Erosion and Flooding Control via Geomorphic Channel Design
The Railroad Commission of Texas’s Abandoned Mine Land Program (AMLP) received notification from a private landowner regarding erosion and flooding concerns stemming from historical underground coal mining on their property. Trihydro designed a channel configuration to control erosive stormwater velocities and minimize potential flooding. Our team completed the design work in six months, allowing construction with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to begin. The project was the first AML IIJA-funded project completed in the nation.
Upon receiving the landowner’s concerns, the Abandoned Mine Land Program (AMLP) promptly investigated and confirmed the site qualified for reclamation. Because AMLP already had a professional engineering services contract with Trihydro, they were able to issue a work order for design support without delay.
The project centered on designing a drainage channel to mitigate impacts from a subsidence feature on private land. The feature was contributing to erosion on the landowner’s property and flooding on an adjacent parcel. Subsidence occurs when soil and rock collapse into underground mine voids, creating depressions or openings that connect to historical mine workings. These conditions can result in property damage, safety risks, and environmental impacts such as erosion and flooding.
Project tasks included geotechnical drilling and soil sampling, topographic surveys, engineering design, wetland delineation, and permitting support with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Working closely with AMLP, Trihydro developed a geomorphic channel design to address the subsidence feature, manage stormwater velocities, and reduce flood potential on the neighboring property. The sinuous channel configuration mimics a natural stream, using its form rather than riprap to slow flows to non-erosive levels. This approach reduced costs by limiting the need for riprap, improved aesthetics by reflecting natural stream patterns, and created a more resilient landscape by incorporating natural processes.
Stakeholders included AMLP, private landowners, and USACE. Trihydro served as the prime consultant, leading the design and topographic surveying.
