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.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/project=7023

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $313569
• Contract Numbers:

  0-7023

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Texas 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

• 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