Skip Top Navigation

You are here: Home > Design > Hydraulics

Hydraulics

The Hydraulics Branch is part of the WSDOT Design Office, providing technical support, training and policy manuals in the disciplines of hydrology and hydraulics to WSDOT headquarters, regional PE offices and consultants. They also provide varying degrees of technical support to other state agencies and local agencies.

Primary Responsibilities
The Hydraulics Branch has primary responsibility for the following:

  • Maintain and update the WSDOT Hydraulics Manual.
  • Maintain and update the design portions of the Highway Runoff Manual.
  • Hydraulic analysis of bridges, including hydraulic conveyance, floodplain impacts, deck drainage and foundation scour.
  • Hydraulic and structural design of large span corrugated metal culverts.
  • Provide technical support and approval authority for all hydraulic reports.
  • Technical support for research efforts in stormwater and hydraulics.
  • Hydraulic design of pumping facilities.
  • Maintain and update WSDOT Standard Plans and Standard Specifications Book involving drainage water related items.
  • Design water supply and sewage disposal systems for safety rest areas.
  • Provide hydrology and hydraulics training for WSDOT personnel.

Technical Assistance
The Hydraulics Branch offers technical assistance to project engineers, WSDOT consultants and Local Programs for the following:

  • Hydraulic design of drainage facilities (culverts, storm drains, storm water BMPs, siphons, channel changes, etc.)
  • Structural design of hydraulic structures (culverts, headwalls, fish ladders, etc.)
  • Hydraulic Support for bridge scour, bridge foundations, water surface profiles and analysis of floodwaters thru bridges.
  • Analysis of stream bank erosion along roadways & river migration and the design of stabilization counter measures and environmental mitigation.
  • Flood plain studies, flood predictions and special hydrological analysis (snowmelt estimates, storm frequency predictions, etc.)
  • Analysis of closed drainage basins and unusual or unique drainage conditions.
  • Wind and wave analysis on open water structures.
  • Technical support to Local Programs for hydraulic or bridge related needs.

Runoff Resources

WSDOT Hydraulics Manual

Every March, a new version of the Hydraulics Manual is published that reflects corrections and or clarifications found during general use of the manual.  To request a revision to the Hydraulics manual, please fill out the form below and submit it to Jay Christianson. 

Revision Request Form

Before starting any hydraulic design, verify that the date in the footer of the Hydraulics Manual is for the last March. The latest version of the WSDOT Hydraulics Manual (M 23-03) is always available on-line through Engineering Publications On-Line Library.


WSDOT Hydraulics Report Outline

Below is a link to the current Hydraulic Report Outline referenced in the Hydraulics Manual as Appendix 1-3. The outline is periodically updated and as such it is recommended that designers use the latest version, at the link below, when staring a new Hydraulic Report. The outline is intended to be a starting point for designers. For additional guidance on the outline, designers should consult Chapter 1 of the Hydraulics Manual.

Hydraulic Report Outline

Hydraulics Report Checklist

Below is a link to the current Hydraulic Report Checklist referenced in the Hydraulics Manual as Appendix 1-4. The checklist is periodically updated and as such it is recommended that designers use the latest version, at the link below, when staring a new Hydraulic Report. The checklist is intended to assist designers in the development and through the review process of a Hydraulic Report. For additional guidance on the checklist, designers should consult Chapter 1 of the Hydraulics Manual.

Hydraulic Report Checklist

Fish Passage

WSDOT is required to install and maintain all culverts, fishways, and bridges to provide unrestricted fish passage as per Washington law, RCW 77.57.030. Design of fish barrier correction will be based on the latest version of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) Fish Passage Design at Road Culverts manual or its successor. Through use of this design guidance and in coordination with WDFW, it is expected that new highway construction at stream crossings will not result in additional barriers to fish passage. For more information, see link below. 

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Environment/Biology/FP/fishpassage.htm


toptop

Copyright WSDOT © 2010