Surveying water surface to tie into bathymetry measurments on Bitterroot River near Hamilton, MT to describe scour near the bridge.
Steve Holnbeck
Steve is a Hydrologist in the Studies Section.
Science and Products
Evaluating the use of video cameras to estimate bridge scour potential at four bridges in southwestern Montana
Near-field remote sensing of surface velocity and river discharge using radars and the probability concept at 10 USGS streamgages
Investigation of pier scour in coarse-bed streams in Montana, 2001 through 2007
Sediment-transport investigations of the Upper Yellowstone River, Montana, 1999 through 2001: data collection, analysis, and simulation of sediment transport
Evaluation of pier-scour equations for coarse-bed streams
Rapid-estimation method for assessing scour at highway bridges
Rapid-Estimation Method for Assessing Scour at Highway Bridges Based on Limited Site Data
Procedures for estimating unit hydrographs for large floods at ungaged sites in Montana
Relation between largest known flood discharge and elevation in Montana
Bridge scour and change in contracted section, Razor Creek
Bridge Scour in Montana
Channel geometry for upstream and downstream cross sections at selected bridge sites in Montana, 2022
Channel geometry for upstream and downstream cross sections at selected bridge sites in Montana, 2021
Channel geometry for upstream and downstream cross sections at selected bridge sites in Montana, 2020
Surveying water surface to tie into bathymetry measurments on Bitterroot River near Hamilton, MT to describe scour near the bridge.
Ground point survey with Trimble S6 robotic total station and prism and rod techniques, measuring depth of streambed to assess bridge scour on West Gallatin River near Belgrade, MT
Ground point survey with Trimble S6 robotic total station and prism and rod techniques, measuring depth of streambed to assess bridge scour on West Gallatin River near Belgrade, MT
Bathymetry survey with Trimble S6 robotic total station, hydrolite single-beam echosounder transducer, and HYPACK software, measuring streambed depths along bridge pier on Beaverhead River in Twin Bridges, MT
Bathymetry survey with Trimble S6 robotic total station, hydrolite single-beam echosounder transducer, and HYPACK software, measuring streambed depths along bridge pier on Beaverhead River in Twin Bridges, MT
Measuring bridge scour on Clark Fork River near Superior, MT (April 4, 2007)
Measuring bridge scour on Clark Fork River near Superior, MT (April 4, 2007)
Science and Products
- Publications
Evaluating the use of video cameras to estimate bridge scour potential at four bridges in southwestern Montana
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation, installed cameras and large-scale particle image velocimetry (LSPIV) recording equipment at four sites where the U.S. Geological Survey and Montana Department of Transportation are monitoring bridge scour using other methods. Determination of stream velocities is an important component of hydraulic engineerinAuthorsDaniel W. Armstrong, Stephen R. Holnbeck, Katherine J. ChaseNear-field remote sensing of surface velocity and river discharge using radars and the probability concept at 10 USGS streamgages
Near-field remote sensing of surface velocity and river discharge (discharge) were measured using coherent, continuous wave Doppler and pulsed radars. Traditional streamgaging requires sensors be deployed in the water column; however, near-field remote sensing has the potential to transform streamgaging operations through non-contact methods in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and other agenciesAuthorsJohn Fulton, Chris A. Mason, Jack R. Eggleston, Matthew J. Nicotra, C.-L. Chiu, Mark F. Henneberg, Heather Best, Jay Cederberg, Stephen R. Holnbeck, R. Russell Lotspeich, Christopher Laveau, Tommaso Moramarco, Mark E. Jones, Jonathan J Gourley, Danny WasielewskiInvestigation of pier scour in coarse-bed streams in Montana, 2001 through 2007
A primary goal of ongoing field research of bridge scour is improvement of scour-prediction equations so that pier-scour depth is predicted accurately-an important element of hydraulic analysis and design of highway bridges that cross streams, rivers, and other waterways. Scour depth for piers in streambeds with a mixture of sand, gravel, cobbles, and boulders (coarse-bed streams, which are commonAuthorsStephen R. HolnbeckSediment-transport investigations of the Upper Yellowstone River, Montana, 1999 through 2001: data collection, analysis, and simulation of sediment transport
No abstract available.AuthorsStephen R. HolnbeckEvaluation of pier-scour equations for coarse-bed streams
Streambed scour at bridge piers is among the leading causes of bridge failure in the United States. Several pier-scour equations have been developed to calculate potential scour depths at existing and proposed bridges. Because many pier-scour equations are based on data from laboratory flumes and from cohesionless silt- and sand-bottomed streams, they tend to overestimate scour for piers in coarseAuthorsKatherine J. Chase, Stephen R. HolnbeckRapid-estimation method for assessing scour at highway bridges
A method was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey for rapid estimation of scour at highway bridges using limited site data and analytical procedures to estimate pier, abutment, and contraction scour depths. The basis for the method was a procedure recommended by the Federal Highway Administration for conducting detailed scour investigations, commonly referred to as the Level 2 method. Using pieAuthorsStephen R. HolnbeckRapid-Estimation Method for Assessing Scour at Highway Bridges Based on Limited Site Data
No abstract available.AuthorsStephen R. Holnbeck, Charles ParrettProcedures for estimating unit hydrographs for large floods at ungaged sites in Montana
Flood hydrographs for 26 gaging stations and rainfall data were used together with a rainfall-runoff simulation model to derive unit hydrographs and important unit-hydrograph variables. Methods were developed for estimating unit hydrographs at ungaged sites using either the Clark or dimensionless unit-hydrograph methods. The 26 derived unit hydrographs were compared with those calculated by the twAuthorsStephen R. Holnbeck, Charles ParrettRelation between largest known flood discharge and elevation in Montana
Previous studies relating unit discharge to elevation indicated that large floods in the Rocky Mountains may be limited by elevation. However, high-elevation data are sparse in Montana and the indications may not be entirely correct. Based on data at 19 sites in Montana, a strong log-linear relation exists between large-flood discharge and drainage area. The use of unit discharge (peak discharge dAuthorsCharles Parrett, Stephen R. HolnbeckBridge scour and change in contracted section, Razor Creek
Two large floods, 3 and 4 times the estimated 100-year peak discharge, occurred in 1986 and 1991 at a timber-pile bridge over Razor Creek in Montana. A bridge section surveyed after the 1991 flood was compared with a 1955 design section and showed total scour of 0.85 m at the left abutment, 2.23 m at the right abutment, and 0. 94 m at the pile bents. Calculated total scour based on equations recomAuthorsStephen R. Holnbeck, Charles Parrett, Todd N. Tillinger - Science
Bridge Scour in Montana
Bridge scour is the erosion of streambed material away from pier foundations and abutments and is the leading cause of bridge failure in the United States (Richardson and Davis, 2001). Since the early 1990s, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) have had a cooperative bridge scour project in Montana. - Data
Channel geometry for upstream and downstream cross sections at selected bridge sites in Montana, 2022
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), collected cross-section data on the upstream and downstream sides at 18 sites involving 20 bridges in Montana during the 2022 calendar year. The purpose of the data collection is to determine if scour and channel instability occur in the vicinity of the bridge structures. Data were processed, analyzed,Channel geometry for upstream and downstream cross sections at selected bridge sites in Montana, 2021
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), collected cross-section data on the upstream and downstream sides at selected bridges in Montana during the 2021 calendar year. The purpose of the data collection is to determine if scour and channel instability occur in the vicinity of the bridge structures. Data were processed, analyzed, and compiledChannel geometry for upstream and downstream cross sections at selected bridge sites in Montana, 2020
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), collected cross-section data on the upstream and downstream sides at selected bridges in Montana during the 2020 calendar year. The purpose of the data collection is to determine if scour and channel instability occur in the vicinity of the bridge structures. Data were processed, analyzed, and compiled - Maps
- Multimedia
Surveying water surface along with other methods to describe scourSurveying water surface along with other methods to describe scour
Surveying water surface to tie into bathymetry measurments on Bitterroot River near Hamilton, MT to describe scour near the bridge.
Surveying water surface to tie into bathymetry measurments on Bitterroot River near Hamilton, MT to describe scour near the bridge.
Ground point survey with total station to measure depth to streambedGround point survey with total station to measure depth to streambedGround point survey with Trimble S6 robotic total station and prism and rod techniques, measuring depth of streambed to assess bridge scour on West Gallatin River near Belgrade, MT
Ground point survey with Trimble S6 robotic total station and prism and rod techniques, measuring depth of streambed to assess bridge scour on West Gallatin River near Belgrade, MT
Bathymetry survey measuring streambed depths along bridge piBathymetry survey measuring streambed depths along bridge piBathymetry survey with Trimble S6 robotic total station, hydrolite single-beam echosounder transducer, and HYPACK software, measuring streambed depths along bridge pier on Beaverhead River in Twin Bridges, MT
Bathymetry survey with Trimble S6 robotic total station, hydrolite single-beam echosounder transducer, and HYPACK software, measuring streambed depths along bridge pier on Beaverhead River in Twin Bridges, MT
Measuring bridge scour on Clark Fork River near Superior, MTMeasuring bridge scour on Clark Fork River near Superior, MTMeasuring bridge scour on Clark Fork River near Superior, MT (April 4, 2007)
Measuring bridge scour on Clark Fork River near Superior, MT (April 4, 2007)