Scour Critical Bridges in California
623 bridges in California at risk from water erosion around foundations.
Scour Critical Bridges
Scour is the erosion of soil and rock around a bridge's foundation caused by moving water. When foundations are exposed or undermined, a bridge can collapse even if its deck and superstructure are in good condition. Scour is the leading cause of bridge failures in the US. These 623 bridges in California have been identified as vulnerable to scour damage.
| Bridge | State | Scour Status | Condition | Year Built | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRANCAS CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1927 | 17,100 |
| MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIV | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1954 | 10,046 |
| VENTURA RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1932 | 6,853 |
| BOWMAN CANYON | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1948 | 3,056 |
| BRICKYARD CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1960 | 3,000 |
| TRES PINOS CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1963 | 800 |
| NEWELL CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1958 | 500 |
| CASSERLY CREEK TRIB NO 1 | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1915 | 500 |
| LITTLE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1955 | 330 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1948 | 300 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1961 | 210 |
| BIG CANYON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1956 | 208 |
| RIVERDALE DITCH | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1940 | 200 |
| CHICKAHOMINY SLOUGH | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1917 | 150 |
| PORTER CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1968 | 140 |
| BUTTE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1914 | 122 |
| STONY CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1960 | 63 |
| COLDFORK COTTONWOOD CRK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1921 | 60 |
| STREAM | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1962 | 50 |
| BLUE CANYON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1968 | 50 |
| JOHNSON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1973 | 50 |
| MIDDLE MIAMI CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1965 | 50 |
| SLATE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1956 | 50 |
| TOMPKINS CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1988 | 50 |
| HOUSTON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1974 | 50 |
| PRICE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Poor | 1950 | 20 |
| BOULDER CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Unaddressed | Fair | 1996 | — |
| HONCUT CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 15,700 |
| SALT CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 14,000 |
| CHOLAME CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 11,200 |
| CHOLAME CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 11,200 |
| HALFWAY HILLS WASH | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2024 | 8,000 |
| HALFWAY HILLS WASH | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2024 | 6,750 |
| BNSF/MTRLINK/EL TORO CRK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 5,290 |
| PLEASANT GROVE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2000 | 5,000 |
| PANTHER CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 4,900 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1991 | 4,000 |
| PLEASANT GROVE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2000 | 4,000 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1982 | 4,000 |
| SUCKER RAVINE | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1978 | 3,000 |
| KELSEY CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 2,900 |
| ANTELOPE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 2002 | 2,600 |
| QUARTERMASTER REACH | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2021 | 1,500 |
| DRY CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 1,100 |
| DRY CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2023 | 1,100 |
| MOJAVE RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2019 | 1,001 |
| ASH SLOUGH | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 2024 | 1,000 |
| PLEASANT GROVE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1992 | 1,000 |
| PLEASANT GROVE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Good | 1997 | 1,000 |
| SUCKER RAVINE | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Ineffective | Fair | 1987 | 1,000 |
Scour Critical Rating Codes
| Code 2 — Unaddressed | Bridge is scour critical with no countermeasures installed. The foundation is vulnerable and no protective action has been taken. |
| Code 3 — Countermeasures Installed | Protective measures (riprap, sheet piling, etc.) have been installed to reduce scour risk, but the bridge remains classified as scour critical. |
| Code 6 — Countermeasures Ineffective | Protective measures were installed but have been assessed as ineffective. The bridge requires re-evaluation and additional action. |
About Scour Critical Bridges
Scour critical bridges have been identified through underwater inspection or analysis as having foundations that are unstable or could become unstable during flood conditions. FHWA requires action plans for all scour critical bridges. Famous scour failures include the 1987 Schoharie Creek Bridge collapse in New York.