A canal bank is a wall of the canal that is level with the elevation of the surrounding landscape. It can be a section of the canal cut from the ground and then lined with rock (called riprap) or it can be a concrete wall, both of which are designed to protect the bank from erosion. Unlike earthen embankment sections of the canal, a canal bank does not impound water from the surrounding area.

A canal prism refers to the actual wetted area of the canal trough. This term originates from the fact that the top surface of the canal is wider than at the base making it prism-shaped.

A numeric system that rates the level of deterioration or deficiency of an earthen embankment dam.

The Condition Ratings are:

-“1” (serious/emergency);
-“2” (very poor);
-“3” (poor);
-“4” (fair);
-“5” (good);
-“6” (very good);
-“7” (excellent/new).

As the condition of an asset declines, the probability of failure increases.

An earthen embankment is an engineered structure or dam wall of the canal, which is made from soil, rock, clay, and other “earthen material’ and impounds (holds) water for a prolonged period above the adjacent land surface elevation.

View some examples of embankments here.

The draft Embankment Management Guidebook (the “Guidebook”) is a manual or playbook that the Canal Corporation staff or contractors will use when they inspect, restore and maintain engineered embankments, including repairing seeps (leaks) and managing vegetation on certain portions of the embankments so inspections can be performed. The Guidebook can be found here.

Refers to the damage or hazard that may be posed by the failure of a dam. The Hazard Classifications are:

-Class “A” (low hazard);
-Class “B” (intermediate hazard);
-Class “C” (high hazard); and
-Class “D” (negligible or no hazard).

The hazard classification is not indicative of the likelihood of failure: a dam can be in excellent condition and still be a “high hazard” because of the impacts if it were to fail. Likewise, it could be a “low hazard” but in poor condition.

The outboard slope is the part of an earthen embankment between the crest (peak) of the embankment and where the slope meets the natural ground surface.

Riprap is a layer of large stone, broken rock, or precast blocks placed in random fashion on the slope of the embankment dam, on a reservoir shore or in a channel as a protection against erosion from waves or ice.

Screening vegetation includes landscape plantings of native plants that can provide a visual screen between the canal towpath and adjacent residences, parks or other areas or structures

When we talk about embankment maintenance, we often talk about the need to identify seeps. Seeps are the slow percolation of water through a dam, its foundation, or abutment. Some amount of seepage will normally occur in any dam or embankment that retains water and some seeps, those that worsen over time, can be early signs of a potential dam failure.

The towpath is a road of trail on the bank of the Canal, originally used for mules or other animals to tow a boat along the Canal. The paths are now used for maintenance and repair access to the Canal and for recreation activity like walking, running, and cycling.

The inboard Slope is the part of an earthen embankment between the crest (peak) of the embankment and the canal prism.