ICE JAM MITIGATION ON BISTRITA RIVER THROUGH

HYDRAULIC CONTROL STRUCTURES

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Costel Boariu

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Constantin Bofu
Lect. Prof. Dr. Eng. Dana Madalina Pohrib
Lect. Prof. Dr. Eng. Petru Cercel
Lect. Prof. Dr. Eng. Tomi Hraniciuc
“Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, Iasi, Romania

ABSTRACT
Along Bistrita River in the Eastern Carpathians is produced each year freezeup
ice jams. Depending on the hydro and weather conditions these breakup jams have a
larger or smaller spreading. Periodical ice jams cause damage and noticeable loss of
lives. The article examines the area between the tail of Mountain Spring Lake (Poiana
Largului) and Dorna Arini which has a length of about 80 km. Jams and ice
accumulations occur usually in the downstream section between Poiana Largului and
Borca. It would be preferable for ice jams to occur in an uninhabited area.
It is possible to fulfilment a structure hydro (threshold) to create the conditions of
formation of ice blockage in a particular section?
By making hydraulic structure that allows the accumulation of ice, water flow
changes. These changes can produce undesirable effects on water flow in the river bed
(level rise compared to the previous situation). The calculation was performed for three
types of flows (average of winter months, the multiannual average flow and 5%
probability). Topographical measurements were made on the study. The bed roughness
coefficient (Manning) was determined using measurements of flows and levels at
hydrological stations in the area. Manning coefficient calibration was performed with
MIKE software. Another issue to resolve is unlocking breakup jams in melting ice time
safely. It is shown by theoretical considerations (nature of ice jam formation) and
observations in the field as unlocking congestion ice does not cause negative effects in
downstream
The article identifies an area of Bistrita river wherein is dimensioned a structure
(threshold) through which ice accumulation is obtained without changing the character
of flow. It proposed a criterion for assessing the minimum impact of threshold height
about the character of flow. The two goals (block ice and minimal impact) can be
fulfilled only under certain conditions. These conditions are identified.
Keywords: ice jam, hydraulic structure, minim impact

1. INTRODUCTION. Formation of ice jams

1.1. Ice formation [1], [2]
The frazil ice is formed in the turbulent water, supercooled. Supercooled water at a
temperature below its freezing point for still water; for pure water the freezing point is,
by definition, 0 ° C (32 ° F) at atmospheric pressure. Supercooling occurs in lakes and
rivers in places where the water is turbulent, where the surface is not covered by the ice,
and when the air temperature is lower than 0 ° C (32 ° F) a significant amount (usually
an air temperature of -8 ° C (18 ° F) or less is required). If the water surface is covered
with ice, the temperature at the interface of ice / water should be at the freezing point,
and all heat transfer will stop when the water is 0 ° C (32 ° F). As a result, frazil ice
(frazil slush) is always associated with free surface water.
1.2. Dynamics ice bridge formation [1],[2], [6]
Dynamics formation of field ice in rivers by juxtaposition (joining) of ice sheets was
quantified for the first time by Michel (1978). This indicates a lower limit value for
Froude number between 0.06 - 0.12 over which the pieces of ice coming from upstream
come under formed ice field. Ashton (2010) show that most labs have found limited
Froude number between 0.08 - 0.13
Most river ice bridge forms from the interaction of ice sheets transported and flowing
water. The ice bridges formed in this way progressing to upstream of the initiation
point, as the ice is brought to the upstream end of the water flow.
1.3. The retention structure of the ice formations
Agglomeration of frazil ice on the surface of bodies of water is possible if the water
speed is relatively small (≤ 0.5-0.7 m / s [≤ 2.3 ft / s]), the reduced slopes, leading to a
lower Froude number (≤ 0.08). The hydraulic conditions to allow the pieces of ice to
accumulate on the structure (juxtaposition), instead of being drawn under the surface of
the ice field during training. Field of ice is formed from progressing upstream incoming
pieces of ice, which may be in the form of frazil ice, floes. These structures can be
formed spontaneously reaching conditions (low Froude number) or can be made
artificially. The beneficial effect of field ice formation is heat transfer cessation between
air and water so the formation of frazil ice is finished.
1.4. Influence of river geomorphology and hydrometry
In order to identify areas where frazil ice may form should be known flow regime (slow
or fast) of water medium flows in the winter months
Criteria for recognition the water flow regime in rivers[4]
a) depth criterion
h>hcr slow (subcritical) regime
h<hcr fast (supercritical) regime
h=hcr critical regime
For rectangular channel the critical depth is (1)
a q2
hcr = 3
g (1)
Q
in which q = is the specific flow for unit of width
B
For irregular section hcr is determinate by chart drawing of equation (2)
�A3 �
� �= f ( h ) , (2)
�B �
in which critical depth is corresponding to
�A3 � a Q 2
� �= (3)
�B � g
b) Slope criteria
In uniform motion (constant flow) is achieved at a critical depth of the riverbed slope
equal to the critical slope
 Q2
icr = , in care (4)
Acr Ccr Rcr
Acr, Ccr and Rcr are transversal section area, Chezy coefficient and hydraulic radius for
h=hcr
For rectngular channel
g
icr = (5)
a Ccr2
c) Speed criteria
Comes from Froude criteria ; For Fr=1 for critical flow result critical speed of water
v
Fr = = 1; vcr = ghcr (6)
gh
v<vcr , and Fr<1 subcritical flow regime
v>vcr , and Fr>1 supercritical flow regime
v=vcr , and Fr=1 critical flow regime
1.5. Variation of water surface due to a step rise
Water level at the step rises if the flow upstream of the step is supercritical, and
it drops if the flow is subcritical [4]. There is there an upper limit on the size of the step
such that the upstream water levels are not affected. If we raise the channel bottom, the
point on the specific energy curve moves towards point C, which corresponds to critical
flow. Thus, if we had subcritical flow at section 1, then the maximum height of this step,
Δhmax, is
Dhmax = E1 - Ec (7)
as shown in Fig. 1. In this expression, subscripts 1 and cr refer to section 1 and critical
flow, respectively. Raising the bottom elevation further requires additional reduction in
the specific energy. However, that is not possible, since E is minimum when the flow is
critical. Therefore, if we raise the bottom level more than this maximum amount, either
the unit discharge is reduced if the upstream water level is constant or the upstream
water level is raised to increase the specific energy to produce the specified discharge.
Referring to Fig. 1, this limiting height is again (Δh)max if the flow depth at section 1 is
h2.
h

v12
1 2
2g
h1
h max
Ec
h2
C h1 h cr
v22 h2
2g
E(H) h max

Fig. 1 Water-surface variation for a bottom step

Cap. 2. Ice jams formation condition identification for upstream Bistrita

Ice formation on Bistrita river: From technical literature [5], [6], [7], [8]
Bistrita basin is delimited in three sectors:
- north one, upstream of Dorna Arini ice form strong and lasting bridge of ice covering
almost all watercourses;
- the area between Dorna Arini and Broşteni where ice formations have a greater
development during cold winters, the sector representing an area of transition between
the north and south.
- a sector located downstream of Broşteni where fixed ice formations are
underdeveloped, local ice bridge appears only in extremely heavy winters and ice to
shore occupy narrow strips;
N

COM. CRUCEA
Chiril

Sunatori COM.DORNA-ARINI

Cojoci

Rucsa
N

COZANESTI
N

Area proposed
N

CRUCEA for ice

DORNA ARINI
accumulation
N

HOLDA

BROSTENI

Pietroasa
Lungeni

Frasin

Lunca

Lunca

Madei

Pirul Carjei

BORCA
Sabasa

Sabasa

Soci

Pirul Pintei

COM.BORCA

COM.FARCASA

FARCA SA

Popesti COM.FARCASA

COM.POIANA TEIULUI

Pirul Fagului

Area where ice jams are

Dreptu

Galu

formed in present Topoliceni

POINA TEIULU I

POIANA LARGULUI

Fig. 2 Upstream Bistrita between Poiana Largului and Dorna Arini scheme
According to [5] ice that accumulates on the Izvorul Muntelui tail - Borca not originate
in this place. Their source is somewhere farther upstream, where the climatic conditions
are much tougher. According to one of the authors (V. Ciaglic), this source is the river
Bistrita in the Rusca - Crucea - Cotârgaşi. According to [6] frazil ice results from the
fact that in certain areas, the rivers surface is not cover by ice bridge. This phenomenon
manifests on Bistriţa river, downstream of the Rusca and is the result of an exchange
between the stream and the meadow phreatic water, which prevent the ice bridge
formation, but it is not strong enough to prevent or at least reduce the formation of ice
from the bottom.
Advanced hypotheses until now, claim that frazil ice which accumulates at the tail of
Izvorul Muntelui Lake, formed downstream of Dorna Arini both Bistrita and on its
tributaries
Forward with topometry measurement for sector Dorna Arini - Poiana Largului will be
identify flow regime in river bed using multi-annual average flows during December
January and February
The scheme (Fig.2) is highlighted area where frazil ice accumulates between Izvorul
Munntelui lake tail (Poiana Largului) and the maximum size recorded to date, locality
Borca.
One way to avoid ice accumulation downstream is storing them in areas without
settlements for minimal impact of ice jam. One such area is between Crucea and Holda
villages. In this area is studying the conditions of ice jams formation

Cap.3. Calculus and results

3.1. Flow regime calculation in river bed
We used the results of bed roughness (Manning coefficient) calibration with MIKE
software, so n=0.05. The river bed slope is i=0.37%. Water flows used are averages
winter months (December, January, February).
The calculation is made in a section near the locality Holda (Figure 3)

647

646

645
Q5%643.32
644

643

642 Qmedyear 640.32

Qmed winter 640.10
641
Thalveg 639.50
640

639

Fig. 3. Transversal section near Holda locality

In the cross section shown in Figure 3 was calculated normal water level for various
water flow. In the Figure 4 the flow chart is drawn.
The calculation formulas used were [8]
Q = A� C R� i is the flow
1
C = R y is the Chezy coefficient
n
y = 2.5 n - 0.13 - 0.75 R ( n - 0.1)
R=A/P is hydraulic radius obtain by measuring section A and wetted perimeter P
Water levels have been identified for winter medium flows, and a flow multi average
probability of 5% (Fig. 4)
 Figure 4. Water level in river bed at different flows

Next, to identify the flow regime we calculated the critical depth for three given flow
rates defined by plotting the relationships (2) and (3)
Yield critical depth illustrated in Figure 5

Fig. 5. Critical depth determination

This resulted in the following parameters (from fig.4 and fig. 5) Table 1
Flow hnormal hcr Fr v[m/s] vcr[m/s]
3
Average flow Winter Qmw=13.3 m /s 34 cm 0.21 0.51 1.27
Annual average flow Qmy=33 m3/s 82 cm 51 cm 0.27 0.76 1.70
3
Flow probability of 5% Q5%=805 m /s 3.80 m 2.60 m 0.49 2.97 4.60

It follows that all three flows the normal flow is slow (subcritical)
For ice jam formation Froude number must be in the range 0.06 - 0.013 [1], [2], [3]
Conditions must be created as water speed to fall within the range mentioned. For this
purpose, a threshold will be placed in the bed to reduce the velocity of the water
upstream. At the same time not to disturb the flow of water under normal threshold must
satisfy equation (7).
Next is calculated if these two requirements could be met simultaneously
3.2. Calculation of maximum height of thalweg threshold to unchanging conditions of
flow regime [4]
From h> hcr result that flow regime is slow so that is possible to carry out more than one
step without increasing input level. See how high can be the height of the step. As
written in the expression of the specific energy of the section in the following form [4]
a v2
E =h+
2g
a) Average winter flow
In section 1 the velocity of the water flow area A1 is v1=0.51 m/s
In the section in which the flow would be achieved in the critical flow regime with the
area Acr=f(hcr), water velocity will be vcr=1.27 m/s.
With this data the specific energies of the two sections are
av12 0,512
1,1 �
E1 = h + = 0,6 + =0.61 m
2g 2�9,81
avcr2 1, 27 2
1,1 �
Ec = hcr + = 0,34 + =0.43 m
2g 2�9,81
Maximum threshold height may be equal to the difference of the two specific energies
Dhmax = E1 - Ec = 0,18 m
b) Annual average flow
Maximum threshold height may be equal to the difference of the two specific energies
Dhmax = E1 - Ec = 0,18 m
c) Flow vith 5% probability
Following the same algorithm maximum threshold height is
Dhmax = E1 - Ec = 0,51 m
3.3. Step height calculation to reduce water velocity to Froude number necessary
The calculation is iterative (through testing) the average flow in winter months
Assume that a threshold set in the bed is 50 cm high. This choice is justified by the
value of maximum threshold height at flow with 5% probability (51 cm)
Bed width is 68m measured. The flow of water over the threshold is at the depth
hcr=f(Q) in which. Results are in Table 2
a q2 Q2
hcr = 3 = 3
g B2 g
Table 2
3 2 2
Q[m /s] B[m] hcr[m] A[m ] Atotal upstream[m ] Hupstream[m] Vupstream[m/s] Fr
13,3 68 0,16 10,70 29,40 0,66 0,45 0,17
10 68 0,13 8,85 27,55 0,63 0,36 0,14
8 68 0,11 7,62 26,33 0,61 0,30 0,12
6 68 0,09 6,29 25,00 0,59 0,24 0,099
13,3 70 0,15 25,6 36,40 0,75 0,36 0,13
13,3 71 0,15 36,2 47,06 0,90 0,28 0,09
It is noted that for a step of 50 cm height, the conditions for ice jam initiation is made at
low flow rates of 8 m3/s
If we want ice blocking the flow medium height threshold should increase. For a
threshold of 60 cm is performed at the limit locking condition (Fr = 0.13)

CONCLUSIONS
Ice jams formed on rivers where conditions are suitable for their initiation. There
is research to identify and describe these conditions[1], [2], [3] [10], [11]. Most often
the location of blockages is inopportune. To avoid ice jams formation in sensitive areas
can occur in two ways: preventing the formation of ice in suspension (frazil ice) or to
create conditions to develop in other areas (required upstream). In article is investigated
the Bistrita river bed between tail of Izvorul Muntelui lake (Poiana Largului locality )
and Vatra Dornei locality (about 80 km)
In this area ice jams forms from frazil ice. For ice jam formation flow regime
must be slow (subcritical) with a certain value of the Froude number. The area where
currently occurs ice jams, these conditions is done [3], [5], [6], [10], [11]
It is identified upstream, uninhabited area where ice jams can develop without
harming the residents (uninhabited area). In this area there is not realize the natural
conditions for ice jams development. It proposes some works in the riverbed that meet
two criteria: a) to create ice jams initiation and b) the impact on the water flow to be
minimal (minimal impact is defined as no change in flow regime)[8]
It describe the limits within which to situate size works to fulfill two conditions
For this, the threshold of 50 cm in winter time creates conditions for proper blocking
and does not alter the flow regime of the water in usually conditions (flow rate, 5%)

References
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Washington, DC, USA 2006
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Ranch, Colorado, USA 2010
[3]. B. Michel., Ice Mechanics Les presses de L’Universite Laval, Quebec 1978
[4] Chaudhry M.H., (2008), Open-Channel Flow, Springer Science+Business Media
[5]. Rădoane M., Ciaglic V., Rădoane N., Researches on the Ice Jam Formation
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[6]. RMD Consult Bucuresti Time analysis of the phenomenon of frost on the Bistrita
river upstream accumulation Topoliceni, impact on Poiana Teiului power plant
operations and proposed mitigation works. ,(in romanian) Contract Hidroelectrica 2009
[7]. Ştefanache D, Research on the evolution of dangerous hydrological phenomena,
PhD thesis, Technical University “Gh.Asachi” Iaşi, 2007
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Publishing House, Bucuresti.
[10]. Beltaos S., River ice breakup Water Resources Publications., Highlands Ranch,
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[11]. Beltaos S., River Ice Jams, Water Res. Pub., Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA
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