Texas officials view water tests at USU’s Water Research Lab
Utah State University’s Utah Water Research Lab (UWRL) hosted members of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Thursday to view tests of water flow on a scale model of Lake Austin’s Tom Miller Dam. The LCRA has used the facilities of the UWRL because of the unique conditions in Logan, said Mike Johnson, who was the director of the project. Johnson said the facility was used because no other facility has water pumps large enough to make an accurate scale model. The 3-foot-high, 25-foot-long model tested the flow of water over the dam in 100-year flooding and maximum flooding conditions. “The amount of water that moved over the dam during peak flooding was about 8,000 times the amount of water flowing in the Logan River right now,” Johnson said. “If you want to do it right, go to Utah State,” said Paul Thornhill, executive manager of WaterCo, the water division of the LCRA. Thornhill said Texas is working on a 15-year plan to upgrade dams. USU has been a part of the plan by creating the physical models of dams in central Texas. The dam has been breached in the past – its proximity to Austin, Tex., makes it important to make the dams safe, Thornhill said. Measuring the flow of water over the dam can help the civil authorities make preparations for a possible flood. Why are physical models still being made when mathematical and computer simulations can be used? Johnson said a scale model is the best way to measure water flow because of the limitations of mathematical simulations based on the current limits of computing power. Johnson also said mathematical models are based on the smooth, perfect flow of water over a smooth surface. Models, however, can measure the flow of water over rough river bottoms, the scouring effect of water on the river bottom and also the impact of debris in the stream flow. USU students who worked on the models walked away with experience working out real-world problems in civil engineering. “Students spent 300 to 400 hours on the model,” said Steven Barfuss, principal investigator of UWRL. On hand to view the model were board members and lawyers from the LCRA and engineers from Texas in addition to faculty and engineers from USU. For more information on this program or the USU Utah Water Research Lab, call the lab at 797-3155.