Saturated riparian buffers (SRBs) reduce nitrate export from agricultural tile drainage by infusing drainage water into carbon-rich riparian soils where denitrification and plant uptake occur. The water quality benefits from SRBs are well documented, but uncertainties about their effect on streambank stability have led to design standards that limit the maximum bank height and minimum buffer width, thus reducing the number of suitable candidate sites. In this study, the relationship between SRB design and streambank stability was examined through numerical slope stability modeling and validated using field sites. At the study sites, the addition of SRB flow increased the probability of failure by less than 3% for both simulated dry and rainfall scenarios. Furthermore, the simulations provide no evidence to support excluding potential sites based on bank height alone. Multivariate analysis of dimensionless parameters developed for SRB flow conditions was used to predict the factor of safety as a function of the SRB site and design conditions. The equation presented allows designers to assess the stability of a potential site where bank failure poses a heightened risk. The results of this study alleviate the need for extensive geotechnical evaluations at future SRB sites and could increase SRB implementation by expanding the range of eligible sites.

中文翻译：

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饱和河岸缓冲区的河岸边坡稳定性

饱和河岸缓冲液 (SRB) 通过将排水注入富含碳的河岸土壤中，在那里发生反硝化作用和植物吸收，从而减少农业瓷砖排水中的硝酸盐输出。SRB 对水质的好处有据可查，但它们对河岸稳定性影响的不确定性导致设计标准限制了最大岸高和最小缓冲区宽度，从而减少了合适的候选地点的数量。在这项研究中，SRB 设计与河岸稳定性之间的关系通过数值边坡稳定性模型进行了检查，并使用现场进行了验证。在研究地点，对于模拟的干旱和降雨情景，SRB 流的加入使失败的可能性增加了不到 3%。此外，模拟没有提供证据支持仅根据堤岸高度排除潜在地点。针对 SRB 流动条件开发的无量纲参数的多变量分析用于预测作为 SRB 站点和设计条件函数的安全系数。所提供的等式允许设计人员评估潜在站点的稳定性，在该站点中，银行倒闭会带来更高的风险。这项研究的结果减轻了对未来 SRB 站点进行广泛岩土工程评估的需求，并且可以通过扩大合格站点的范围来增加 SRB 的实施。所提供的等式允许设计人员评估潜在站点的稳定性，在该站点中，银行倒闭会带来更高的风险。这项研究的结果减轻了对未来 SRB 站点进行广泛岩土工程评估的需求，并且可以通过扩大合格站点的范围来增加 SRB 的实施。所提供的等式允许设计人员评估潜在站点的稳定性，在该站点中，银行倒闭会带来更高的风险。这项研究的结果减轻了对未来 SRB 站点进行广泛岩土工程评估的需求，并且可以通过扩大合格站点的范围来增加 SRB 的实施。