A water bar is a small ditch or ridge of material is constructed diagonally across a road or right-of-way to divert stormwater runoff from the road surface, wheel tracks, or a shallow road ditch.
Clearing right-of-way and construction of access for power lines, pipelines, and other similar installations often require long, narrow right-of-ways over sloping terrain. Disturbance and compaction promotes gully formation in these cleared strips by increasing the volume and velocity of runoff. Gully formation may be especially severe in tire tracks and ruts. To prevent gullying, runoff can often be diverted across the width of the right-of-way to undisturbed areas by using small predesigned diversions.
Give special consideration to each individual outlet area, as well as to the cumulative effect of added diversions. Use gravel to stabilize the diversion where significant vehicular traffic is anticipated.
1.28.3 Design and Installation Specifications
Height: 8-inch minimum measured from the channel bottom to the top of the ridge.
Side slope of channel: 2H:1V maximum; 3H:1V or flatter when vehicles will cross.
Base width of ridge: 6-inch minimum.
Locate them to use natural grades and conveyance channels and to discharge into well vegetated stable areas.
Grade of water bar and angle: Select angle that results in ditch slope of less than 2 percent.
Install as soon as clearing and grading is complete. Reconstruct when construction is complete on a section when utilities are being installed.
Compact the ridge when installed.
Stabilize, seed, and mulch portions that are not subject to traffic. Gravel areas crossed by vehicles.
Periodically inspect right-of-way diversions for wear and after every heavy rainfall inspect for erosion damage.
Immediately remove sediment from the flow area and repair the dike.
Check outlet areas and make timely repairs as needed.
When permanent road conveyance systems are established and the area above the temporary right-of-way diversion is permanently stabilized, remove the dike and fill the channel to blend with the natural ground, and appropriately stabilize the disturbed area.