Changing Riverine Environment
Authors: Mohiuddan Shaik (Michael Baker International) , Brigham S. Ash (WVDOH)
The West Virginia Division of Highways is working to complete a key missing link in a four-lane highway project through environmentally sensitive, mountainous terrain. The project will improve safety and efficiency for motorists across the Mountain State.
Scrutiny of potential environmental impacts from highway development projects continues to increase. The delicate situation that we are dealing with was not known to exist in West Virginia before this project. To prevent compromise of the site, specific names and locations involved are not disclosed.
Michael Baker International continues to serve as the primary environmental consultant for this multi-decade project. Baker has recently completed a detailed hydrologic and hydraulic analysis of a sensitive watershed. The detailed H&H analysis was conducted to ensure no significant hydrologic and hydraulic changes would occur in the watershed due to the proposed roadway and bridge construction.
This joint presentation will provide an overview of the project from the watershed management perspective. Stormwater measures proposed for this project are unprecedented for rural highways in West Virginia. An insight into the very detailed HEC-HMS hydrologic and unsteady HEC-RAS hydraulic models developed for this project will be provided. A brief overview of the 3d-shadow modeling conducted for assessing the impacts on the delicate location in the watershed will also be offered.
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How to Cite: Shaik, M. & Ash, B. S. (2014) “Mountain State Takes Eco-Friendly High Road "Tale of a Sensitive Watershed"”, National Hydraulic Engineering Conference 2014. 1(2014).