Abstract:
THE SURFACE-WATER DATA COLLECTED BY THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ARE VERY USEFUL TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS IN THE ECONOMICAL AND SAFE DESIGN OF BRIDGE AND CULVERT OPENINGS AND ROAD GRADES. THESE DATA CONSIST OF CONTINUOUS GAGING STATION RECORDS, MISCELLANEOUS FLOOD INFORMATION, AND ANALYTICAL AND INTERPRETATIVE REPORTS. MUCH INFORMATION HAS BEEN COLLETED IN LATE YEARS ON FLOODS BY SPECIAL MEANS SUCH AS SLOPE-AREA AND CONTRACTED-OPENING METHODS TO SUPPLEMENT IN A MATERIAL WAY THE DATA AVAILABLE AT THE REGULAR GAGING STATIONS. THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AT PRESENT COOPERATES DIRECTLY WITH ELEVEN STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS IN WATER RESOURCES WORK. IN KENTUCKY ANALYTICAL AND INTERPRETATIVE STUDIES AND REPORTS ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR HIGHWAY PROBLEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE COOPERATIVE WORK, ALONG WITH A GENERAL STREAM-GAGING PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDED OBTAINING DATA ON SMALL WATERSHEDS. IN SOUTH CAROLINA THE PROGRAM IS SIMILAR TO THAT IN KENTUCKY. IN THE CASE OF ONE BRIDGE STUDY RECENTLY COMPLETED, THE DATA FURNISHED SAVED A VERY LARGE PART OF THE TOTAL INVESTMENT IN THE BRIDGE STRUCTURE BY FORMING THE BASIS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN DESIGN. THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT IN OHIO RECENTLY ENTERED INTO COOPERATION WITH THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM TAILORED TO HIGHWAY NEEDS. IT INCLUDES GAGING STATIONS ON SMALL STREAMS, SUPPLEMENTARY CREST STAGE GAGES, RAIN GAGES, AND PROVISION FOR OBTAINING A LARGE AMOUNT OF SPECIAL INFORMATION AFTER THE OCCURRENCE OF LARGE FLOODS. IN ADDITION, SPECIAL STUDIES WILL BE MADE AND THE BASE RECORDS AND RESULTS OF ANALYSIS PUBLISHED IN STATE REPORTS. /AUTHOR/
Supplemental Notes:
Vol 26, pp 250-255. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
