The purpose of this publication is to provide design information for analyzing and mitigating energy dissipation problems at culvert outlets and in open channels. It provides general information on the overall design process, erosion hazards, and culvert outlet velocity and velocity modification. These provide a background and framework for anticipating dissipation problems. In addition to describing the overall design process, design examples to compare selected energy dissipators are provided. Also provided are assessment tools for considering flow transitions, scour, and hydraulic jumps.

Flexible linings provide a means of stabilizing roadside channels. Flexible linings are able to conform to changes in channel shape while maintaining overall lining integrity. Long-term flexible linings such as riprap, gravel, or vegetation (reinforced with synthetic mats or unreinforced) are suitable for a range of hydraulic conditions. Unreinforced vegetation and many transitional and temporary linings are suited to hydraulic conditions with moderate shear stresses. Design procedures are given for four major categories of flexible lining: vegetative linings; manufactured linings (RECPs);...

The most common cause of bridge failures is from floods scouring bed material from around bridge foundations. Scour is the engineering term for the erosion caused by water of the soil surrounding a bridge foundation (piers and abutments). The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for the following: 1. Designing new and replacement bridges to resist scour, 2. Evaluating existing bridges for vulnerability to scour, 3. Inspecting bridges for scour, 4. Improving the state-of-practice of estimating scour at bridges. This document is the fifth edition of HEC-18. It presents the state of...

Approximately 500,000 bridges in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) are built over streams. A large proportion of these bridges span alluvial streams that are continually adjusting their beds and banks. Many, especially those on more active streams, will experience problems with aggradation, degradation, bank erosion, and lateral channel shift during their useful life. The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for identifying stream instability problems at highway stream crossings. Techniques for stream channel classification and reconnaissance, as well as rapid assessment...

This publication identifies and provides design guidelines for bridge scour and stream instability countermeasures that have been implemented by various State departments of transportation (DOTs) in the United States. Countermeasure experience, selection, and design guidance are consolidated from other FHWA publications in this document to support a comprehensive analysis of scour and stream instability problems and provide a range of solutions to those problems. Selected innovative countermeasure concepts and guidance derived from practice outside the United States are introduced. Management...

This publication identifies and provides design guidelines for bridge scour and stream instability countermeasures that have been implemented by various State departments of transportation (DOTs) in the United States. Countermeasure experience, selection, and design guidance are consolidated from other FHWA publications in this document to support a comprehensive analysis of scour and stream instability problems and provide a range of solutions to those problems. Selected innovative countermeasure concepts and guidance derived from practice outside the United States are introduced. Management...

This publication provides a comprehensive and practical guide for the design of stormwater pump station systems associated with transportation facilities. Guidance is provided for the planning and design of pump stations which collect, convey, and discharge stormwater flowing within and along the right-of-way of transportation systems. Methods and procedures are given for determining cumulative inflow, system storage needs, pump configuration and selection, discharge system size, and sump dimensions. Pump house features are identified and construction and maintenance considerations are...

Pressure flow (also known as vertical contraction) scour occurs when a bridge deck is insufficiently high such that the bridge superstructure becomes a barrier to the flow, causing the flow to vertically contract as it passes under the deck. A bridge deck is considered partially submerged when the lowest structural element of the bridge is in contact with the flowing water but the water is not sufficiently high to overtop the bridge deck. It is considered fully submerged when a portion of the flow overtops the bridge deck. Pressure flow generally only occurs in extreme flood events, but these...

Historically, culverts have been designed for hydraulic efficiency without consideration of fish passage or, more generally, aquatic organism passage. Over time, it has become apparent that culverts frequently become impediments to healthy aquatic ecosystems because they can prevent the movement of fish and other aquatic organisms upstream and downstream through the culvert. Therefore, aquatic organism passage through culverts has become an important design element component for road/stream crossings. Common physical characteristics that may create barriers include high water velocity,...

This manual presents a stream simulation design procedure, methods and best practices for designing culverts to facilitate aquatic organism passage (AOP). Although this manual focuses on culverts, the design team should recognize that an appropriate structure for any given crossing may be a bridge. This manual is not intended to conflict with or replace accepted guidance and procedures adopted in particular locations. When specific water crossing design methods are required in the jurisdiction where the crossing is located, those methods should be applied. In addition, local and regional...