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NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD

OPEN CHANNEL
(ft)
CODE 582

measures necessary to overcome the

DEFINITION undesirable effects are made part of any
planned work, where an adequate outlet for
Constructing or improving a channel either the modified channel reach is available for
natural or artificial, in which water flows with a discharge by gravity flow or pumping, and
free surface. where excavation or other channel work does
not cause significant erosion, flooding, or
SCOPE sedimentation.

This standard applies to construction of open

DESIGN CRITERIA
channels or modifications of existing streams
or ditches. Design criteria for channel stability Plan. Channel construction or modification
and maintenance of Floodwater Diversions shall be according to an approved plan
(400), Floodways (404), or Surface Drainage, prepared for the site. TR-25 shall be used in
Main or Lateral (608), having a drainage area surveys, planning, and site investigations for
in excess of 1 mi2 (1.6 km2) shall be in accord channel work. Design criteria in TR-25 shall
with this standard for open channels. It does be followed, using the procedure best adapted
not apply to Diversions (362), Grassed to site conditions.
Waterways (412), Irrigation Field Ditches
(388), Surface Drainage, Field Ditches (607), In selecting the location and design of
or Irrigation Canals or Laterals (320). channels, careful consideration shall be given
to minimizing water pollution, damage to fish
and wildlife habitat, and to protecting forest
PURPOSE resources and the quality of the landscape. In
considering requirements for construction and
To provide discharge capacity required for
operation and maintenance, selected woody
flood prevention, drainage, other authorized
plants must be preserved. The overall
water management purposes, or any
landscape character, prominent views, and fish
combination of these purposes.
and wildlife habitat requirements must be
considered.
CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE
APPLIES Planned measures necessary to mitigate
unavoidable losses to fish or wildlife habitat
This standard applies to all earth channel shall be included in the project. The quality of
construction or modification except as noted the landscape shall be maintained by both the
under “Scope.” location of channel works and plantings, as
appropriate.
It also applies where stability requirements can
be met, where the impact of the proposed The alinement of channels undergoing
construction on water quality, fish and wildlife modifications shall not be changed to the
habitat, forest resources, and quality of the
landscape is evaluated and the techniques and

Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. To obtain
the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

NRCS, NHCP
October, 1987
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extent that the stability of the channel or

laterals thereto is endangered.
All channel construction and modification
Capacity. The capacity for open channels (including clearing and snagging) shall be
shall be determined according to procedures according to a design that can be expected to
applicable to the purposes to be served and result in a stable channel that can be
according to related engineering standards and maintained at reasonable cost. Vegetation,
guidelines in handbooks. The water surface riprap, revetments, linings, structures, or other
profile or hydraulic gradeline for design flow measures shall be used if necessary to insure
shall be determined according to guidelines for stability.
hydraulic design in TR-25. The n value for
aged channels shall be based on the expected The method applicable to site channel in TR-
vegetation, along with other retardance 25 shall be used in determining the stability of
factors, considering the level of maintenance proposed channel improvements.
prescribed in the operation and maintenance
plan prepared with the owners or sponsors. Bankfull flow is the flow in a channel that
The required capacity may be established by creates a water surface at or near the normal
considering volume-duration removal rates, ground elevation, or the tops of dikes or
peak flow, or a combination of the two, as continuous spoil banks that confine the flow for
determined by the topography, purpose of the a significant length of a channel reach.
channel, desired level of protection, and
economic feasibility. Channels must be stable under conditions
existing immediately after construction (as-built
Cross section. The required channel cross condition) and under conditions existing during
section and grade shall be determined by the effective design life (aged condition). Channel
plan objectives, the design capacity, the stability shall be determined for discharges
materials in which the channel is to be under these conditions as follows:
constructed, the vegetative establishment
1. As-built condition − Bankfull flow,
program, and the requirements for operation
design discharge, or 10-year frequency
and maintenance. A minimum depth may be
flow, whichever is smallest, but not less
required to provide adequate outlets for
than 50 percent of design discharge.
subsurface drains, tributary ditches, or
streams. Urban and other high-value
The allowable as-built velocity (regardless
developments through which the channel is to
of type of stability analysis) in the newly
be constructed must be considered in the
constructed channel may be increased by
design of the channel section.
a maximum of 20 percent if:
Channel stability. Characteristics of a stable
a) The soil and site in which the channel
channel are:
is to be constructed are suitable for rapid
1. The channel neither aggrades nor establishment and support of erosion-
degrades beyond tolerable limits. controlling vegetation,
b) Species of erosion-controlling
2. The channel banks do not erode to the vegetation adapted to the area and proven
extent that the channel cross section is methods of establishment are known, and
changed appreciably. c) The channel design includes detailed
plans for establishing vegetation on the
3. Excessive sediment bars do not channel side slopes.
develop.

4. Gullies do not form or enlarge because

of the entry of uncontrolled surface flow to 2. Aged condition − Bankfull flow or
the channel. design discharge, whichever is larger,
except that it is not necessary to check

NHCP, NRCS
October, 1987
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stability for discharge greater than the 100- Disposition of spoil. Spoil material from
year frequency. clearing, grubbing, and channel excavation
shall be disposed of in a manner that will:
Stability checks that are flow related are not 1. Not confine or direct flows so as to
required if the velocity is 2 ft/s (0.6 m/s) or cause instability when the discharge is
less. greater than the bankfull flow.
2. Provide for the free flow of water
For newly constructed channels is fine-grained between the channel and flood plain
soils and sands, the n values shall be unless the valley routing and water surface
determined according to procedures in chapter profile are based on continuous dikes
6 of TR-25, and shall not exceed 0.025. The n being installed.
value for channels to be modified by clearing 3. Not hinder the development of
and snagging only shall be determined by travelways for maintenance.
reaches according to the expected channel 4. Leave the right-of-way in the best
condition upon completion of the work. condition feasible, consistent with the
project purposes and adjacent land uses.
Appurtenant structures. The channel 5. Direct water accumulating on or behind
design shall include all structures required for spoil areas to protected outlets.
proper functioning of the channel and its 6. Maintain or improve the visual quality of
laterals, as well as travelways for operation the site to the extent feasible.
and maintenance. Inlets and structures
needed for entry of surface and subsurface
flow into channels without significant erosion or
degradation shall be included in the channel
Vegetation of channel. Vegetation shall be
design. The design also shall provide for
established on all channel slopes, berms,
necessary flood gates, water-level-control
spoil, and other disturbed areas according to
devices, bays used in connection with pumping
the SCS standard for Channel Vegetation
plants, and any other appurtenances essential
(322).
to the functioning of channels and contributing
to attainment of the purposes for which they
are built. If needed, protective structures or OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
treatment shall be used at junctions between
channels to insure stability at these critical Plan. An operation and maintenance plan
locations. must be prepared for each channel system.
Minimum requirements for operation,
The effect of channel work on existing culverts, maintenance, and replacement shall be
bridges, buried cables, pipelines, irrigation consistent with the design objectives. This
flumes, and inlet structures for surface and includes consideration of fish and wildlife
subsurface drainage on the channel and habitat, quality of the landscape, water quality,
laterals thereto shall be evaluated to determine mitigation features, methods, equipment,
the need for modification or replacement. costs, stability, function for design life,
frequency, and time of year for accomplishing
Culverts and bridges that are modified or the work. Detailed provisions for operation
added as part of channel projects shall meet and maintenance must be made if complex
reasonable standards for the type of structure features, such as water-level-control structures
and shall have a minimum capacity equal to and pumping plants, are required.
the design discharge of state agency design
requirements, whichever is greater. Capacity Maintenance access. Travelways for
of some culverts and bridges may need to be maintenance generally shall be provided as
increased above the design discharge. part of all channel work. This requirement may
be met by providing reading access points to
sections of the channel if this will permit

NHCP, NRCS
October, 1987
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adequate maintenance in conformance with Safety. Open channels can create a safety
the operation and maintenance plan. hazard. Appropriate safety features and
devices should be installed to protect people
A travelway shall be provided on each side of and animals from accidents such as falling or
large channels if necessary for use of drowning.
maintenance equipment. Travelways must be
adequate for movement and operation of
PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
equipment required for maintenance of the
channel. The travelway may be located Plans and specifications for constructing open
adjacent to the channel on a berm or on the channels shall be in keeping with this standard
spread spoil. In some places the channel itself and shall describe the requirements for
may be used as the travelway. The travelway, properly installing the practice to achieve its
including access points, must blend into the intended purpose.
topography, the landscape, and adjacent land
uses.

NHCP, NRCS
October, 1987
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PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
FOR QUANTITY AND QUALITY
Quantity Quality
1. Effects on components of the water 1. Effects of erosion and the movement of
budget, especially on volumes and sediment and soluble and sediment-
rates of runoff and infiltration. attached substances in runoff during and
immediately after construction.

2. Effects of the use of chemicals during

vegetation control.

3. Effects of changes in channel

vegetation on downstream water
temperature.

4. Potential for temporary and long-term

effects on the visual quality of downstream
waters.

NHCP, NRCS
October, 1987