions 84

Pool, Run and Riffle Reaches 85

Chapter 5: Restoring Pools and Riffles 88

1. Mink Creek Walleye Spawning Channel 88

Background 88

Channel Conveyance Calculations 90

Design Goals and Constraints 92

Riffle Design and Construction 94

Fish Passage 97

Riffle Rock Sizing 97

Monitoring 98

2. Oulette Creek Pacific Salmon Spawning and Rearing Channel 101

Background 101

Channel Conveyance Calculations 103

Design Goals and Constraints 105

Riffle Design 108

Flood Capacity and Height 108

Geometry and Spacing 110

Monitoring 112

3. Dickson Brook Trout and Atlantic Salmon Channel 113

Background 113

Natural Channel Reference Geometry 115

Design Goals and Constraints 118

Riffle Design 120

Flood Capacity and Height 120

Geometry and Spacing 122

Construction 123

Monitoring 124

Other Step-Pool Project Summaries 126

1. Alluvial Fan Head-Cut Stabilization, Wilson Creek 126

2. Pipeline Steam Crossing, Hamilton Creek 129

3. Trout Fishing Pools: Whiteshell River 130

Chapter 6: Restoring and Aligning Meandering Channels 133

1. Pine River Meandering Channel for Resident Trout 133

Background 133

Channel Conveyance Calculations 136

Channel Design and Construction 137

Monitoring 143

2. Okanagan River Meander and Salmon Spawning Channel 144

Background 144

Reference Channel Configuration 146

Hydraulic Design 148

Construction 150

Monitoring 153

Other Channel Re-Alignment Projects 155

Bank Cave-In, Little SW Miramichi River 155

Bank Advance, SW Miramichi River 158

Channel Work Repairs 163

Sediment Removal, Restigouche River 163

Sediment Deposition, SW Miramichi River 165

Chapter 7: Restoring Fish Passage 166

1. Sakinaw Lake Dam Back-Flooding 166

Background 166

Design and Construction 168

Monitoring 171

2. Little Saskatchewan River Dam Side Channel 172

Background 172

Side Channel Design and Construction 173

Monitoring 178

Other Fish Passage Project Summaries 179

Cranberry Creek Hydro Dam Removal 179

Okanagan River Drop Structure Back-Flooding 182

McIntyre Dam Overshot Gates and Back-Flooding 186

Appendix A: Design and Construction Aids 191

Equations and Units Summary Sheet 191

Pool and Riffle Geometry Dimensions 192

Pool and Riffle Calculation Summary Sheet 194

Riffle Construction 195

Appendix B: Programmed Solutions (attached CD) 197

Installation 197

Requirements 197

HEC-RAS 197

CHUTE 198

FishXing 199

Oulette Creek Project Files 201

HEC-RAS Folder 201

CHUTE Folder 205

FishXing Folder 207

Dickson Brook Project Files 211

HEC-RAS Folder 211

Riffle File 211

Profile File 212

CHUTE Folder 213

FishXing Folder 216

Appendix C: Field and Teaching Aids 219

Student Flow Meter Construction 219

STREAMLAB Hydraulic Demonstration Flume 221

References 233

Contents of Attached CD

Project Files: Dickson Brook NB Restoration

Program files: CHUTE riffle design (DOS and Excel versions), FishXing perched culvert design, HEC-RAS mainstem profile, two riffle outline profile.

Videos: Gabion Lining Removal, Flow in Typical Pool-Riffle Reach, “Restoring Dickson Brook” Parks Canada, Producer B. Townsend 2005.

Oulette Creek BC Restoration

Program Files: CHUTE riffle design, FishXing perched culvert design, HEC-RAS two riffle outline, two riffle detailed, pre-project channelized. Videos: Spawning above Riffles, Bankfull Flood.

Construction Files: Dickson Brook Riffle Construction.avi (2009) Manitoba Riffle Construction.avi (1995)