Bathymetric and Topographic Surveys of the French Broad River at Highway Construction Sites near Asheville, NC
Summary
In January 2020, The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) began work on an extensive highway widening project on Interstate-26 (I-26) which is adjacent to, and on two bridge crossings over the French Broad River. The NCDOT has committed to minimizing environmental impacts resulting from the I-26 Widening project and aims to become a steward of the French Broad River corridor. To be effective environmental stewards, NCDOT needs to know when and where geomorphologic changes have occurred as a result of highway construction activities. In June 2019, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the NCDOT, began pre-construction bathymetric and topographic surveys of select highway construction sites which will be [...]
Summary
In January 2020, The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) began work on an extensive highway widening project on Interstate-26 (I-26) which is adjacent to, and on two bridge crossings over the French Broad River. The NCDOT has committed to minimizing environmental impacts resulting from the I-26 Widening project and aims to become a steward of the French Broad River corridor. To be effective environmental stewards, NCDOT needs to know when and where geomorphologic changes have occurred as a result of highway construction activities. In June 2019, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the NCDOT, began pre-construction bathymetric and topographic surveys of select highway construction sites which will be followed by periodic repeat surveys. The repeat surveys will be used to construct digital elevation models (DEMs). The DEMs will allow for periodic geomorphological assessments and will be used to assure that the I-26 widening project will have minimal adverse impacts on the French Broad River.
