Waves generated by recreational traffic:  Part I


Bhowmik, N. G., and T. W. Soong.  1992.  Waves generated by
recreational traffic:  Part I, Controlled movement.  Report by
the Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, Illinois, for the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Management
Technical Center, Onalaska, Wisconsin, December 1992. EMTC
92-S013.  34 pp.  (NTIS #PB94-112588)


ABSTRACT

Movement of recreational boats in a waterway such as the Upper
Mississippi River System (UMRS) may generate waves of sufficient
degree to impact the river biota and the stability of the
shorelines.  A research project aiming to determine the
characteristics of waves generated by recreational craft within
the UMPS has been completed, and this is the first of a two-part
paper that presents results. Part II presents the results of
uncontrolled movement. To meet the objectives of the project, 246
controlled runs were made with 12 different boats at two sites,
one on the Illinois River and the other on the Mississippi River. 
Data from this study indicated that recreational boats can
generate from 4 to 40 waves per event, with a mean of about 10 to
20 waves.  These waves can last from 6 to 40 seconds or more.  On
the average, wave heights for these controlled events varied from
0.06 to 0.52 m, with the maximum value as much as 0.6 m.  A
regression equation was then developed for estimating maximum
wave heights on the basis of boat speed, draft and length, and
distance.  This relationship can be used to determine wave
heights generated by recreational boats in natural rivers and
lakes. 


KEYWORDS

waves, recreational boats, Upper Mississippi River System,
Mississippi River