Burke
In the first hour of the July 4thThe country of Texas Hill received a record amount of rain: in Hunt, Texas, about eight inches fell in four hours.
As a result of the tremendous deluge, the Guadalupe River came out of its banks and claimed the life of 136 people. The focus of national care has been in Camp Mystic, where 27 children and staff died. Is there any engineering solution to minimize flood loss of life on the Guadalupe River? As an engineer who has worked in many heavy construction projects, so I see the problems.
The United States Geological Survey has a Hunt measurement station, so we know the typical river flow throughout the year: about 10 to 20 cubic feet per second (CFS) at this station. At 22:00 on July 2, the flow was 6 CFS, but only two days later the flow was 120,000 cfs. This absolutely puzzling flow caused the disastrous flood to the Guadalupe River, when on July 4th The river raised 26 feet in 45 minutes!
There have been great floods in the country of Texas Hill in 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998 and 2002. Strong rain, rocky soil and steep terrain are combined to create devastating floods.
The southern fork of the Guadalupe, along which is the Mystic Camp, begins in the south -west of Kerr county and flows to the north -east for 27 miles until it encounters the northern fork of Hunt, Texas. At this point, combined forks become the “Guadalupe River”. The northern fork of the Guadalupe River rises in the western part of Kerr county. It flows east for 29 miles until it fuses with the southern fork in Hunt, Texas. The Guadalupe river flows for about 250 kilometers in the Gulf of America.
There are several possible engineering options.
Like all rivers, the riverbed can only bring so much water. To minimize floods, engineers often expand the riverbed to allow the riverbed to transport more water downstream. River channeling often includes removal of trees and shrubs that partially block the flow of water, and this work has already been done by means of the action of traveling the recent flood.
Another measure is to widen and deepen the channel. This is achieved by digging or drag the riverbed. Once again, the floods have searched most of the loose material, but there may be places where the riverbed should be widened or drediced.
Although they would compromise the appearance of the river, I think the flood walls could also help. Selected locations should be built along the north and south forks, reinforced concrete about 2 feet high. A flood wall that anyone higher would make the campers reach the river.
The Guadalupe River system has several dams, but they are downstream of Hunt, Texas. Many of these dams below Kerville, Texas, were built in the 1920’s and 1930’s and are in poor condition. Some have been repaired.
There is no significant prey at the southern fork or the northern fork of the Guadalupe River, but there are a number of low prey designed to form small lakes.
As prey would protect lives
The area that needs larger prey is this South/North Fork fork in the country of Texas Hill. The dams would provide the greater protection, allowing flooding waters to be stored safely in the deposits after a rainy and released event at appropriate times.
I propose to study the potential of two dams, near the headwaters of each fork, both heights of concrete compacted with a ridge elevation of 2,100 feet above sea level. The two prey must include flooding doors and concrete slopes with Tain doors. Aside the river in these places, sufficient water would be caught with several tributaries to reduce the floods downstream.
Civil engineers should look for possible damnity locations throughout the South and North Fork fork. Cypress Creek is emptied at the southern fork of the Mystic Camp, and an additional uprising of this cove should be built.
There are many environmental and financial reasons to allow the Guadalupe River to remain as it is, but human life cannot be replaced. The engineering solutions would allow the campers to keep near the river at much less risk.
Henry Burke, who was a professional engineer registered for many years, retires from Kiewit Corp. You can reach hwburke25@gmail.com.
