Strategies for managing reservoir sedimentation

Abstract

Abstract Sediment deposition in reservoirs has caused the loss of 66% of the reservoir capacity in China. The main sedimentation control strategies are: 1) storing the clear water and releasing the turbid water; 2) releasing turbidity currents; 3) Draw-down flushing and empty flushing; and 4) dredging. The paper summarizes these strategies with examples. Sediment transport in many Chinese rivers occurs mostly during the 2–4 month flood season, that is, 80–90% of the annual sediment load is transported with 50–60% of the annual runoff. By storing the clear water after the flood season and releasing the turbid water during the flood season, less sediment deposits in the reservoir while the reservoir is still able to store enough water for power generation in the low flow season. The Three Gorges and Sanmenxia reservoirs apply this strategy and control sedimentation effectively. Turbidity currents have become the main sedimentation control strategy for the Xiaolangdi Reservoir. Empty flushing involves reservoir draw-down to temporarily establish riverine flow along the impound reach, flushing the eroded sediment through the outlets. Case studies with the Hengshan Reservoir and Zhuwo Reservoir are presented. Jet dredgers have been used to agitate the reservoir deposit so that the deposit is released from the reservoir with currents. The sediment releasing efficiency is 30–100% for storing the clear and releasing the turbid; 6–40 % for turbidity current; and 2,400–5,500% for empty flushing. Empty flushing causes high ecological stress on the ecosystem to the downstream reaches. Storing the clear and releasing the turbid is the best strategy to control reservoir sedimentation while achieving hydro-power benefit and maintain ecological stability.