Lost Creek

A buried pipeline water crossing survey with data captured by wading.

Site Stats

Survey Method

Wading GNSS + Drone LiDAR

Current status

1.2 ft Depth of Cover

Bank Risk

Likely to Fail

Scour Potential

Very High

Pipeline Points

88 Depth Points

Photos taken

32 Photos Taken on Site

Drone DEM

848,250 ft2 Mapped Area

Explore the Ground-Based Survey Data

Interact with the map below to explore the specific dataset collected during the Lost Creek Survey. This view isolates our land-based data points, providing the physical verification layer that aerial drone imagery cannot capture alone.

To use the model:

  • Click Points: Select any point to view specific location and depth of cover details.
  • View Photos: Click on points marked with a camera icon to see site photos taken at that exact location.
  • Zoom In: Scroll to inspect the density of data points along the creek banks.
  • Pan: Click and drag to follow the pipeline alignment across the easement.
  • Legend: Click the arrow icon in the top-left corner of the map to open the legend and toggle layers.

Explore the aerial Survey Data

Use this 3D Model to explore drone data collected at this site.

To use the model:

  • 360° Inspection:
    • Rotate: Left-click and drag your mouse left or right to spin the model around the center point.
    • Pan: Right-click and drag to move the camera laterally across the channel.
    • Zoom: Scroll with your mouse wheel to inspect features closer.
  • Dual-Mode Analysis:
    • Aerial Imagery View: High-resolution photogrammetric overlay that reveals land cover, vegetation, and existing infrastructure.
    • Topographic View: Elevation-based terrain modeling that quantifies depth, channel morphology, and slope gradients.

Depth of Cover Profile

This cross-section illustrates the ground elevation captured during a manual wading survey (black line) compared to the surveyed top of pipeline (red points). The survey highlights the current channel profile and identifies a localized minimum depth of cover of 1.2 feet.

Scour Depths

Although the pipeline is currently buried, our modeling shows that even a common 2-year flood has enough energy to wash away the riverbed and expose the pipe. Because exposure is predicted during this frequent type of storm, the risk is even greater during larger 25-year and 100-year floods, which could leave the pipeline unsupported and hanging across the channel.

Scour Depths with large woody debris

We evaluated how ‘Large Woody Debris’ (like fallen trees) would impact the riverbed. The results show that the pipeline will likely be exposed during a 2-year flood if debris is present. Because the pipe is buried just over a foot deep, even frequent storms can cause enough localized scour to reach the asset. Larger floods would result in more severe exposure and potential spanning, where the pipeline is left suspended in the water column.

predicted bank migration

We mapped the lateral movement of the channel based on the calculated widening rate of 0.2 feet per year on both sides. This migration erosion steadily reduces the soil covering the pipeline landward of the current water line. Over time, the ‘safe’ buried zones get smaller. The modeling suggests that 50 years of this natural widening—combined with a major flood—would likely shift the channel edges far enough to leave the pipeline vulnerable and exposed.

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