Chapter 1 Design Policy

1-1 Introduction
This Hydraulics Manual provides policy for designing hydraulic features related to
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) roadways including hydrology,
culverts, open-channel flow, drainage collection and conveyance systems, water crossings,
and pipe materials. These hydraulic features maintain safe driving conditions and protect the
roadway from surface and subsurface water. The chapters contained in the Hydraulics
Manual are also based on the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Hydraulic
Engineering Circulars (HECs) and the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Drainage Manual.
The Hydraulics Manual makes frequent references to WSDOT’s Highway Runoff Manual,
which provides WSDOT’s requirements for managing stormwater discharges to protect
water quality, beneficial uses of the state’s waters, and the aquatic environment in general.
The intent is to use the two manuals in tandem for complete analysis and design of
stormwater facilities for roadway and other transportation infrastructure projects. Projects
should consult WSDOT’s Design Manual for general hydraulic design guidance. Design-build
projects should also consult the Design Manual and the Design-Build Manual.
In addition to the guidance in the Hydraulics Manual, the hydraulic designer shall use good
engineering judgment and be mindful of WSDOT’s legal and ethical obligations concerning
hydraulic issues. Drainage facilities must be designed to convey water across, along, or away
from the highway in the most economical, efficient, and safe manner possible without
damaging the highway or adjacent properties and without causing permit violations.
Furthermore, care must be taken so that highway construction does not interfere with or
damage any of these facilities.
This chapter explains WSDOT policy regarding hydraulic design and hydraulic reports. In
Section 1-2, the roles and responsibilities of the Project Engineer’s Office (PEO), Region
Hydraulics Engineer (RHE), and State Hydraulics Office are defined. WSDOT has specific
documentation requirements for a hydraulic report, which are specified in Section 1-3. Each
hydraulic feature is designed based on specific design frequencies and, in some cases, a
specific design tool or software. A summary of the design frequency and design tools or
software for most hydraulic features contained in the Hydraulics Manual is provided in
Section 1-4. Section 1-5 describes the Complete Streets program and how it may affect
some aspects of hydraulic design. Section 1-6 defines the process for reviewing and issuing
concurrence of a hydraulic report.

1-2 Responsibility
The PEO is responsible for the preparation of correct and adequate drainage design. All
drainage structure types, culverts, storm sewer, drainage, general pipe connections, and pipe
locations must be verified and annotated by the PEO. Actual design work may be performed

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by the PEO, by another WSDOT office, or by a private consulting firm with engineering staff
who are licensed in Washington State; however, in all cases, it is the PEO’s responsibility to
complete the design work and verify that a hydraulic report is prepared as described in
Section 1-3. In addition, the hydraulic report shall follow the review process outlined in
Section 1-6. The PEO is also responsible for initiating the application for hydraulic-related
permits required by various local, state, and federal agencies.
While the PEO is responsible for preparation of hydraulic reports and plans, specifications,
and estimates (PS&E) for all drainage facilities, assistance from the RHE and the State
Hydraulics Office may be requested for any drainage facility design. The RHE and State
Hydraulics Office offer technical assistance to PEOs and local programs for the items listed
below:
1. Hydraulic design of drainage facilities (culverts, storm sewers, stormwater best
management practices [BMPs], siphons, channel changes, etc.).
2. Hydraulic design of structures (culverts, headwalls, etc.).
3. Analysis of closed drainage basins and unusual or unique drainage conditions.
4. Upstream and downstream analysis to identify and evaluate potential impacts from
the project on the hydraulic conveyance system near the project site. The analysis
shall be divided into three sections:
a) Review of resources
b) Inspection of drainage conveyance systems in the site area
c) Analysis of upstream effects
d) Analysis of downstream effects
The roles and responsibilities of the RHE and State Hydraulics Office are outlined in
Table 1-1. The State Hydraulics Office also takes primary responsibility for the following:
1. Design of habitat features and stream restoration elements.
2. Hydraulic analysis (one-dimensional [1D] and two-dimensional [2D]) and support for
scour of water crossings.
3. Analysis of streambank erosion along roadways, river and stream lateral migration,
the design of countermeasures for scour and stream instability, and environmental
mitigation.
4. Floodplain studies, flood predictions, and special hydrological analysis (snowmelt
estimates, storm frequency predictions, etc.).
5. Wind and wave analysis.
6. Technical support to local programs for hydraulic or bridge-related needs.
7. Providing the Washington State Attorney General’s Office with technical assistance
on hydraulic issues.
8. Updating information in the Hydraulics Manual periodically.

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9. Providing technical information for the Highway Runoff Manual updates.

10. Maintaining WSDOT’s Standard Plans; Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge, and
Municipal Construction (Standard Specifications); and General Special Provisions
(GSP) involving drainage-related items.
11. Designing water supply and sewage disposal systems for safety rest areas. The PEO
is responsible for contacting individual fire districts to collect local standards and
forward the information to the State Hydraulics Office.
12. Reviewing and concurring with Type A hydraulic reports, unless otherwise delegated
to the RHE by the State Hydraulics Office.
13. Providing the regions with technical assistance on hydraulic issues that are the
primary responsibility of the PEO.
14. Providing basic hydrology and hydraulics training material to the regions. Either the
RHE or State Hydraulics Office personnel can perform the actual training. (See the
State Hydraulics Office on the WSDOT Hydraulics Training web page for
information on course availability.)

1-3 Hydraulic Reports

The hydraulic report is intended to serve as a complete documented record containing the
engineering justification for all drainage-, water crossing–, floodplain-, conveyance-, and
stormwater-related installations and modifications that occur as a result of the project. A
hydraulic report facilitates design review and assists in PS&E preparation. The hydraulic
report shall be well written in the appropriate WSDOT template, and be defensible in a
court of law. This section contains specific guidance for developing, submitting, and
archiving a hydraulic report.
A Highway Runoff Manual certificate number is required for the stormwater designer who
designs a new stormwater BMP on WSDOT right-of-way (ROW) or modifies an existing
stormwater BMP on WSDOT ROW, or where a stormwater BMP is designed or modified
and will be turned back to WSDOT ownership. The Highway Runoff Manual certificate
number is given to those who have successfully passed the Highway Runoff Manual training
course and is required on the title page of any hydraulic report created for WSDOT. See
training information on the WSDOT Hydraulics Training web page.
A Fish Passage and Stream Restoration Design (FPSRD) certificate number is required for all
authors and co-authors of any portion of a fish passage and stream restoration design
specialty report. See Table 1-1 for a list of specialty reports and other requirements. An
FPSRD certificate number is given to those who have viewed all the training modules and
successfully passed the comprehensive exam. Additional information, training resources,
and the point of contact for this training can be found on the WSDOT Hydraulics Training
web page. As WSDOT updates the FPSRD training modules a re-certification number is also
required. Any updates to this training will be posted on the WSDOT Hydraulics Training
web page.

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A scour analysis is required for all WSDOT projects or WSDOT-managed infrastructure

associated with scour or that have a potential to be impacted by scour, such as water
crossings, walls, roadway embankments, and other WSDOT infrastructure. A WSDOT Scour
Certification Record number is required for all Stream Team members (defined in Chapter 7-
1) that are conducting scour calculations, lateral migration, scour analysis, and reviews as
part of or supporting specialty reports. See Table 1-1 for a list of specialty reports and other
requirements. A Scour Certification Record certificate number is given to those who have
viewed all the WSDOT Scour Training Workshops and FHWA Bridge Scour Workshop
Recordings; completed National Highway Institute (NHI) Course 135046, Stream Stability
and Scour at Highway Bridges, and NHI Course 135048, Countermeasures Design for Bridge
Scour and Stream Instability; and successfully passed the comprehensive exam. Additional
information, training resources, and the point of contact for this training can be found on
the WSDOT Hydraulics Training web page. As WSDOT updates the Scour Training modules
a re-certification number is also required. Any updates to this training will be posted on the
WSDOT Hydraulics Training web page.
The following training courses are required to obtain a scour certification:
• FHWA Bridge Scour Workshop Recordings
• NHI Course 135046, Stream Stability and Scour at Highway Bridges
• NHI Course 135048, Countermeasures Design for Bridge Scour and Stream Instability
• WSDOT 2023 Scour training
SRH-2D hydraulic modeling training is required for all WSDOT projects or WSDOT-
managed infrastructure that requires hydraulic modeling as part of the hydraulic design
process. Hydraulic modelers are required to obtain a training certificate from NHI for
attending Course 135095, Two-Dimensional Hydraulic Modeling of Rivers at Highway
Encroachments. Other equivalent SRH-2D hydraulic modeling training requires approval by
the State Hydraulics Office.

1-3.1 Hydraulic Report Types

There are three types of hydraulic reports: specialty report, Type A, and Type B. Table 1-1
provides guidance for selecting the report type; however, consult the RHE for final
selection.

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Table 1-1 Hydraulic Report Documentation

Concurrencec

State
Report Hydraulics
Type Descriptionb RHE Office PE Stamp
Stormwater All projects shall complete a stormwater and hydraulics
and assessment to determine what type of stormwater and
hydraulic hydraulic design, documentation, and level of effort are
assessmenta needed for the project. Some questions for the PEO to answer
as part of the stormwater and hydraulic assessment include:
• Does the project have existing stormwater and hydraulic
deficiencies within the project limits? If so, assess and
discuss the risk of the project not addressing these
deficiencies.
• Does the project’s impacts or modifications make existing
stormwater and hydraulic conditions worse?
• Does the project’s impacts or modifications create new
stormwater and hydraulic issues that need to be
addressed?
• Are there any stormwater retrofit opportunities within the
project limits?
Projects with any of the following components:
• Culverts or buried structures greater than 48 inches in
diameter or span
• Bridge drainage
• Fish passagee
Specialty • Bank protection
 g
reportd,l • Woody material (WM) e
• River structures (e.g., barbs, engineered log jams [ELJs],
levees) e
• Channel realignment/modifications or restoratione
• Any fills in floodplain or floodway
• Pump stations
• Hydraulic connectivity zones
• Siphons
• Bridges
• Scour analysis (e.g., bridges, walls, roadway embankments,
other WSDOT infrastructure) f

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Concurrencec

State
Report Hydraulics
Type Descriptionb RHE Office PE Stamp
Projects with any of the following components:
• Water quality treatment facility
• Flow control facility
• Storm sewer systems that discharge into a
Ad,l stormwater treatment or flow control facility i,j 
• Create, modify, or remove any existing or new BMP (full
or partial treatment BMP)
• Fish passage stormwater treatment assessment for full
or partial treatmenth
• Region facilities projectsi
Projects without Type A components and with any of
the following components:
• Stormwater and non-fish passage culverts up to 48 inches
Bc,d,k in diameterd  
• Storm sewer systems that do not discharge into a
stormwater treatment or flow control facility
• Paving/safety restoration and preservation projects
Notes:
HQ = Washington State Department of Transportation Headquarters.
PE = Professional Engineer.
RHE = Region Hydraulics Engineer.
a. A stormwater and hydraulic assessment typically occurs just after project kickoff during design (project
development). In some cases, a stormwater and hydraulic assessment may be as early as the predesign phase of a
project.
b. Projects listed are examples. Projects not listed may still require a specialty report based on direction from the
RHE.
c. In no case may the PEO provide concurrence on its own design.
d. State Hydraulic Office and the RHE shall be involved in developing the scope, budget, schedule, and/or the Request
for Proposal for projects.
e. Fish passage projects shall be designed by a Stream Team, approved by the State Hydraulics Office, and consisting
of a stream design engineer, geomorphologist, and biologist, who shall all co-author the specialty report and have
received their FPSRD certifications.
f. Scour certification is required for stream design engineers, Geomorphologists, or any other team members
conducting and reviewing scour calculations and analysis.
g. The PE stamp shall be either by the State Hydraulics Office or by a licensed engineer in Washington State and
approved by the State Hydraulics Office.
h. All fish passage projects shall complete a stormwater assessment for the feasibility of full or partial stormwater
treatment BMPs. See Highway Runoff Manual for more information.
i. Facilities designed by the RHE will have concurrence from the State Hydraulics Office.
j. The State Hydraulics Office may delegate final review authority and concurrence for all Type A hydraulic reports to a
person designated by the assistant regional administrator for development in each region.
k. A Hydraulic Design Concurrence memo is required by the RHE to the PEO to document that all comments have
been addressed.
l. A Hydraulic Design Concurrence memo is required by the State Hydraulic Office to document that all comments
have been addressed.

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1-3.2 Preparing Hydraulic Documentation

The overall hydraulic design process is part of scoping, predesign, design, and construction.
To allow the most efficient hydraulic report review and assessment, PEOs shall follow the
hydraulic review process outlined in Section 1-6.

1-3.2.1 Type A and Type B Hydraulic Report Content and Outline

The hydraulic report checklist identifies the required subject matter that the Type A (and
sometimes Type B) hydraulic report shall contain. PEOs shall provide a well-organized report
such that an engineer with no prior knowledge of the project could read and fully
understand the hydraulic/hydrologic design decisions made for the design of the project.
The report shall contain enough information to allow reproduction of the design in its
entirety, but at the same time the report shall be concise and avoid duplicate information
that could create confusion. Because the software used for analysis will change over time,
all assumptions and input parameters shall be clearly documented to allow the analysis to be
reproduced in other software in the future, if needed.
In addition, a Type A hydraulic report outline has been developed as a starting point. Use of
the outline is mandatory; organizing reports in the outline format may expedite the review
process. Because some regions have modified the outline to meet specific regional needs or
requirements, PEOs shall contact their RHE to determine the correct outline before starting
a report. Once the relevant outline is selected, PEOs shall read through the outline,
determine which sections are applicable to the project, and delete those that are not. Either
the RHE or the State Hydraulics Office can be contacted for assistance in preparing a Type
A hydraulic report and for current updates to the Type A hydraulic report outline.
The detailed documentation of a Type B hydraulic report can vary greatly depending on the
details of the project scope. Work with the RHE to determine the appropriate level of detail
needed to document the hydraulic design decisions in a Type B hydraulic report.
The author shall not copy sections of the Hydraulics Manual or Highway Runoff Manual into
the hydraulic report because it would add redundant information to the report. Instead,
authors shall reference the relevant section and version in the hydraulic report narrative.

1-3.2.2 Specialty Report Content and Outline

Specialty reports shall consist of a preliminary hydraulic design (PHD) report and a final
hydraulic design (FHD) report. The PHD report is created during the initial stages of project
design, prior to the final design and construction phase. This report provides a preliminary
analysis of the hydraulic considerations that will influence the design moving forward. The
FHD report is the basis for the project's FHD approval and is used throughout the
construction phase to ensure that hydraulic components function as intended and support
the overall safety and functionality of the transportation infrastructure.
Both reports are critical in ensuring that WSDOT projects meet necessary hydrological
requirements and WSDOT design policies. Report templates can be found on the
WSDOT Hydraulics and Hydrology webpage (Hydraulics & hydrology | WSDOT).

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1-3.2.3 Stormwater and Hydraulic Assessment Content

A stormwater and hydraulic assessment is required to be completed for every project. The
purpose of the assessment is to identify if there is any drainage-, water crossing–,
conveyance-, and stormwater-related work on the project so the level of effort and required
hydraulic documentation can be discussed and planned for. The PEO shall conduct the
assessment right after project kickoff and it may take the form of a general meeting
between the PEO and the RHE or State Hydraulics Office. When the level of effort and
required hydraulic documentation discussed during the assessment is determined to be very
minor (e.g., a paver project), the assessment documentation could simply be the meeting
notes or follow-up email between the PEO and RHE or State Hydraulics Office stating that
there is no drainage-, water crossing–, conveyance-, or stormwater-related work on the
project. If the level of effort and required hydraulic documentation discussed during the
assessment appears to be significant, it is recommended that the PEO schedule regular
check-in meetings with the RHE or State Hydraulics Office as the design progresses. See the
hydraulic report checklist. The stormwater and hydraulic assessment deliverable would be
the meeting notes.
One important outcome from the stormwater and hydraulic assessment is a discussion on
the feasibility of dispersion and infiltration on the site to aid in the design of low-impact
development (LID) BMPs. To determine the feasibility of LID BMPs, the PEO may need
geotechnical information about site soils, infiltration rates, and seasonal high groundwater
table elevations where potential stormwater BMP locations are along the project. After the
stormwater and hydraulic assessment and if the project may construct or place stormwater
BMPs, it is strongly recommended that the PEO issue a geotechnical soils investigation
memorandum as early as possible. The PEO shall discuss these issues with the Region
Materials Engineer (RME) or HQ Geotechnical Office in preparation of a geotechnical
investigation memorandum. Issuing the geotechnical investigation memorandum early in the
project development process will give enough time for the geotechnical investigation work
to be completed so that the stormwater designs can be completed on time.

1-3.2.4 Deviations from the Hydraulics Manual

Deviations from the requirements in the Hydraulics Manual must clearly state why a
deviation is necessary and document all the steps used in the analysis in a hydraulic
deviation. Deviations from this manual require approval prior to submitting a hydraulic
report for review. Requests for a deviation shall go through the RHE to the State
Hydraulics Office engineering staff. A Hydraulic Deviation template is available on the
WSDOT Hydraulics & hydrology website under the Tools, templates & links tab.
1-3.2.5 Design Tools and Software
The design tools and programs described in the Hydraulics Manual and in the Highway
Runoff Manual shall be used whenever possible. To determine if software and/or a
design tool is required, PEOs shall review Section 1-4 or check the expanded list on the
State Hydraulics Office web page. If a PEO wishes to use a design tool or software other
than those required, it must request concurrence during the 10 percent milestone
timeline for the hydraulic design report through the RHE.

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1-3.2.6 Contract or Scope of Work for Hydraulic Support

Contact the RHE and/or State Hydraulics Office to review the contract or scope prior to
hiring a consultant.

1-3.3 Hydraulic Report Deliverables, Submittals, and Archiving

It is important to understand the various stormwater and hydraulic deliverables produced
for a given project. It is equally important to understand to whom to submit deliverables and
when. Hydraulic reports have their own WSDOT document retention schedule so
understanding the process for archiving these records is also discussed in this section.

1-3.3.1 Hydraulic Report Deliverables for Design-Bid-Build Projects

Following Table 1-1, at a minimum, the PEO shall develop a stormwater and hydraulic
assessment for each project and coordinate with RHE. In the scenario where there is a lot of
stream work but little road work (like a fish barrier correction project), the PEO would need
a stormwater and hydraulic assessment, a Type B hydraulic report, and a specialty report.
For more complicated roadway improvement projects, the PEO would need a stormwater
and hydraulic assessment, a Type A hydraulic report, and possibly a specialty report. The
PEO shall work with the RHE or State Hydraulics Office to determine what type of hydraulic
documentation is needed for the design-bid-build project during the stormwater and
hydraulic assessment.

1-[Link] Hydraulic Report Submittal Process for Design-Bid-Build Projects

1-[Link].1 Specialty Report Submittals

The PEO shall coordinate with the State Hydraulics Office for the PHD and FHD report.

1-[Link].2 Type A and Type B Hydraulic Report Submittals

The hydraulic report submittal process will vary based on the hydraulic report type. For
a Type B hydraulic report for a design-bid-build project, because the drainage-,
conveyance-, and stormwater-related work on the project is very limited, the PEO can
work with the RHE or State Hydraulics Office to determine a submittal timeline for the
Type B hydraulic report. For a Type A hydraulic report for a design-bid-build project, the
submittal process is a little more defined. Below is a description of each Type A
hydraulic report submittal and the approximate timing of each submittal:
a) Preliminary Type A report: This submittal shall occur during the project development
phase after the stormwater and hydraulic assessment.
a. Recommend this submittal after Highway Runoff Manual minimum
requirements and Endangered Species Act (ESA) programmatic consultation
stormwater requirements (if applicable) have been determined, draft
threshold discharge area (TDA) delineations are complete, discharge locations
have been identified, existing drainage issues within the project limits have
been identified, existing stormwater drainage system has been mapped
within the project limits, stormwater retrofitting requirements have been

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determined (if applicable), potential stormwater (Highway Runoff Manual) and

hydraulic (Hydraulics Manual) deviations have been identified, and cursory
review of possible stormwater connection utility discharge permits has been
conducted.
b. Generally, this may occur around 30 percent project design.
c. The design PEO submits the Preliminary Hydraulic report Type A for review
and comments to the RHE or State Hydraulics Office per Table 1-1.
b) Intermediate Type A Hydraulic report: This submittal shall occur before the start of
the PS&E phase when all of the engineering has been completed.
a. Recommend this submittal when the stormwater and hydraulic design is
complete; the final stormwater BMP type, size, and locations have been
designed; the conveyance design is complete; the upstream and downstream
analysis is complete; any stormwater (Highway Runoff Manual) and hydraulic
(Hydraulics Manual) deviations have been approved; and draft BMP
maintenance plans have been created.
b. The design PEO submits the intermediate Type A hydraulic report for review,
comments, and concurrence to the RHE or State Hydraulics Office per Table
1-1.
c. This generally occurs around 60 percent project design.
d. If there are drainage-related addendums (changes) during the PS&E phase of
the project, the PEO shall contact the engineer of the intermediate Type A
hydraulic report to evaluate those addendums to determine if they affect the
stormwater and hydraulic design and if those changes require an update to
the intermediate Type A hydraulic report. Any changes need to be
incorporated into the intermediate Type A hydraulic report and the report
needs to be restamped.
e. The design PEO submits the revised intermediate Type A hydraulic report
(because of addendums) for review, comments, and concurrence to the RHE
or State Hydraulics Office per Table 1-1.
c) Drainage-related change orders: These submittals shall occur after the start of the
construction phase of the project but before substantial completion.
a. Recommend this submittal when drainage-related change orders occur
during the construction phase of the project.
i. For any drainage-related change orders that may affect the
stormwater and hydraulics design, the construction office needs to
contact the engineer of record who stamped the intermediate Type A
hydraulic report so that those drainage-related change orders can be
evaluated to determine if they affect any other parts of the
stormwater and hydraulic design and if any redesign is required. If
contacting the original engineer of record is not possible, the

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construction office can work with the RHE or State Hydraulics Office
to determine if any changes need to be made to the stormwater and
hydraulic design and intermediate Type A hydraulic report because of
the drainage-related change order(s). Any drainage-related changes
need to be worked into the overall stormwater and hydraulic design
and the final Type A hydraulic report. In some cases where drainage-
related change orders require significant changes, many things may
need to be updated including TDA delineations, Highway Runoff
Manual minimum requirements, the stormwater design
documentation spreadsheet, the conveyance design, and any
stormwater and hydraulic deviations previously approved. The
engineer of record overseeing these new changes would need to
stamp the final Type A hydraulic report to cover any changes as a
result of the drainage related change orders.
b. The construction PEO submits the drainage-related change orders for review
and comments to the RHE or State Hydraulics Office per Table 1-1.
c. If the drainage-related change orders, after consulting with the engineer of
record and the RHE or State Hydraulics Office, do not require a change or
there are no drainage-related change orders to the intermediate Type A
hydraulic report, then the intermediate Type A hydraulic report can be
renamed as the final Type A hydraulic report.
d) Final Type A Hydraulic report: This submittal shall occur after construction of the
project has reached substantial completion.
a. Recommend this submittal after all drainage-related change order submittals
(if any) have been approved and constructed, drainage-related change order
submittal changes have been incorporated into the final Type A hydraulic
report and all relevant sections of the final Type A hydraulic report have been
updated, and as-built verification of stormwater and hydraulic features has
occurred.
b. The construction PEO submits the final Type A hydraulic report for review,
comments, and concurrence to the RHE or State Hydraulics Office per Table
1-1.
c. This generally occurs during the construction phase of the project but after
substantial completion.
d. BMP maintenance plans shall be finalized along with the final Type A
hydraulic report.
PEOs shall ensure that any electronic submittal is complete and is searchable. The PEO
can use the hydraulic report checklist to help identify and schedule critical submittal
dates.

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1-3.3.2 Hydraulic Report Deliverables for Design-Build Projects

Projects using a design-build delivery method have a different hydraulic report submittal
process from that described for the design-bid-build delivery method (see Section 1-
3.3.1).
The PEO shall coordinate with the RHE or the State Hydraulics Office to determine the
expected deliverable for the design-build project and coordinate on the completion of
the Request for Proposals (RFP) Technical Requirements 2.30, Water Crossings.
The design PEO typically creates a conceptual Type A or Type B hydraulic report and
completes the RFP Technical Requirements 2.14, Stormwater, in preparation for the
procurement phase of the design-build process. Once the design-builder is selected and
awarded the contract, the design-builder becomes the engineer of record and completes
the stormwater and hydraulic design and Type A or Type B hydraulic report for the
project. The PEO shall coordinate with the State Hydraulics Office for the PHD and FHD
report deliverables to complete RFP Section 2.30
A conceptual Type A or Type B hydraulic report describes the conceptual stormwater
and hydraulic designs for the project that are used for various purposes. The conceptual
hydraulic report is used to show one possible pathway for the design-builder to reach
compliance with the hydraulic design requirements for the project. More information
regarding the conceptual hydraulic report and other details can be found in the Design-
Build Manual.
The design PEO must work with the RHE or State Hydraulics Office to develop the
conceptual Type A or Type B hydraulic report and to complete RFP Section 2.14 for the
project. The PEO shall coordinate with the State Hydraulics Office for the PHD and FHD
report deliverables to complete RFP Section 2.30.

1-[Link] Hydraulic Report Submittal Process for Design-Build Projects

All submittals shall be in electronic format. All pages of all submittals shall be in
searchable Portable Document Format (PDF). In addition to the searchable PDF
document, submittals that include hidden information not visible in PDF format (such as
calculations in the cells of a spreadsheet or drawing) shall be submitted in their original
format (e.g., Word, Excel, InRoads) to facilitate WSDOT’s full review and understanding
of the basis and assumptions for calculations and other output
A conceptual Type A or Type B hydraulic report shall have the following items:
a) Conceptual hydraulic report: This submittal shall occur during the project
development phase after the stormwater and hydraulic assessment but before
finalizing the RFP.
a. Recommend this submittal after Highway Runoff Manual minimum
requirements and ESA programmatic consultation requirements (if applicable)
have been determined, draft TDA delineations are complete, existing
drainage issues have been identified, the existing stormwater drainage
system has been identified, discharge locations have been identified,

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stormwater retrofitting requirements have been determined (if applicable),

potential stormwater (Highway Runoff Manual) and hydraulic (Hydraulics
Manual) deviations have been identified and received approval, and cursory
review of possible stormwater connection utility discharge permits has been
conducted.
b. Generally, this may occur around 30 percent project design.
c. The design PEO submits the conceptual hydraulic design report for review
and comments to the RHE or State Hydraulics Office per Table 1-1.
b) Design-builder’s Preliminary Type A or Type B hydraulic report: This submittal shall
occur after the project has been awarded to a design-builder but before the first
intermediate drainage design package.
a. This submittal shall provide draft designs and preliminary responses for the
following issues:
i. Meet Highway Runoff Manual minimum requirements and ESA
programmatic consultation requirements (if applicable)
ii. Provide draft TDA delineations
iii. Determine existing discharge locations within the project limits
iv. Determine existing drainage issues within the project limits
v. Map the existing stormwater drainage system within the project limits
vi. Determine stormwater retrofitting requirements (if applicable)
vii. Identified potential stormwater (Highway Runoff Manual) and
hydraulic (Hydraulics Manual) deviations
viii. Identified possible stormwater connection utility discharge permits
ix. Any additional requirements per the RFP
b. The design-builder submits the Type A or B preliminary hydraulic report for
review and comment to the WSDOT engineer (who sends it to the RHE or
State Hydraulics Office per Table 1-1).
c) Design-builder’s intermediate hydraulic design packages: These submittals shall
occur after the design-builder’s preliminary hydraulic report but before the design-
builder’s Type A or B intermediate hydraulic report.
a. The design-builder submits the Type A or B intermediate hydraulic design
packages for review and comments to the WSDOT engineer (who sends it to
the RHE or State Hydraulics Office per Table 1-1).
d) Design-builder’s Type A or Type B intermediate hydraulic report: This submittal
shall occur after the last design-builder’s hydraulic design package but before the
design-builder’s Type A or B final hydraulic report.

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a. This submittal shall incorporate all of the hydraulic design packages into one
coherent and complete stormwater and hydraulics design and Type A or B
hydraulic report that shows how the project has addressed and is compliant
with the mandatory standards and the RFP.
b. The design-builder submits the Type A or B intermediate hydraulic report for
review and comments to the WSDOT engineer (who sends it to the RHE or
State Hydraulics Office per Table 1-1).
e) Design-builder’s Type A or Type B final hydraulic report: This submittal shall occur
after construction is complete on the project and after the as-built verification of
stormwater and hydraulic features walk-through.
a. This submittal shall incorporate any changes that occurred after the
intermediate hydraulic report and generate one coherent and complete
stormwater and hydraulics design and Type A or B hydraulic report that
shows how the project has addressed and is compliant with the mandatory
standards and the RFP.
b. The design-builder submits the Type A or B final hydraulic report for review
and comments to the WSDOT engineer (who sends it to the RHE or State
Hydraulics Office per Table 1-1). The SHO or RHE shall issue a hydraulic
report concurrence memo once all comments for the final hydraulic report
have been resolved.
c. BMP maintenance plans shall be finalized along with the Type A final
hydraulic report.
f) Specialty Reports: The specialty report(s) shall describe the approach taken and the
order of the calculations, including sections on the methodologies used
(appropriateness and accuracy requirements), design decisions made, and resultant
summaries. The calculations shall include electronic copies of the input and output
from the supporting computer programs, spreadsheets, hand calculations, exhibits,
and sketches. At a minimum, the calculations shall also include the following design
calculation items:
a) Word and PDF file;
b) Excel files for figures in text;
c) Long profile and long-term degradation;
d) Pebble counts and sediment mobility calculations;
e) Reference reach cross-section comparison figure;
f) Others;
g) Geographic information system (GIS) data;
h) Field visit data including bankfull width (BFW), pebble count, and reference reach
locations;
i) Basin boundary;

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j) Appendix files;
k) Large woody material (LWM) calculator;
l) Sediment size and mobility;
m) Manning’s n roughness;
n) Excel files for model results at cross sections and profiles;
o) Scour calculations FHWA Toolbox Report and HYD files;
p) Scour countermeasure calculations FHWA Toolbox Report and HYD files;
q) Field visit photos;
r) Hydrology;
s) MGSFlood model if used;
t) Other hydrology models;
u) Hydraulic model;
v) SRH-2D model;
w) All input and output files;
x) Remove extraneous or working files/simulations: coverages and simulations shall
be clearly named;
y) Coverages used for results reporting including observation lines and 1D
centerline and cross section;
z) Special design features: design-builder shall include a brief narrative of design
decisions or revisions, electronic files from design calculations, and justification;
aa) Design decision summaries;
bb) Technical specifications necessary for construction;
cc) Drainage maps showing the water crossing structures and all other illustrations
necessary to support and clarify the design calculations. Electronic design
drawings and maps, when printed, shall be on 11-by-17-inch pages;
dd) Channel section design;
ee) Streambed material sizing;
ff) Scour analysis;
gg) Scour analysis for streambed gravel sizing around LWM structures, if applicable;
hh) LWM buoyancy and anchoring calculations, if applicable; and
ii) Other applicable data or analysis.

PEOs and the design-builder shall ensure that any electronic submittal is complete and is
searchable. The PEO can use the hydraulic report checklist to help identify and schedule
critical submittal dates.

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1-3.3.3 Final Copies and Archiving

Upon receiving concurrence of a Type A or B hydraulic report, PEOs shall submit a
searchable electronic copy of the Type A or B hydraulic report, which shall also include
the concurrence letter, to the offices noted below. Electronic copies shall include the
entire contents of the Type A or B hydraulic report (including the appendices files) in a
PDF file.
1. For design-bid-build projects, send one PDF of the Type A or B intermediate
hydraulic report to the Construction Office for reference during construction.
2. For design-bid-build projects, along with the concurrence letter, the PEO shall
upload the Type A or Type B intermediate hydraulic report to the Enterprise Content
Management (ECM) application along with the Design Decision Package (DDP) for
archiving.
3. For design-bid-build projects, if any stormwater or hydraulic related change orders
occur during the project's construction that affect a hydraulic feature's intended
function, the Type A or Type B hydraulic report shall be revised to incorporate the
changes. After a review of the revised hydraulic report following Table 1-1 and
receiving a new concurrence letter, the revised hydraulic report and concurrence
letter shall be combined into one final hydraulic report document (PDF) and
uploaded to the EMC by the construction office or RHE before the construction
project closeout. If no stormwater or hydraulic related change orders occurred
during the construction phase of the project, the construction office or RHE can
make a note of this in the ECM and can rename the Type A or B intermediate
hydraulic report to the final Type A or Type B hydraulic report.
4. For water crossings documented in FHD reports, send one PDF to the Bridge
Preservation Office.
5. For design-build projects, the Type A or B final hydraulic report and Specialty
Reports shall be uploaded to the ECM application by the construction project office.

1-3.4 Developers and Utility Agreements

Developers, state and local agencies, utilities, and others designing stormwater facilities
within the WSDOT ROW shall assume the same responsibility as the PEO and prepare
hydraulic reports in compliance with the policy outlined in Chapter 1. Developers, state
and local agencies, utilities, and others discharging stormwater to the WSDOT ROW
may need a permit. For more information on requirements and permits for discharging
to the WSDOT ROW and/or building on the WSDOT ROW, consult the Design Manual,
Utilities Manual, and Local Agency Guidelines manual.

1-3.5 Upstream and Downstream Analysis

Conducting an upstream and downstream analysis as part of a Type A or B or specialty

report identifies, evaluates, and documents the impacts and risks, if any, that a project
will have on the drainage conveyance system, properties, and sensitive areas. All
projects that propose to discharge stormwater from WSDOT ROW and meet the
requirements below are required to provide an analysis as part of the hydraulic report;

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see the hydraulic report outline for more information. For projects that require a flood
risk assessment see additional guidance in Chapter 7.
• Projects that add 5,000 square feet or more of new, impervious surface area
• Projects where known drainage or erosion problems indicate there may be impacts
on either the upstream or downstream conveyance system, properties, or sensitive
areas
• Projects that add less than 5,000 square feet of new, impervious surface and where
the project is within 300 feet of a stream or if the project’s stormwater discharges
into a stream within 0.25 mile upstream or downstream of WSDOT’s ROW
• Projects that alter existing hydrology or drainage

1-3.5.1 Upstream and Downstream Analysis for Type A and B Reports

At a minimum, the analysis must include the area of the project site to a point 0.25 mile
downstream of the site and upstream to a point where any backwater conditions cease.
The results of the analysis must be documented in the project hydraulic report. Potential
impacts to be assessed in the report also include but are not limited to changes in flows,
flood duration, water surface elevations (WSELs), bank erosion, channel erosion, and
nutrient loading from the project site. The analysis is divided into three steps that follow
sequentially:
1. Review of resources
2. Inspection of drainage conveyance systems in the site area
3. Analysis of upstream and downstream effects
1-3.5.2 Review of Resources
The PEO reviews available resources to assess the existing conditions of the drainage
conveyance systems in the project vicinity. Resource data commonly include aerial
photographs, area maps, floodplain maps, wetland inventories, stream surveys, habitat
surveys, engineering reports concerning the entire drainage basin, the Climate Impacts
Vulnerability Assessment statewide map, GIS and light detecting and ranging (LiDAR)
information, and any previously completed upstream or downstream analyses. All of this
information shall encompass an area 0.25 mile downstream of the project site’s discharge
point from WSDOT’s ROW and upstream to a point where any backwater conditions cease.
The background information is used to review and establish the existing conditions of
the drainage conveyance system. This baseline information is used to determine
whether the project will improve upon existing conditions, have no impact, or degrade
existing conditions if no mitigating measures are implemented. The RHE and HQ
Environmental Services Office staff will be able to provide most of this information.
Other resource information sources include the Washington State Department of
Ecology (Ecology), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and local
agencies.
1-3.5.3 Inspection of Drainage Conveyance System
The PEO must inspect the conveyance system and identify any existing problems that
might relate to stormwater runoff. The PEO will physically inspect (if possible) the

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drainage conveyance system at the project site and downstream from the WSDOT
ROW for a distance of at least 0.25 mile and upstream to a point where any backwater
conditions cease. The inspection shall include any problems or areas of concern that
were noted during the resource review process or in conversations with local residents
and the WSDOT Maintenance Office. The PEO shall also identify existing or potential
conveyance capacity problems in the drainage system, existing or potential areas where
flooding may occur, existing or potential areas of extensive channel destruction or
erosion, and existing or potential areas of significant destruction of aquatic habitat
(runoff treatment or flow control) that can be related to stormwater runoff. If areas of
potential and existing impacts related to project site runoff are established, actions must
be taken to minimize impacts to upstream and downstream resources.
1-3.5.4 Analysis of Upstream and Downstream Effects
This final step analyzes information gathered in the first two steps of the analysis. It is
necessary to determine if the project will create any drainage conveyance problems
downstream or make any existing problems worse. The PEO must analyze upstream and
downstream effects to determine corrective or preventive actions that may be necessary. If
the project is within a medium- or high-vulnerability location according to the Climate
Impacts Vulnerability Assessment statewide map, the PEO must run extreme events (e.g., the
100-year storm event) and evaluate the impacts and stability of the conveyance system. The
PEO will perform a risk assessment based on the extreme events showing impacts to the
conveyance system and to downstream properties and sensitive areas.

PEOs will consult the Highway Runoff Manual for further guidance on the design flow for
runoff treatment and flow control BMP design. In some cases, analysis of effects may
indicate that no corrective or preventive actions are necessary. If corrective or
preventive actions are necessary, the following options must be considered:
• Design the on-site treatment and/or flow control facilities to provide a greater level
of runoff control than stipulated in the minimum requirements in Chapter 3 of the
Highway Runoff Manual.
• Take a protective action separate from meeting Minimum Requirements 5 and 6 in
the Highway Runoff Manual for runoff treatment and flow control. In some situations,
a project will have negative impacts even when the minimum requirements are met.
Below are two examples:
• Roadway runoff in a project’s TDA was sheet-flowing to the roadway side
slopes in the pre-developed condition but is now being collected and
conveyed to a stormwater detention pond in the post-developed condition.
The detention pond’s emergency overflow usually discharges to the same
location as the riser structure and overflow structure but sometimes
discharges to a different location. In both scenarios, even though the
detention pond will provide flow control for more frequent storm events (up
to the 25-year for eastern Washington or 50-year for western Washington),
the larger, less frequent storm events (100-year) may not have flow control.
These scenarios need to be analyzed as part of the downstream analysis.
Because the stormwater is now collected and conveyed to one or two
discharge locations, there may be more flow at those discharge locations

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than in the pre-developed condition. If a situation is encountered where

downstream impacts will result from the project, the corrective action must
be applied to the project based on a practicability analysis.
• If a project is flow control exempt, the conveyance system downstream of the
project site shall be inspected to ensure adequate capacity. The PEO shall
also analyze and document any changes to the downstream conveyance
system, properties, and sensitive areas. If there are any negative impacts, the
PEO shall perform a risk analysis showing what would happen if no actions
were taken to minimize the negative impacts.

1-3.6 Existing Stormwater Drainage Conveyance System

During the stormwater and hydraulic assessment, the existing stormwater drainage
conveyance system (culverts, storm sewers, catch basins, manholes, inlets, grates, and
ditches) shall be discussed to identify any needed repairs or replacements. If possible, it
is strongly recommended that the PEO physically inspect the entire existing stormwater
drainage conveyance system within the project limits, especially if adding new
stormwater flows to it. There may be condition ratings for some of these existing
stormwater features in Highway Activities Tracking System (HATS) or the Stormwater
Features Inventory that may aid in determining the physical inspection requirements.
Contact the State Hydraulics Office for culvert Level 1 and Level 2 inspection
requirements and guidelines. See the 2020 AASHTO Culvert and Storm Drain System
Inspection Guide for guidance on inspecting storm sewer, catch basins, manholes, inlets,
grates, and ditches.

1-4 Storm Frequency Policy and Design Tools and Software

WSDOT policy regarding design storm frequency for hydraulic structures has been
established so the PEO does not have to perform a risk analysis for each structure on each
project. The design storm frequency is referred to in terms of mean recurrence interval
(MRI) of precipitation. A more detailed discussion of MRI can be found in Chapter 2. New
hydraulic structures shall also consider climate resilience for final design size by evaluating
higher storm events. Consult the RHE and the State Hydraulics Office early for discussion
and concurrence for climate-resilient designs.
For design of hydraulic features, the PEO shall review Section 1-3.2.5 for required design
tools and software. The PEO shall work with the RHE to verify that the required design
tools and software are used for design of hydraulic features.
If the PEO wants to use a design tool or hydraulic software that has not been approved by
the State Hydraulics Office, the PEO shall provide a side-by-side comparison analysis
showing the differences between the approved design tool or approved software and the
proposed design tool or proposed software. The analysis shall be submitted to the RHE for
review and approval. The approval of using an alternative design tool or alternative software
shall be obtained before the intermediate hydraulic report can be submitted. Contact the
RHE for additional guidance.

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Table 1-2 presents a design reference chart and approved software.

Table 1-2 Design Reference
Type of Structure Chapter Reference Approved Software
Gutters 5 Inlet spreadsheet
5 Inlet spreadsheet
Storm sewer inlets on (MRI based on farthest
longitudinal slope downstream BMP or 10 year,
whichever is greater)
5 Sag spreadsheet
Storm sewer inlets on (MRI based on farthest
vertical curve sag/closed downstream BMP or 50,
contour location whichever is greater)

6b StormShed3G
Storm sewers
(MRI based on farthest
downstream BMP or 25)
StormShed3G or FHWA
Ditches 4
Hydraulic Toolbox
Non-fish passage culvertsa 3 HY-8, HEC-RAS, SRH-2DC
StormShed3G, HY-8, HEC-
Temporary diversionsa 3 C
RAS, SRH-2D
Water crossings 7 SRH-2DC
Stormwater BMP See the Highway Runoff Manual
Notes:
a. Coordinate with the RHE to determine the appropriate software to use and potential reports required.
b. When tying into existing systems, the hydrologic methods used shall be the rational method.
c. Use the model checklist found on WSDOT’s Hydraulics & hydrology website under the Tools, templates & links tab.

1-5 Complete Streets

WSDOT projects involving Complete Streets are designed and operated to promote use and
mobility for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, or transit riders. The program
prioritizes comfortable, equitable network connectivity for all roadway users through close
coordination with local partners and stakeholders. See the WSDOT Design Manual for
additional information including the screening process to determine a project’s need for the
program.
Complete Streets or other active transportation design projects may cause changes to
drainage structures or other hydraulic features beyond their basic requirements outlined
in this manual; see Sections 5-4, 6-1 and 7-6.1 for additional information.

1-6 Hydraulic Design Schedule

Establishing a design schedule that includes the hydraulic components is critical to
ensuring that the project’s overall design and implementation proceed smoothly and
efficiently. Hydraulic elements, such as drainage systems, culverts, stormwater
management, and flood risk mitigation, can have significant impacts on various other
aspects of a project, including environmental considerations, structural design, and
compliance with regulations. By incorporating hydraulic design milestones early in the

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schedule, project teams can proactively assess how these components interact with and
influence other design elements, identify potential conflicts, and make necessary
adjustments to avoid delays or cost overruns. This integrated approach helps to ensure
that the project is completed on time, meets regulatory requirements, and achieves its
performance goals without unforeseen challenges arising from hydraulic issues.

1-6.1 Milestones and Scheduling

There are three primary types of hydraulic reports (see Section 1-3):
• Type A
• Type B
• Specialty
Schedule templates for these different types of hydraulic reports can be found online under
Tools, Templates and Links on the WSDOT Hydraulics & hydrology website. Refer to Design
Manual Section 800.03 and Exhibits 800-1 through 800-5 for an overview of the hydraulic
design process. For additional guidance on schedule development please contact your RHE
or the State Hydraulics Office.

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