Impact of the construction of cascade reservoirs on suspended sediment peak transport variation during flood events in the Three Gorges Reservoir

Abstract

Peak sediment transport during flood events is very important to the sustainability of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), and thus, in-depth research on peak sediment transport must be performed for the refined regulation of this reservoir. The variation in peak sediment transport and its corresponding causes following the completion of the cascade reservoirs in the lower Jinsha River in the TGR are still unclear. In this study, based on daily discharge and suspended sediment concentration time series, hysteresis patterns and peak sediment transport times were used to determine the peak sediment transport variations. The temporal peak sediment transport variations and their origins were revealed based on wave theory and a one-dimensional hydraulic model. The results show that peak sediment hysteresis has become more obvious recently, and the greatest influencing factor is the construction of cascade reservoirs. Rising water levels in the TGR contributed to slowing SSC, doubling the proportion of anti-clockwise patterns, and increasing the peak sediment transport time by approximately 31% after 2003. The cascade reservoirs in the lower Jinsha River reduced the peak discharge by approximately 15%, which had a relatively large influence on the SSC peak, increasing the SSC peak transport time by approximately 22% and increasing the proportion of the anti-clockwise pattern at the inflow reach. These results can provide references for reservoir regulation during flood events; more significant sediment hysteresis means the regulation timing should be changed. The lag between the peak sediment and peak discharge is affected by the flow process and water level and can be used to help develop a reservoir regulation model.