The Need for Resilient Road Stream Crossings; A Call to Action
Unpredictable storm events and unreliable historic events make our current and future weather uncertain and resiliency in our built environment and our community a necessity for survival. However, we are lacking awareness about everyday transportation that could be impacted by a weather-related event. As engineers and scientists, we have a role to play in the development of our resiliency. By promoting and demonstrating the practices of good design we can help policy and law makers understand where we can start and how it benefits both the built environment and the communities they represent. The things we design and build now should last decades if not a century + but will be tested sooner rather than later. To survive to the lifespan necessary for our financial and community stability everything must be developed through the lens of resiliency. If the item under design cannot be seen clearly with a lens of resiliency, then it should not be built into our communities. However, adding any layer to our design process often results in increased construction costs, timeline impacts, and maybe contrary to current guidelines. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the designers of form and function for our built environment to show the resiliency lens with a different perspective. This presentation will provide that perspective for the design and installation of road stream crossings, i.e. culverts, and how even this basic piece of transportation infrastructure must be built for resilience. In addition to climate resiliency there are enormous environmental uplifts that occur with this design approach, which combined, should all be considered human benefits. However, nothing will change without our ability to create understanding and collective thought about resiliency in culvert design; this is our call to action and our lasting impact on a future with uncertain weather patterns. The presentation will review current design standards and practices for sizing culverts, why that approach is counter to resiliency and how to design a better structure. Elements of community grit, reduced maintenance, and environmental uplift will be presented as co-benefits. The session will finish off with tips on how to communicate the importance of resilient design in culverts and how the long term and near-term benefits far outweigh those of the typical methodology.Author Bio
Kathy is a registered Professional Engineer in multiple states and senior project manager at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES). She has 22 years of experience providing engineering and ecological expertise for a wide range of stream assessments, design, construction, and monitoring projects with specialization in dam removal and aquatic organism passage. Kathy serves on numerous committees, boards and task groups including the Virginia Stream Barrier Removal Task Force, Chesapeake Bay Program Stream Restoration Verification Team, VLWA, and the ASCE and AFS Joint Committee of Fisheries Engineering and Science. Kathy is a former professional soccer player, an avid adventure racer, mom and wife who loves to share her interest in water and all things outdoors.
