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#           Streambed Scour at Bridges in Alaska      

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      By Alaska Science Center      April 30, 2024    

            -              Overview           
            -              Data           
            -              Multimedia           
            -              Publications           
            -              Partners           

Streambed scour is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States resulting in over 60 percent of all failures. The Alaska Science Center, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and the Alaska Railroad, is researching streambed scour through scour monitoring, hydraulic modeling, and data collection during high flows.  

**Return to****Water**

View Media Details

Streambed scour is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States resulting in over 60 percent of all failures. Costs associated with repair and the societal repercussions associated with failures are amplified in Alaska where alternate ground transportation routes between many cities do not exist.  Damage to bridges and culverts during two floods on the Kenai Peninsula in 2002 was estimated at over 19 million dollars and prevented vehicular traffic to and from the lower Kenai Peninsula for three days.

The USGS Alaska Science Center, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), is researching streambed scour through scour monitoring, hydrodynamic modeling, and data collection during high flows.

 

### Scour Monitoring

### Contacts

#### Paul V Schauer

##### Hydrologic Technician

Alaska Science Center

pschauer@usgs.gov

907-786-7141

### Explore Search

                      - Streambed Scour
                      - Water
                      - Water

View All **

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

April 23, 2024

####                 Sounding Cross Section Surveys at Alaska Bridge Crossings              

Alaska Science Center

July 21, 2022

####                 GIS and Hydraulic Model data in Support of a Geomorphic and Hydraulic Assessment of Glacial Outburst Floods on the Snow River near Seward, Alaska              

Alaska Science Center

October 29, 2019

####                 Tabular Input/Output Data and Model Files for 19 Two-Dimensional Hydraulic Models for Streambed Scour Evaluations at Selected Bridge Sites in Alaska, 2016-2017              

Alaska Science Center

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Tazlina River bridge

June 28, 2019

#### Tazlina River bridge

link

Tazlina River bridge

Alaska Science Center

June 28, 2019

#### Tazlina River bridge

link

#### Tazlina River bridge

link

Tazlina River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

June 28, 2019

#### Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

link

Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

June 28, 2019

#### Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

link

Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

May 30, 2019

#### Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

link

Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

May 30, 2019

#### Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

link

Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Chilkat River bridge

May 30, 2019

#### Chilkat River bridge

link

Chilkat River bridge

Alaska Science Center

May 30, 2019

#### Chilkat River bridge

link

#### Chilkat River bridge

link

Chilkat River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Kashwitna River bridge debris

May 13, 2019

#### Kashwitna River bridge debris

link

Kashwitna River bridge debris

Alaska Science Center

May 13, 2019

#### Kashwitna River bridge debris

link

#### Kashwitna River bridge debris

link

Kashwitna River bridge debris

Alaska Science Center

Kashwitna River bridge

May 7, 2019

#### Kashwitna River bridge

link

Kashwitna River bridge

Alaska Science Center

May 7, 2019

#### Kashwitna River bridge

link

#### Kashwitna River bridge

link

Kashwitna River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Copper River sonar on a bridge

April 24, 2019

#### Copper River sonar on a bridge

link

Copper River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

April 24, 2019

#### Copper River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Copper River sonar on a bridge

link

Copper River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Knik River bridge aerial view

April 22, 2019

#### Knik River bridge aerial view

link

Knik River bridge aerial view

Alaska Science Center

April 22, 2019

#### Knik River bridge aerial view

link

#### Knik River bridge aerial view

link

Knik River bridge aerial view

Alaska Science Center

Twentymile River bridge

March 27, 2019

#### Twentymile River bridge

link

Twentymile bridge

Alaska Science Center

March 27, 2019

#### Twentymile River bridge

link

#### Twentymile River bridge

link

Twentymile bridge

Alaska Science Center

Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

October 3, 2018

#### Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

link

Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

October 3, 2018

#### Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

link

#### Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

link

Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

October 3, 2018

#### Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

link

Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

Alaska Science Center

October 3, 2018

#### Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

link

#### Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

link

Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

Alaska Science Center

Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

August 21, 2018

#### Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

link

Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

August 21, 2018

#### Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

link

Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Knik River sonar on a bridge

August 15, 2018

#### Knik River sonar on a bridge

link

Knik River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

August 15, 2018

#### Knik River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Knik River sonar on a bridge

link

Knik River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Tazlina River sonar

September 13, 2017

#### Tazlina River sonar

link

Tazlina River sonar

Alaska Science Center

September 13, 2017

#### Tazlina River sonar

link

#### Tazlina River sonar

link

Tazlina River sonar

Alaska Science Center

Glacier Creek sonar on a bridge

August 29, 2017

#### Glacier Creek sonar on a bridge

link

Glacier Creek sonar

Alaska Science Center

August 29, 2017

#### Glacier Creek sonar on a bridge

link

#### Glacier Creek sonar on a bridge

link

Glacier Creek sonar

Alaska Science Center

Knik River bridge

July 27, 2017

#### Knik River bridge

link

Knik River bridge

Alaska Science Center

July 27, 2017

#### Knik River bridge

link

#### Knik River bridge

link

Knik River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Kasilof River bridge

May 5, 2017

#### Kasilof River bridge

link

Kasilof River bridge

Alaska Science Center

May 5, 2017

#### Kasilof River bridge

link

#### Kasilof River bridge

link

Kasilof River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Glacier Creek bridge

October 27, 2016

#### Glacier Creek bridge

link

Glacier Creek bridge

Alaska Science Center

October 27, 2016

#### Glacier Creek bridge

link

#### Glacier Creek bridge

link

Glacier Creek bridge

Alaska Science Center

Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

October 10, 2016

#### Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

link

Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

October 10, 2016

#### Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

link

Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Copper River bridge

August 18, 2016

#### Copper River bridge

link

Copper River bridge longer view

Alaska Science Center

August 18, 2016

#### Copper River bridge

link

#### Copper River bridge

link

Copper River bridge longer view

Alaska Science Center

Kasilof River bridge during high water

August 11, 2016

#### Kasilof River bridge during high water

link

Kasilof River bridge during high water

Alaska Science Center

August 11, 2016

#### Kasilof River bridge during high water

link

#### Kasilof River bridge during high water

link

Kasilof River bridge during high water

Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

Below are publications associated with this project.

December 30, 2019

####                 Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2016–17              

Alaska Science Center

March 27, 2019

####                 Measurement of long-term channel change through repeated cross-section surveys at bridge crossings in Alaska              

Alaska Science Center

December 27, 2017

####                 Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2013–15              

Alaska Science Center

November 19, 2015

####                 Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2012              

Alaska Science Center

November 20, 2012

####                 Evaluation of streambed scour at bridges over tidal waterways in Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

October 18, 2011

####                 Streamflow and streambed scour in 2010 at bridge 339, Copper River, Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

November 3, 2009

####                 Application of the multi-dimensional surface water modeling system at Bridge 339, Copper River Highway, Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 1, 2009

####                 Geomorphology and river dynamics of the lower Copper River, Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

March 24, 2007

####                 Hydraulic survey and scour assessment of Bridge 524, Tanana River at Big Delta, Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

May 9, 2006

####                 Modeling surface-water flow and sediment mobility with the Multi-Dimensional Surface-Water Modeling System (MD_SWMS)              

April 13, 2006

####                 Calculation of scour depth at the Parks Highway Bridge on the Tanana River at Nenana, Alaska, using one- and two-dimensional hydraulic models              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

November 1, 2004

####                 Development and Calibration of Two-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Model of the Tanana River near Tok, Alaska              

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

Below are partners associated with this project.

#### Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

#### Alaska Railroad

Streambed scour is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States resulting in over 60 percent of all failures. The Alaska Science Center, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and the Alaska Railroad, is researching streambed scour through scour monitoring, hydraulic modeling, and data collection during high flows.  

**Return to****Water**

View Media Details

Streambed scour is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States resulting in over 60 percent of all failures. Costs associated with repair and the societal repercussions associated with failures are amplified in Alaska where alternate ground transportation routes between many cities do not exist.  Damage to bridges and culverts during two floods on the Kenai Peninsula in 2002 was estimated at over 19 million dollars and prevented vehicular traffic to and from the lower Kenai Peninsula for three days.

The USGS Alaska Science Center, in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF), is researching streambed scour through scour monitoring, hydrodynamic modeling, and data collection during high flows.

 

### Scour Monitoring

### Contacts

#### Paul V Schauer

##### Hydrologic Technician

Alaska Science Center

pschauer@usgs.gov

907-786-7141

### Explore Search

                      - Streambed Scour
                      - Water
                      - Water

View All **

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

April 23, 2024

####                 Sounding Cross Section Surveys at Alaska Bridge Crossings              

Alaska Science Center

July 21, 2022

####                 GIS and Hydraulic Model data in Support of a Geomorphic and Hydraulic Assessment of Glacial Outburst Floods on the Snow River near Seward, Alaska              

Alaska Science Center

October 29, 2019

####                 Tabular Input/Output Data and Model Files for 19 Two-Dimensional Hydraulic Models for Streambed Scour Evaluations at Selected Bridge Sites in Alaska, 2016-2017              

Alaska Science Center

Below are multimedia items associated with this project.

Tazlina River bridge

June 28, 2019

#### Tazlina River bridge

link

Tazlina River bridge

Alaska Science Center

June 28, 2019

#### Tazlina River bridge

link

#### Tazlina River bridge

link

Tazlina River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

June 28, 2019

#### Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

link

Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

June 28, 2019

#### Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

link

Kasilof River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

May 30, 2019

#### Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

link

Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

May 30, 2019

#### Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

link

Chilkat River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Chilkat River bridge

May 30, 2019

#### Chilkat River bridge

link

Chilkat River bridge

Alaska Science Center

May 30, 2019

#### Chilkat River bridge

link

#### Chilkat River bridge

link

Chilkat River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Kashwitna River bridge debris

May 13, 2019

#### Kashwitna River bridge debris

link

Kashwitna River bridge debris

Alaska Science Center

May 13, 2019

#### Kashwitna River bridge debris

link

#### Kashwitna River bridge debris

link

Kashwitna River bridge debris

Alaska Science Center

Kashwitna River bridge

May 7, 2019

#### Kashwitna River bridge

link

Kashwitna River bridge

Alaska Science Center

May 7, 2019

#### Kashwitna River bridge

link

#### Kashwitna River bridge

link

Kashwitna River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Copper River sonar on a bridge

April 24, 2019

#### Copper River sonar on a bridge

link

Copper River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

April 24, 2019

#### Copper River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Copper River sonar on a bridge

link

Copper River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Knik River bridge aerial view

April 22, 2019

#### Knik River bridge aerial view

link

Knik River bridge aerial view

Alaska Science Center

April 22, 2019

#### Knik River bridge aerial view

link

#### Knik River bridge aerial view

link

Knik River bridge aerial view

Alaska Science Center

Twentymile River bridge

March 27, 2019

#### Twentymile River bridge

link

Twentymile bridge

Alaska Science Center

March 27, 2019

#### Twentymile River bridge

link

#### Twentymile River bridge

link

Twentymile bridge

Alaska Science Center

Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

October 3, 2018

#### Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

link

Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

October 3, 2018

#### Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

link

#### Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

link

Tanana River at Big Delta sonar and debris on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

October 3, 2018

#### Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

link

Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

Alaska Science Center

October 3, 2018

#### Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

link

#### Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

link

Tanana River at Big Delta bridge

Alaska Science Center

Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

August 21, 2018

#### Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

link

Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

August 21, 2018

#### Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

link

Twentymile River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Knik River sonar on a bridge

August 15, 2018

#### Knik River sonar on a bridge

link

Knik River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

August 15, 2018

#### Knik River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Knik River sonar on a bridge

link

Knik River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Tazlina River sonar

September 13, 2017

#### Tazlina River sonar

link

Tazlina River sonar

Alaska Science Center

September 13, 2017

#### Tazlina River sonar

link

#### Tazlina River sonar

link

Tazlina River sonar

Alaska Science Center

Glacier Creek sonar on a bridge

August 29, 2017

#### Glacier Creek sonar on a bridge

link

Glacier Creek sonar

Alaska Science Center

August 29, 2017

#### Glacier Creek sonar on a bridge

link

#### Glacier Creek sonar on a bridge

link

Glacier Creek sonar

Alaska Science Center

Knik River bridge

July 27, 2017

#### Knik River bridge

link

Knik River bridge

Alaska Science Center

July 27, 2017

#### Knik River bridge

link

#### Knik River bridge

link

Knik River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Kasilof River bridge

May 5, 2017

#### Kasilof River bridge

link

Kasilof River bridge

Alaska Science Center

May 5, 2017

#### Kasilof River bridge

link

#### Kasilof River bridge

link

Kasilof River bridge

Alaska Science Center

Glacier Creek bridge

October 27, 2016

#### Glacier Creek bridge

link

Glacier Creek bridge

Alaska Science Center

October 27, 2016

#### Glacier Creek bridge

link

#### Glacier Creek bridge

link

Glacier Creek bridge

Alaska Science Center

Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

October 10, 2016

#### Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

link

Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

October 10, 2016

#### Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

link

#### Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

link

Kashwitna River sonar on a bridge

Alaska Science Center

Copper River bridge

August 18, 2016

#### Copper River bridge

link

Copper River bridge longer view

Alaska Science Center

August 18, 2016

#### Copper River bridge

link

#### Copper River bridge

link

Copper River bridge longer view

Alaska Science Center

Kasilof River bridge during high water

August 11, 2016

#### Kasilof River bridge during high water

link

Kasilof River bridge during high water

Alaska Science Center

August 11, 2016

#### Kasilof River bridge during high water

link

#### Kasilof River bridge during high water

link

Kasilof River bridge during high water

Alaska Science Center

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

Below are publications associated with this project.

December 30, 2019

####                 Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2016–17              

Alaska Science Center

March 27, 2019

####                 Measurement of long-term channel change through repeated cross-section surveys at bridge crossings in Alaska              

Alaska Science Center

December 27, 2017

####                 Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2013–15              

Alaska Science Center

November 19, 2015

####                 Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2012              

Alaska Science Center

November 20, 2012

####                 Evaluation of streambed scour at bridges over tidal waterways in Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

October 18, 2011

####                 Streamflow and streambed scour in 2010 at bridge 339, Copper River, Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

November 3, 2009

####                 Application of the multi-dimensional surface water modeling system at Bridge 339, Copper River Highway, Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

January 1, 2009

####                 Geomorphology and river dynamics of the lower Copper River, Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

March 24, 2007

####                 Hydraulic survey and scour assessment of Bridge 524, Tanana River at Big Delta, Alaska              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

May 9, 2006

####                 Modeling surface-water flow and sediment mobility with the Multi-Dimensional Surface-Water Modeling System (MD_SWMS)              

April 13, 2006

####                 Calculation of scour depth at the Parks Highway Bridge on the Tanana River at Nenana, Alaska, using one- and two-dimensional hydraulic models              

Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

November 1, 2004

####                 Development and Calibration of Two-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Model of the Tanana River near Tok, Alaska              

#### Pagination

-                Current page            1 
-                Page            2 
-  Next page›› 
-  Last pageLast » 

Below are partners associated with this project.

#### Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

#### Alaska Railroad