City of Ottawa Field Test of Submerged Groynes (barbs) for Streambank Protection & Habitat Creation
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector
Water
Project value$131,600
Project Type
Pilot Project
Sub Sector
Stormwater Management
Grant amount$65,800
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Ottawa, ON
Status
Fully Disbursed
Population
1,017,449
Project timeline
2007 - 2015
Project number
9063
Description
The City of Ottawa will conduct a field test of submerged groynes, or flow deflectors, to protect an eroding river bank. Submerged groynes are intended to direct the flow away from an eroding bank toward the channel centre, without causing erosion of adjacent banks. The field test results will be used to develop design guidelines for the installation of groynes where bank erosion, river habitat degradation and impending failure of urban infrastructure have been identified. The design guidelines will be useful to hydraulic engineers throughout Canada who are looking for ecosystem-friendly means of stabilizing urban rivers. Along with providing good bank protection, submerged groyne flow deflectors should help also to improve in-stream habitat. Furthermore, because hard revetment is avoided, channel banks can be revegetated to produce a more natural channel with improved near-bank habitat. This will result in an overall gain in channel complexity and habitat diversity.
Applicant
City of Ottawa, ON