Kennedy Creek Floodplain and Estuary Functional Assessment

Fain Environmental performed a geomorphic and hydraulic assessment of Kennedy Creek in the area adjacent to the Highway 101 bridge. We assessed the geomorphology and developed a hydrologic and hydraulic 1-D Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model to assess the impacts on the flow and sediment due to the bridge on the Kennedy Creek salt marsh under existing and future sea level rise conditions. The model simulations show that under typical conditions there is little impact, but in large storm events there can be significant scour. The results of these simulations are being used in combination with the ecological assessment to develop a restoration design.