The Henson Creek Hydraulic Model project was designed to simulate flood behavior and hydraulic characteristics of Henson Creek and its six tributaries, incorporating climate resilience and nature-based solutions (NBS) to strengthen water management and infrastructure sustainability. 

The model extended the existing HEC-RAS framework, which originally covered 39,252 feet of Henson Creek, by adding 69,830 feet upstream to the I-95 Capital Beltway and four additional tributaries. This expansion provided a comprehensive understanding of hydrological dynamics, enabling improved flood risk management and climate-adaptive infrastructure planning.

Integrated Hydraulic Model Development 

• Extended the HEC-RAS model to cover 69,830 feet upstream and four tributaries. 
• Simulated flood events and water surface profiles to assess flood-prone areas. 
• Integrated climate resilience strategies and NBS (wetlands, floodplain buffers) into model design. 

Cross-Section and Geometry Setup 

• Placed cross-sections every 200 feet using 3-meter DEM and RAS Mapper. 
• Aligned cross-sections with natural land features; named sections by distance from creek mouth. 

River Bank Station Placement and Adjustments 

• Positioned bank stations using steady-state simulations for 2- and 500-year return periods. 
• Adjusted stations to improve accuracy in flood modeling and erosion risk management. 

Modeling of Culverts, Bridges, and Structures 

• Incorporated 33 structures (culverts, bridges) into the model. 
• Integrated elevation data from DEM, SWMM, and satellite imagery. 
• Simulated structural resilience under extreme weather events. 

Energy Losses and Flow Changes 

• Adjusted model parameters to accurately estimate energy losses. 
• Captured flow changes due to narrowing/widening of channels. 

Structural Integration and Flood Resilience 

• Modeled culverts, bridges, and embankments to assess impacts on flow dynamics. 
• Incorporated NBS such as floodplain buffers and wetlands to enhance resilience.  

• Extended HEC-RAS hydraulic model covering 69,830 feet upstream and six tributaries. 
• Flood simulations for 2-year and 500-year return periods. 
• Cross-section and geometry datasets aligned with DEM and natural features. 
• Structural resilience modeling for 33 culverts and bridges. 
• Climate-resilient recommendations integrating NBS into floodplain management.