Recommended Guidelines for

Quarrying in River Systems

Geosciences Division
Mines and Geosciences Bureau - MIMAROPA
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

Introduction: Why do we need a guideline in river quarrying?

I. Suitable Areas for River Quarrying
II. Dangers of Improper Methods of River Quarrying
III. Recommended Guidelines in River Quarrying
V. Case studies
Le Chatelier’s Principle

“If a dynamic equilibrium is disturbed by changing the

conditions, the position of equilibrium moves to
counteract the change”.
1. Suitable Areas for River
Quarrying
1. Suitable Areas for River Quarrying
 1. Suitable Areas for River Quarrying

Alluvial Rivers are rivers that flow along low-lying plains. The banks
and beds of alluvial channels are generally composed of loosely
consolidated sediment (alluvium).

SAND AND GRAVEL DEPOSITS

DEPOSITION > EROSION

Quarrying and Mining activities of sand and gravel are preferably done in
AGGRADING CHANNELS where the deposition rate of sediment load is
higher than erosion

𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 > 𝐸𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛

BONGABONG RIVER
 BONGABONG RIVER
Municipality of Bongabong
Province of Oriental Mindoro
Braided rivers

• This is the type of channel

where we quarry sand and
Sand/Gravel bar gravel.
deposits
• The stream load consists of
coarse material such as sand
and gravel.
Busuanga River
Occidental Mindoro
Braided rivers

Sand/Gravel
bar deposits • Channels are wide and shallow.

• Has a highly variable water

velocities.
Meandering Rivers
Streams that transport materials in
sweeping bends called
meanders.

Transport mainly mud (silt and

clay), sand and occasionally fine
gravel.

Erosion is mainly focused on the

outer bends.

Deep, individual channels

2. Dangers of Improper
Methods of River
Quarrying
 2. Dangers of Improper Methods of River
Quarrying

🞆 Alluvial Rivers are rivers that flow along low-lying plains. The
banks and beds of alluvial channels are generally composed of
loosely consolidated sediment (alluvium).

they can undergo major changes in shape as material

is continually being eroded, transported, and redeposited.
• Bank erosion, a typical river process, can
be enhanced when extracting river
sediments improperly

• This may lead to the loss of land,

property and other structures
 BENADERO RIVER
Brgy. Pagsangahan, Calatrava, Romblon
Bank of
Busuanga
River
Bank of
Viga River
Bank of
Viga River
3. Recommended
Guidelines for River
Quarrying
3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

1
Maintain 10-meter
buffer zone from the
banks when quarrying
sand and gravel.
3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

1
Maintain 10-meter
buffer zone from the
banks when quarrying
sand and gravel.
3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

2
Avoid extraction
below the water table.

Depth of extraction -
1-meter
 Relationship between stream velocity (V) and
river geometry
With the same amount of Rain and CA: When WP ,
V Wetted Perimeter, total length of the surface where
CA = Cross-sectional Area WP the riverbed is in contact with water
 3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

3 Over-quarrying of
🞆 Increases erosion and
transportation capacity

obstacles (sand and

gravel bars) may
increase the velocity 🞆 Lost of Sand and
of the river flow Gravel Deposits
 3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

Inactive Channel
4
Sand and gravel removal from
abandoned stream channels
on river terraces and inactive
floodplains may be preferred
Active Channel over active channels
 3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

5
Quarrying must not be carried out
within 1 kilometer of any crucial
hydraulic structure such as pumping
stations, water intake, bridges,
buildings, and such structures (unless
a written consent from the concerned
agency was secured).
3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

Removal of sand and gravel

6
must be controlled. The permit
holders shall keep adequate
records of all materials removed
from the riverbed, which shall be
available on request.
 3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

7
Minimize activities that release
very fine sediments to the river
(screening, stockpiling,
“magbibistay, etc.”)
Effects of stockpiling
and screening along
river…
3. Recommended Guidelines for River
Quarrying

8
Additional vegetation in critical
riverbank slopes and floodplain
areas can be introduced to
augment appropriate protection
measures for potential flood and
erosion hazards
4. Case Studies
 River Quarrying in Sta. Maria, Romblon

Among the complaints,

the most warranted
are:
1. Residents
complaining about
their property being
eroded downstream
2. Estuary downstream
which previously
hosted many
species of fish is
now gone
Sign of Over-quarrying
Stockpiles near/within active channels
Photo Credits

May 23-June 1 SAG Permit Application Field Verification

MGB MIMAROPA River Management Presentation
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=Bamboo+in+riverbanks&rlz=1C1CHBF_enPH799PH800&sourc
e=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjvy4fgo9_cAhUY6bwKHZfDDwAQ_AUICigB&biw=1082&bih=
614#imgrc=_GvNjMV_R-iycM:
Thank You!