Debris Control

• Flood water usually carries objectionable

objects like brushes, banana trunks, tree
branches etc. These floating debris clogs
culvert entrances and raise the headwater
elevation over-flowing the road and damaging
adjoining properties. Culverts should be
designed to allow debris to pass a single large
span box culvert is preferred on streams
carrying large floating objects than the multi-
span culvert with the same area of openings.
• Another alternative is to extend the curtain
wall separating the barrels of the multi span
culverts upstream, with its top slanting
downward so that in time of flood, debris
carried by flood water will ride up on this wall
or turn to pass easily through the opening.
CURTAIN WALL
• Another method proven effective is to install
upstream debris racks or steel rail. Some
design provides trap for the sand or gravel
carried by the stream rather than having it
pass through the structure. However, design
of debris control devices depends upon the
kind of debris to be handled, the volume of
floodwater and the site conditions.
DEBRIS RACK
STEEL RAIL
The Legal Aspect of Drainage
Damage claim against the Department
could be established if

• A. When as a result of the agency’s project,

the flow of several streams or creeks were
concentrated into a single channel that
resulted to erosion or flooding of private
property.
• B. When due to poor design or inadequate
maintenance, water backed against highway
resulted to inundation of land or property or
caused injury or death.
• C. Liability however, the agency would not be
liable for damages if an unprecedented storm
causes the stream to overflow a newly
constructed channel, provided that this
channel has the capacity equal to the natural
volume of water flow.