Raymond Chan & Associates, Inc.

Consulting Civil Engineers

 

Home Site Index Staff Certification Publications Projects Contact


Publications / Studies:

City of Austin

Technical Procedures Manual for Watershed Erosion Assessments, 1997

 

With the  knowledge of  new urban development greatly accelerating stream channel erosion as a result of the increase in frequency, duration and peak flow in channels, the City of Austin, Drainage Utility Department requested Raymond Chan and Associates, Inc. (RC&A) to prepare this Technical Procedures Manual as a guideline for the completion of the Watershed Erosion Assessments for 17 watersheds. The Watershed Erosion Assessments will be one component of a watershed master plan for each watershed.

 

City of Austin

Watershed Erosion Assessments for 17 Watersheds, 1997

 

Most of the Austin’s watersheds, including urban and suburban watersheds, are drained by streams that exhibit existing creek bank erosion problems and have the potential for future creek bank degradation.  The concern for future creek bank failures, long term channel degradation,  and their impact to creekside residents and water quality initiated the City of Austin Drainage Utility Department to authorize the city wide watershed erosion assessments in January 1997.  The 17 watersheds are as follows:

 

Barton Creek Watershed

Blunn Creek  Watershed

Boggy Creek  Watershed

Bull Creek Watershed

Buttermilk Creek Watershed

Country Club  Creek  Watershed

East Bouldin Creek Watershed

Fort Branch of Boggy Creek  Watershed

Johnson Creek  Watershed

Little Walnut Creek  Watershed

Shoal Creek Watershed

Tannehill Branch of Boggy Creek  Watershed

Waller Creek Watershed

West Bouldin Creek Watershed

Walnut Creek Watershed

Williamson Creek Watershed

 

City of Austin

Regulatory Approaches for Managing Stream Erosion, 1997. 

 

Literature review, storm modeling, field review.  Determined that the frequent storm events appear to cause the bulk of channel erosion.  Channel forming flow may be in the range of the 6-month storm for highly developed watersheds.  Management approach would be water quality ponds with 1/2 + 0.1 rule or larger storage volumes.  Volume control to manage peak and duration most effective.

 

City of Austin

Lower Walnut Creek Erosion Management Facility Study, 1999

 

The Walnut Creek Watershed Erosion Assessment predicted  that the  lower portion of Walnut Creek from Dessau Road to the Colorado River would experience the most channel enlargement of all the City of Austin Phase I watersheds.  This is due to the more than  doubling of the watershed  impervious cover and the highly erosive alluvial soils.  To manage channel erosion in this reach, the City of Austin proposed the Lower Walnut Creek Erosion Management Facility upstream of Sprinkle Road.  The intended purpose of the facility is to manage channel erosion to prevent downstream channel enlargement.

 

City of Austin

Onion Creek Watershed Erosion Assessment, 2002

 

A study to assess the erosion related characteristics of Onion Creek from the Hays/Travis County Line to the Creek’s confluence with the Colorado River.  The total stream study length was approximately 27.9 stream miles.  This Study followed the analytical guidelines established in the “Technical Procedures for the Watershed Erosion Assessments” prepared by Raymond Chan & Associates, Inc. in 1997.

 

City of Georgetown (2002)

Watershed Master Plan & Updated Drainage Criteria Manual

 

The City of Georgetown recognized the need to evaluate the extent of flooding and perform master planning for the streams passing through the City of Georgetown and its extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to protect the health, safety, and property of its citizens.  A Drainage Criteria Manual updated to meet current Land Development Code was also provided.  The following are the five Watershed Master Plans:

 

Berry Creek Including Dry Berry Creek and Cowan Creek

Mankins Branch

San Gabriel River Including South, Middle and North Forks

Pecan Branch

Smith Branch and the West Fork of Smith Branch

 


Copyright © 2007 Raymond Chan & Associates, Inc.