Viabilidad de la construcción de diques de tierra mediante técnicas tradicionales en cárcavas de baja escorrentía

Abstract

The materials traditionally used for check dams in forest-hydrological restoration produce a permanent visual impact. The aim of this paper is to present a sort of revegetated or ‘green’ rammed-earth check dam to integrate this construction in the natural landscape, as it is built using materials from the surrounding terrain. This sort of earth construction has not been used in Spain to restore gullies or torrents, but for irrigation pools and large dams. Besides, it has been used in longitudinal works against floods and other constructions or buildings. We propose a modification of the classical profile of the earth dams, in order to reduce the construction volume, by means of a vertical profile upstream, with a waterproof core based on the construction of earthen walls, and a revegetable sloping profile downstream. The rammed-earth wall allows the use of materials and traditional construction methods from the area, environmental friendly, while the revegetated downstream embankment integrates the structure into the landscape. The check dam has been designed to accomplish the conditions against overturning, sliding stability and ground resistance. The construction cost was compared to other classic check dam profile (concrete and gabions), showing the feasibility of this type of structure to restore gullied and low rainfall or runoff areas, as clayey basins.