Levees & Storm Protection

For centuries, civilizations have settled around rivers to take advantage of their benefits. The biggest problem with developing near a river is a potential for flooding. Levees are naturally formed by flooding rivers: Heavier deposits — sands and gravels — settle on the riverbank while the silts and clays spill out over the flood plain. Over thousands of years, soil left by flooding rivers slowly creates levees on the river banks and good farmland in the flood plain. Cyclical flooding also tends to slowly raise the river in relation to the flood plain, and eventually the height difference is enough to fail the natural levee. As a result, the river changes course (an oxbow lake may also form). Modern navigation requirements and nearby development make avoiding arbitrary levee failure imperative. To protect resources from floods, levees are often raised and, in some cases, also reinforced.

Steel bearing piles and sheet piles placed within a levee increase global stability, decrease permeability, add height and prevent damage from burrowing animals. The steel piles and earthen levees work together to support the earth and water pressure. As was seen in the New Orleans levee system breach during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, it is vital for many reasons to protect the soil on the levee from scour

Levee Reinforcement

The desire to live on or near the water is greater than ever. This poses additional challenges to the Atlantic and Gulf shores. Every hurricane season is like a roll of the dice for coastal property owners. Nucor Skyline is applying our steel foundation and retaining system expertise to this application, providing both commercial and residential land owners with cost-effective solutions to weather these storms and preserve the land and homes from devastation.

Slope Stabilization / Erosion Control

Urban development and growth explosion continue while availability of premium land dwindles. The lack of level property has forced us to build in less favorable locations. Although these structures are properly designed, grade separations pose another problem: slope stability. Soils erode naturally over time through the action of wind and rain. The addition of structural loads contributes to the effect. That is why foundation design considerations need to extend beyond the structure, local stability, and account for the global stability of the site.

Storm Protection

In 2004, four major hurricanes hit Florida. This devastating and relentless display of destruction brought home the reality that beachfront property is extremely vulnerable and is no match for the forces of nature. The most common damage resulting from these inevitable events is soil erosion and storm surge. Storm surge is the natural force created when high winds and decreased atmospheric pressure cause water to push against the shore. The advancing surge combines with the normal tides and wind-driven waves, creating the hurricane storm tide. Whether you are looking to protect an existing property or build a new shoreline development, Nucor Skyline can help you evaluate your coastal protection needs.