Abstract
Mathematical expressions are developed that relate the storage capacity loss of reservoirs in India to the catchment area, the reservoir surface area, the original storage volume, and the time since the first filling of the impoundment. The relations for sedimentation of reservoirs found on eastward and westward flowing rivers differ significantly, because of meteorological and geological influences on land surface runoff and sediment yield within reservoir catchments. The formulations give good fits to the assembled data and allow an uncomplicated calculation of the half-life of reservoirs (that is, the time needed for the storage capacity to be reduced by 50%), which offers a measure of when sedimentation will have a significant adverse impact on the functioning of dams.
Highlights
Eroded sediment transported by natural streams tends to settle out when it enters the comparatively calm water of an artificial lake created by a dam to store the water
The rate of water storage loss depends on the annual sediment load carried by the streams and the extent to which that material is kept in the reservoir
The amount of sedimentation is controlled by a number of factors including the area and geologic origin of the catchment, the land uses, the amount of rainfall, the reservoir storage capacity, the duration of storage in relation to the sediment load of the stream, the particle size distribution of the suspended sediment, the planform configuration of the reservoir, the location and size of sluices and other outlet works at the dam, and the method and purpose of water releases through those outlets
Summary
Eroded sediment transported by natural streams tends to settle out when it enters the comparatively calm water of an artificial lake (a reservoir) created by a dam to store the water. The rate of water storage loss depends on the annual sediment load carried by the streams and the extent to which that material is kept in the reservoir. 1. From sediment discharge rating curves combined with flow-duration relations on significant streams entering the reservoir. It is the third approach that is followed here based on an evaluation of sedimentation in existing reservoirs in which the accumulated deposits have been surveyed over an extended period. The formulations give good fits to the assembled data and allow an uncomplicated calculation of the half-life of reservoirs (that is, the time needed for the storage capacity to be reduced by 50%), which offers a measure of when sedimentation will have a significant adverse impact on functioning
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