PREDICTING AGGRADATION AND DEGRADATION (2005)
3.5.1.1 Long-Term Bed Elevation Changes
Long-term bed elevation changes may be the natural trend of the stream or may be the result of some
modification to the stream or watershed. The streambed may be aggrading, degrading, or in relative
equilibrium in the vicinity of the bridge crossing. The problem for the engineer is to estimate the long-term bed
elevation changes that will occur during the life of the structure.
Factors that affect long-term bed elevation changes are dams and reservoirs (up- or downstream of the bridge),
changes in watershed land use (urbanization, deforestation, etc.), channelization, cutoffs of meander bends
(natural or man-made), changes in the downstream channel base level (control), gravel mining from the
streambed, diversion of water into or out of the stream, natural lowering of the fluvial system, movement of a
bend and bridge location with respect to stream planform, and stream movement in relation to the crossing.
Tidal ebb and flood may degrade a coastal stream; whereas, littoral drift may result in aggradation. The
elevation of the bed under bridges over a tributary to a larger stream will follow the trend of the larger stream
unless there are controls. Controls could be bedrock, dams, culverts or other structures. The changes in bed
elevation decrease the further upstream the bridge is from the confluence with another stream or from other
bed elevation controls.