Simulations of the effects of U.S. Highway 231 and the proposed Montgomery outer loop on flooding in the Catoma Creek and Little Catoma Creek Basins near Montgomery, Alabama

Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4040-A
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Abstract

A two-dimensional finite-element surface-water model was used to study the effects of U.S. Highway 231 and the proposed Montgomery Outer Loop on the water-surface elevations and flow distributions during flooding in the Catoma Creek and Little Catoma Creek Basins southeast of Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama. The effects of flooding were simulated for two scenarios--existing and proposed conditions--for the 100- and 500-year recurrence intervals. The first scenario was to model the existing bridge and highway configuration for U.S. Highway 231 and the existing ponds that lie just upstream from this crossing. The second scenario was to model the proposed bridge and highway configuration for the Montgomery Outer Loop and the Montgomery Loop Interchange at U.S. Highway 231 as well as the proposed modifications to the ponds upstream. Simulation of floodflow for Little Catoma Creek for the existing conditions at U.S. Highway 231 indicates that, for the 100-year flood, 54 percent of the flow (8,140 cubic feet per second) was conveyed by the northernmost bridge, 21 percent (3,130 cubic feet per second) by the middle bridge, and 25 percent (3,780 cubic feet per second) by the southernmost bridge. No overtopping of U.S. Highway 231 occurred. However, the levees of the catfish ponds immediately upstream from the crossing were completely overtopped. The average water- surface elevations for the 100-year flood at the upstream limits of the study reach for Catoma Creek and Little Catoma Creek were 216.9 and 218.3 feet, respectively. For the 500-year flood, the simulatin indicates that 51 percent of the flow (11,200 cubic feet per second) was conveyed by the northernmost bridge, 25 percent (5,480 cubic feet per second) by the middle bridge, and 24 percent (5,120 cubic feet per second) by the southernmost bridge. The average water0surface elevations for the 500-year flood at the upstream limits of the study reach for Catoma Creek and Little Catoma Creek were 218.2 and 219.5 feet, respectively. For the 500-year flood, no overtopping of U.S. Highway 231 occurred. Simulation of the 100-year floodflow for Little Catoma Creek for the proposed conditions indicates that, for the existing bridges on U.S. Highway 231, 54 percent of the flow (8,190 cubic feet per second) was conveyed by the northernmost bridge, 22 percent (3,350 cubic feet per second) by the middle bridge, and 24 percent (3,490 cubic feet per second) by the southernmost bridge. The two proposed relief bridges on the Montgomery Outer Loop upstream from the proposed remaining catfish ponds conveyed about 7,750 cubic feet per second (3,400 cubic feet per second for the west relief bridge and 4,350 cubic feet per second for the east relief bridge) with an average depth of flow of about 7 feet. The average water-surface elevation at the upstream limit of the study reach for Little Catoma Creek was 218.8 feet, which is about 0.5 foot higher than the average water-surface elevation for the existing conditions. For the 100-year flood, there was no overtopping of either U.S. Highway 231 or the Montgomery Outer Loop. However, the levees of the proposed remaining catfish ponds were completely overtopped. For the Montgomery Outer Loop crossing of Catoma Creek, simulation of the 100-year floodflow indicates that about 58 percent of the flow (14,100 cubic feet per second) was conveyed by the proposed main channel bridge and 42 percent (10,200 cubic feet per second) by the proposed relief bridge. The average water-surface elevation at the upstream limit of the study reach for Catoma Creek was 216.9 feet, which is the same as the water-surface elevation for the existing conditions. Results of model simulations for the 500-year flood for the proposed conditions indicate that there was no overtopping on either U.S. Highway 231 or the Montgomery Outer Loop. For the existing bridges on U.S. Highway 231, 42 percent of the flow (11,300 cubic feet per second) was conveyed by the northernmost bridge
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Simulations of the effects of U.S. Highway 231 and the proposed Montgomery outer loop on flooding in the Catoma Creek and Little Catoma Creek Basins near Montgomery, Alabama
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 99-4040
Chapter A
DOI 10.3133/wri994040A
Edition -
Year Published 1999
Language ENGLISH
Publisher U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey ; Information Services [distributor],
Description iv, 24 p. :col. maps; 28 cm.; 18 illus.; 4 tables
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