Determining Downstream Ecological Impacts of Sediment Derived from Bridge Construction
Sediment release from bridge construction may change the sediment regime of the receiving streams, causing habitat degradation downstream of bridges. One of Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT's) responsibilities is to address potential effects on aquatic species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. As sedentary, bottom-dwelling filter feeders, mussels are susceptible to habitat destabilization activities such as bridge construction. Several Texas freshwater mussel species are expected to be added to list of the U.S. Endangered Species Act. To date, guidelines for determining the areas within streams that are likely to be impacted by bridge construction are not well supported by empirical data. Nor is a predictive model available to quantify such effects, and to provide information required for habitat suitability assessment. University researchers will develop a predictive tool and validate its performance in the field. The objectives of this project are to: (1) develop a predictive model that can be used to estimate the quantity, size, and accumulation depths of sediment derived from bridge construction; (2) evaluate the model predictions of a bridge construction site by collecting field data; (3) obtain the FHWA Technology Readiness Level 7; and (4) create educational materials, user manuals, and demonstrative videos, to train the TxDOT’s workforce.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $313569
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Contract Numbers:
0-7023
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Sponsor Organizations:
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX United States 78701-2483 -
Managing Organizations:
Texas Department of Transportation
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX United States 78701-2483 -
Project Managers:
Adediwura, Jade
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Performing Organizations:
University of Texas at Arlington
Box 19308
Arlington, TX United States 76019-0308 -
Principal Investigators:
Ahmari, Habib
- Start Date: 20190901
- Expected Completion Date: 20220331
- Actual Completion Date: 20220331
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Aquatic life; Bridge construction; Endangered species; Environmental impacts; Erosion; Mathematical models; Sediments
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Environment; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01715961
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: 0-7023
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Sep 10 2019 5:01PM