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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRY CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1930 | 170 |
| MCKEE OVERFLOW | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1935 | 157 |
| JUDD CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 154 |
| ANDERSON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 154 |
| LURLINE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1974 | 152 |
| LITTLE RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1951 | 150 |
| SPANISH CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1914 | 140 |
| ROBINSON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 139 |
| SHERWOOD CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1979 | 137 |
| LITTLE DRY CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1930 | 133 |
| DURHAM MUTUAL DITCH | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1949 | 130 |
| CLEAR CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1951 | 130 |
| SOUTH FORK NOYO RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1948 | 125 |
| CALAVERAS RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1976 | 122 |
| CRAWFORD CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1960 | 120 |
| WATSON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 120 |
| PRICE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 118 |
| HOSSELKUS CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1983 | 115 |
| CONLEY CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1990 | 114 |
| COLUSA DRAIN | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1945 | 113 |
| SOUTH FORK EEL RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 110 |
| ANDERSON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1945 | 104 |
| CCID MAIN CANAL | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1926 | 102 |
| BUTLER CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1938 | 101 |
| MILL CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1949 | 100 |
| DUTTON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1950 | 100 |
| NORTH FORK COTTONWOOD CR | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1966 | 100 |
| SUSAN RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1970 | 100 |
| LONG VALLEY CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1975 | 100 |
| S FORK PINE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1937 | 100 |
| SERENITY DITCH | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1941 | 100 |
| SALMON CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1960 | 100 |
| TEMPLE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 100 |
| WATTS CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1925 | 100 |
| LOS GATOS CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1945 | 100 |
| NORTH FORK TULE RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1967 | 100 |
| KRAMER CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1932 | 100 |
| COTTONTAIL CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 100 |
| NORTH FORK GUALALA RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1940 | 97 |
| CHEROKEE DRAIN | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1920 | 97 |
| DRY CREEK TRIBUTARY | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1920 | 94 |
| PESCADERO CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1962 | 91 |
| WARNER CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1965 | 90 |
| WILLOW CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1935 | 87 |
| SOUTH DOBBYN CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Poor | 1949 | 85 |
| STEMPLE CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1958 | 80 |
| CLEAR GULCH | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1955 | 75 |
| UNION CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1956 | 75 |
| COLEMAN CREEK | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Fair | 1940 | 72 |
| CHOWCHILLA RIVER | California | Scour Critical — Countermeasures Installed | Good | 1975 | 71 |
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.