Surface runoff in a torrent catchment area in Middle Europe and its prevention

The Schesa, a sinister contributory torrent to the Ill river near Bludenz (federal province of Vorarlberg) is the largest basin-shaped gully of Middle Europe and endangers the underlying villages by torrential debris flow and gigantic mass movements. The catchment is characterized by a complex geolo...

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Published inGeotechnical and geological engineering Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 1403 - 1424
Main Authors Markart, G, Kohl, B, Kirnbauer, R, Pirkl, H, Bertle, H, Stern, R, Reiterer, A, Zanetti, P
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 01.10.2006
Subjects
Annual precipitation
Annual rainfall
Catchment area
Catchment areas
Computer simulation
Debris flow
Field investigations
Field tests
Freshwater
Geology
Gullies
Hydrogeology
Land use
Percolating water
Percolation
Physical characteristics
Physical properties
Plant cover
Reduction
Runoff
Runoff coefficient
Soil
Soil investigations
Surface runoff
Vegetation
Vegetation cover
Europe
France, Alsace, Ill R
ANW, Atlantic, The Gully
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Summary:The Schesa, a sinister contributory torrent to the Ill river near Bludenz (federal province of Vorarlberg) is the largest basin-shaped gully of Middle Europe and endangers the underlying villages by torrential debris flow and gigantic mass movements. The catchment is characterized by a complex geological situation, high annual precipitation and torrential rains from spring to early autumn, which cause enormous amounts of surface runoff. Based on field investigations comprising rain simulation experiments on representative plots, investigations on land-use, vegetation cover, soil physical characteristics, geology, hydrogeology and other features of the catchment area, surface runoff coefficient maps were developed. They formed the basis for assessment of runoff potential for different scenarios in vegetation cover and land-use intensity. Calculation of runoff for the recurrent design event by use of an improved run-time method showed the urgent necessity of runoff reduction measures in large parts of the catchment area above the gully. Based on the modelling results a concept for reduction of both, surface runoff and amount of deep percolating water has been elaborated.
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ISSN:0960-3182
1573-1529
DOI:10.1007/s10706-005-2633-5