Potential Dams Research Articles

Balancing Sediment Connectivity and Energy Production via Optimized Reservoir Sediment Management Strategies

AbstractSediment connectivity plays a fundamental role in sustaining ecosystem goods and services in fluvial systems, including hydropower production. Dams alter the natural processes of sediment transport by trapping sediment and reshaping downstream hydrology and geomorphology. Due to these processes' interconnected nature, dams' impacts extend in time and space beyond the dam site to the entire river system. System‐scale approaches to reduce dam impacts commonly only consider dam siting, overlooking the potential of sediment management strategies integrated into the dam operations to offer more flexible solutions for mitigation. Herein, we contribute a sediment routing model (D‐CASCADE) to assess the impacts of reservoirs and their management strategies on river sediment connectivity. D‐CASCADE is applied to the 3S river system, a tributary of the Mekong River, a hotspot of potential dams in the Lower Mekong. We analyze three dam development portfolios. The effect of reservoir management is examined by assessing daily sediment delivery with specific dam release strategies. Model results predict sediment yield to the Mekong to reduce by 31%–60%. Finally, we explore trade‐offs between hydropower generation and sediment connectivity across cascades of multiple reservoirs. Results show that repeated flushing operations during the early wet season could significantly increase sediment delivery with minimal (max 6%) hydropower losses. While poor trade‐offs between sediment and hydropower have been locked‐in in the Mekong, our results highlight the potential of including sediment connectivity models in multi‐objective decision‐making frameworks to devise integrated water and sediment management strategies that mitigate connectivity disruptions while minimizing losses in other sectors.

Priority development of smalldam in Wonogiri regency

The province of Central Java often experiences floods during the rainy season and drought in the dry season. To support the program, BBWS Bengawan Solo participated in building some small-dams in Solo basin watershed. For this plan to be realized there needs to be a preceded study to determine the locations of potential dams. The paper aims to identify potential small-dams in the Solo River Basin, particularly in the Wonogiri District, and to determine priorities for the sequence of development. The potential of the small-dams is roughly derived from public information, topographic maps, and ground surveys. Initially, based on public information and local government officials, 39 locations of small-dams were obtained. After analyzing the topographic map and ground checking, the potential locations were cut down to 13 sites. Five small-dams will be selected as the first priority. The priority is determined based on multiple criteria, which consisted of technical criteria (topography, geology, and hydrology) and non-technical criteria (drought, economy, social and environment). Assessment method was based on the scoring system on all criteria. The result found that the five most potential small-dams in Wonogiri District are Glimbung, Gompyong, Wungu, Weru, and Waru.

119 Genetic Highlights for Reproduction and Health Traits in Russian Black-and-White and Holstein Animals Selected for Production of High-Quality Embryos

The aim of genetic improvement in cattle breeding is to create animals, which are characterised by high economic efficiency while maintaining the high breeding values for health and reproduction traits. In Russia dairy cattle industry the integrated approaches based on application of genomic methods for cows’ fertility and health traits along with milk production are being developed. However, their efficiency depends largely on the ability for multiple replicating outstanding individuals by embryo transfer. Therefore, the target of our research was to develop a strategy for the integrated genetic improvements of fertility and udder health traits towards the production of embryos with high estimated breeding values (EBV). We analysed the culling factors of more than 23,400 Black-and-White and Holstein cows of the Moscow region cattle population. Using the genotyping procedure by Illumina Bovine SNP50 BeadChip (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA), the regional training group consisted of 401 proven bulls and 60 pre-selected cows was formed. After the quality check based on Plink 1.90, we selected 39,631 single nucleotide polymorphisms for the analysis. The GBLUP methodology was used to calculate genomic EBV (GEBV). The cows were additionally tested by PCR or PCR-RFLP (restricted fragment length polymorphism) for LoF mutations in the genes FANCI, APAF1, SMC2, GART, ITGB2, SLC35A3, and APOB, associated with fertility haplotypes HH0, HH1, HH34, HH4, HHB, HHC, and HCD, respectively. The evaluation of genetic variances and EBV for days open (DO), breeding per conception (BC), calving ease (CE), somatic cell score (SCS), milk yield (MY), fat yield (FY), and protein yield (PY) was carried out using the BLUPF90 family of programs. Cows’ culling rate for reproductive traits was 21% and for udder diseases was 8%. The genetic correlations, rg, between SCS and cows’ fertility traits were rg = 0.132 for BC, rg = 0.067 for DO, and rg = –0.056 for CE that can be used as an indicator for the monitoring reproductive disorders at the different stages of lactation. The frequencies of fertility haplotypes’ carriers among the potential donor dams were 6.6, 1.1, 8.8, 0.0, 1.1, 0.0, and 4.4% for HH0, HH1, HH3, HH4, HHB, HHC, and HCD, respectively. Based on EBV and carrier status for LoF mutations, we selected 46 dams and 28 sires to produce embryos with high GEBV for MY (+633, ..., +884 kg), FY (+26 kg), PY (+18 kg), and SCS (106 points) and higher as population average GEBV for fertility and udder health traits. Genome-wide association study analysis by the reliability of Bonferroni correction test (P < 1.2 × 10−6) showed the presence of quantitative trait loci on BTA1, BTA5, BTA9, BTA11, BTA12, BTA27, and BTX. Our results will be used to construct Russian fitness index for dairy cattle and for implementing embryo production technology into the Russian breeding system. Research supported by the Russian Science Foundation within Project no. 15-16-00020.

An automated and rapid method for identifying dam wall locations and estimating reservoir yield over large areas

Global demand for water, food and energy has seen the construction and planning of large dams continue at a steady pace in many parts of the world. However, the process of ‘exhaustively’ examining all potential dams sites within an area as part of an initial scoping study is still largely undertaken using manual methods. This paper describes DamSite, a series of novel algorithms that construct ‘virtual’ dam walls at every pixel along every channel within a catchment, including saddle dams where required by the terrain. By repetitively calculating dam and reservoir dimensions, reservoir yield and dam costs along a river network and for incrementally higher dam walls at each location it is possible to identify both optimal dam wall locations and optimal dam wall height at a given location. The DamSite model was tested in two catchments in northern Australia and accurately pin-pointed previously identified potential dam locations.

Presencia suburbana de Puma concolor (Carnivora: Felidae) en el cantón de San Ramón, Alajuela, Costa Rica

El 19 de marzo de 2016 a las 14h50 observamos un Puma en un parche de bosque pequeño (5,2 ha) en el distrito de Santiago, San Ramón, Provincia de Alajuela, Costa Rica (10,057109° N, -84,492416° W; Figura 2). Según el sistema de clasificación de zonas de vida de Holdridge (Holdridge 1987) el sitio de observación pertenece a un bosque muy húmedo premontano, y está ubicado a una altitud de 1160 msnm. Este parche de bosque se encuentra cercano a plantaciones de café y caseríos, donde se pueden observar frecuentemente algunas presas potenciales como el Zorro Pelón y la Guatusa. La distancia lineal desde el sitio de la observación a la ciudad de San Ramón (la más cercana) es de 4,13 km y de 2,32 km hasta la autopista, por lo que consideramos que el registro proviene de una zona suburbana.

Priority Analysis of Small Dams Construction using Cluster Analysis, AHP and Weighted Average Method Case Study: Small Dams in Semarang District

The Feasibility study potential of small dams in Semarang District has identified 8 (eight) urgent potential small dams. These potential dams must be constructed within 5 (five) years in order to overcome the problem of water shortage in the district. However, the government has limited funding source. It is necessary to select the more urgent small dams to be constructed within that limited budget. The purpose of the research is determining the priority of small dams’ construction in Semarang District under limited budget condition. The method used in this study is Cluster Analysis, AHP and Weighted Average Method. The criteria used to determine the priority in this study consist of: vegetation cover in the inundated area, volume of embankment, land acquisition area, useful storage, reservoir's life time, water cost/ m3, access road to the dam site, land status at abutment and inundated area, construction cost, operation and maintenance cost, irrigation service area and raw water benefit. Based on results of Cluster Analysis Method, AHP Method and Weighted Average Method can be concluded that the priority, therefore the sequences, of small dams construction are: 1) Mluweh Dam (0,165), 2) Pakis Dam (0,142), 3) Lebak Dam (0,134), 4) Dadapayam Dam (0,128), 5) Gogodalem Dam (0,119), 6) Kandangan Dam (0,114), 7) Ngrawan Dam(0,102) and 8) Jatikurung Dam (0,096). Based on analysis of the order of priority of 3 (three) method showed that AHP Method is more suitable than Cluster Analysis and Weighted Average Methods, because the result of AHP Method is closer to the conditions of each dam in the field.

Analisis Prioritas Pembangunan Embung Metode Cluster Analysis, AHP dan Weighted Average (Studi Kasus: Embung di Kabupaten Semarang)

The Feasibility study potential of small dams in Semarang District has identified 8 (eight) urgent potential small dams. These potential dams here to be constructed within 5 (five) years in order to overcome the problem of water shortage in the district. However, the government has limited funding source. It is necessary to select the more urgent small dams to be constructed within the limited budget. The purpose of the research is determining the priority of small dams construction in Semarang District. The method used to determine the priority in this study is cluster analysis, AHP and weighted average method. The criteria used to determine the priority in this study consist of: vegetation in the inundated area, volume of embankment, land acquisition area, useful storage, recervoir life time, water cost/m³, access road to the dam site, land status at abutment and inundated area, construction cost, operation and maintenance cost, irrigation service area and raw water benefit. Based on results of cluster analysis, AHP and weighted average method can be conclude that the priority of small dams construction is 1) Mluweh Small Dam (0.165), 2) Pakis Small Dam (0.142), 3) Lebak Small Dam (0.134), 4) Dadapayam Small Dam (0.128), 5) Gogodalem Small Dam (0.119), 6) Kandangan Small Dam (0.114), 7) Ngrawan Small Dam (0.102) and 8) Jatikurung Small Dam (0.096). Based on analysis of the order of priority of 3 (three) method showed that method is more detail than cluster analysis method and weighted average method, because the result of AHP method is closer to the conditions of each dam in the field.

Change in advice on selecting sires and dams for breeding under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme

ON behalf of the BVA Canine Health Schemes office, the panel of Elbow Dysplasia Scheme scrutineers and the Kennel Club (KC), we wish to draw colleagues' attention to a recent change in the advice given to dog breeders regarding the selection of potential sires and dams based on radiographic elbow dysplasia (ED) grading. This is given in the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme Procedure Notes, which are available on the BVA's website: www.bva.co.uk/canine\_health\_schemes/Elbow_Scheme.aspx Internationally, grading of ED is based on detection or otherwise of primary ED lesions and the depth of any arthritic new bone present. Grade 1 (osteophytes up to 2 mm …

Three-dimensional Imaging of Dam Structure and its Application

With many high-hazard potential dams and long river embankments in China, the task of reinforcement of hydraulic projects needs tremendous efforts. Thus, it is of great significance to carry out effective structure quality control and hidden hazard detection. Based on GSR-3D imaging system and dam engineering practice in China, three-dimensional imaging system for dam structure with China's national conditions was created through secondary development. The system had already been applied in several reservoirs. And the application results show that the system can well realize real-time presenting in all material partition shape of dam and has a high imaging ability. Therefore, the three-dimensional imaging of dam structure provides complete real-time analysis and imaging tools for the internal structure and the orientation of hidden trouble of dams and embankments, which can be used for detecting construction quality and safety hazard, for experts to determine the security state of engineering and for leadership to make decisions by providing the scientific basis.

Evidence of the genetic trend for secondary sex ratio in Iranian Holsteins

Calving records from the Animal Breeding Center of Iran collected from January 2000 to December 2007 and comprising 520964 Holstein calving events from 2135 herds were analysed using animal and sire models to estimate variance components, heritabilities and genetic trends for secondary sex ratio (SSR) in the first, second and third parities. Direct heritabilities for SSR ranged from 0.00004 to 0.001 over the parities. The linear sire model estimate of heritabilities for SSR in the present study was from 0.0002 to 0.0008 over the parities. There were positive phenotypic and genetic trends for female rate in Iranian Holsteins over the years. Exploitable genetic variation in SSR can take advantage of sexual dimorphism for economically important traits, which may facilitate greater selection intensity and thus greater response to selection, as well as reducing the replacement costs. On the other hand, increasing genetic and phenotypic trends for female rate in the population under study could be partly assigned to increased use of new reproductive technologies in dairy herds; therefore, dairy farmers have the option to select from among their herd's potential dams and produce dairy replacement heifers from only the genetically superior animals, thus promoting enhanced rates of genetic gain.

Optimal genetic contribution selection in Danish Holstein depends on pedigree quality

The aim of this study was to assess the importance of pedigree depth when performing optimal contribution selection as implemented in the software program EVA. This was done by applying optimal genetic contribution in the breeding program of the major Danish Dairy breed Danish Holstein. In the analyses earlier breeding decisions were considered by including all AI waiting- and young bulls and contract matings. Twenty potential sires, 2169 potential dams, 1421 AI-bulls and 754 contract matings plus pedigree animals were included. Results showed that the outcome was very dependent on quality of pedigree, also for information going more than 25 years (5–7 generations) back. The analyses showed that EVA works satisfactorily as a management tool for planning of breeding schemes with respect to contributions of sires of sons at population level in maximising the genetic gain, while controlling the increase in future inbreeding. The more weight put on the average additive genetic relationship in next generation relative to genetic merit, the lower the average merit of the matings, and the lower average additive genetic relationship among the chosen matings and the present breeding animals. Furthermore more weight on average additive genetic relationship gives a more diverse use of sires of sons. Given the potential sires and dams the average additive genetic relationship among the selected matings and the present breeding animals can be reduced from 0.1621 to 0.1495 at the cost of 0.7 genetic S.D. units at the total merit index. This reduction was obtained when selection was only on reduction of average relationship compared to selection only on genetic merit. Optimal genetic contribution selection is a promising tool for managing breeding schemes for populations facing inbreeding problems, such as Danish Holstein and other dairy breeds. However sufficient pedigree information is a necessity.

Exploring the Impact of Sexed Semen on the Structure of the Dairy Industry

Widespread commercial application of sexed semen is expected within the next decade because of continued improvements in fertility of sexed semen and sorting capacity. The objective of this study was to explore the potential impact of widespread application of sexed semen on the structure of the dairy industry in the United States. Historically, female offspring from all heifers and cows were needed to produce enough dairy replacement heifers to replace culled cows. The use of sexed semen allows for a decoupling of breeding decisions necessary to obtain an adequate supply of dairy replacement heifers from those needed to achieve pregnancies needed to start new lactations. Application of sexed semen allows dairy producers to select among their herds’ potential dams and produce dairy replacement heifers from only the genetically superior animals. The rate of genetic progress is expected to increase, but not more than 15% of the rate of gain accomplished through sire selection achieved through conventional (nonsexed) artificial insemination breeding. The supply of dairy replacement heifers is expected to grow to meet and temporarily exceed current demand, resulting in reduced prices for dairy replacement heifers. Consequently, herd turnover rates are expected to increase slightly, and herd expansions may accelerate. The rate of consolidation of dairy farms is expected to increase. Widespread application of sexed semen may temporarily increase the supply of milk, which would result in lower milk prices. The cost of milk production will be reduced as well. Many breeding options exist for the genetically poorer cows in the herd. The optimal breeding mix depends on the value of the various kinds of calves that could be produced. More crossbred calves for beef production may be produced; however, a market for these crossbred calves is not well established. Increased specialization is expected with more dairy producers deciding not to raise their own heifers but to purchase replacements. Other dairy farms might specialize in producing genetically superior dairy replacement heifers for sale. Depending on the value of calves not raised for replacements, artificial insemination organizations might market beef conventional semen or beef male sexed semen to dairy farms. The use of sexed semen should lower the cost of progeny-testing programs and embryo transfer and enhance the value of genetic markers. Eventually, the economic benefits from the use of sexed semen will be passed on to consumers.

Approaches to the management of inbreeding and relationship in the German Holstein dairy cattle population

Abstract The aim of this study was to estimate the current level of inbreeding in the German cow population and for bull dams born in Germany, to find out sires most related to different subsets of their breed and to demonstrate the negative effect of homozygosity in the case of complex vertebral malformation (CVM). Further on, the application of optimum genetic contribution (OGC) theory for the selection of bull dams and bull sires in different breeding scenarios was investigated. Levels of inbreeding for the cow population were in a low range from 0.97% to 1.70% evaluating birth years from 1996 to 1999 in a total dataset of 244,427 registered Holstein cows. The inbreeding coefficient of 8030 bull dams was much higher, i.e. 3.71%, for the birth year 1999. Increases in inbreeding of 0.19% per year indicated an effective population size of only 52 animals. Individual sires like R.O.R.A. Elevation and Hannoverhill Starbuck were highly related to potential bull dams with coefficients of relationship of 13.4% and 12.9%, respectively, whereas P.F. Arlinda Chief (16.3%) and Carlin-M Ivanhoe Bell (16.1%) were highest related to the best available AI sires. Coefficients of relationship were calculated by classes of estimated breeding values (EBV) for production traits showing highest values above 7% in the two highest EBV-classes. The optimum genetic contribution theory using official EBVs and approximative, for zero inbreeding corrected EBVs, was applied for elite matings in a breeding program embracing 30 young bulls per year to find the optimal allocations of bull sires and bull dams. Compared with the actual breeding program applied in practice, OGC-theory has the potential to increase genetic gain under the same constraint for the increase of average relationship by 13.1%. A more relaxed constraint on increase in inbreeding allowed even higher expected genetic gain whereas a more severe constraint resulted in more equal contributions of selected bull sires. Contributions from 21 selected bull sires and 30 selected bull dams for a scenario at 5% constrained relationship were used to develop a specific mating plan to minimise inbreeding in the short term in the following generation applying a simulated annealing algorithm. The expected coefficient of inbreeding of progeny was 66.3% less then the one resulting from random mating. Mating programs can address inbreeding concerns on the farm, at least in the short term, but long-term control of inbreeding in a dairy population requires consideration of relationships between young bulls entering AI progeny test programs. Significantly better EBVs of CVM-free bulls compared with CVM-carriers for the paternal fertility justify the application of OGC for elite matings.

The valley of Shimshal – a geographical portrait of a remote high mountain settlement and its pastures with reference to environmental habitat conditions in the North-West Karakorum (Pakistan)

This article presents observations on the natural hazard potential for permanent and seasonal mountain settlements and infrastructure such as routeways and irrigation canals in the North-West Karakorum. The remote high mountain settlement Shimshal (3080 m), located in the upper Shimshal valley and surrounded by three potential natural glacier dams, is of particular interest. The permanent settlement of Shimshal and its seasonal pasture settlements in the Shimshal Pamir at heights of 3200 and 4600 m respectively, reach the upper limits for permanent and temporary settlement. The choice of location for settlement and agricultural activities is already dictated by relief conditions. Primary settlement areas are the sediment accumulations in the valley floors. The wide distribution of unconsolidated screes in particular prevents settlement expansion upwards along the valley slopes. Glacial outburst floods as well as seasonal flooding events further reduce the scanty settlement area, as well as being among the most devastating sources of danger. The production of debris and the supply of loose material deposits induced in connection with the glaciation history of the area becomes a permanent source of danger for human settlement through resedimentation in the form of rockfall or mudflow. Furthermore, canal systems essential for the survival of oasis settlements suffer annual destruction through mass movements on the slopes, induced by the glacially pre-formed relief. Thus the adaptation of settlement locations to a glacially formed mountain relief will be examined in this study, with particular reference to the geomorphological landscape situation. What makes the Shimshal settlement particularly interesting is its very isolated location at a distance of 80 km from the Hunza valley which contains the main settlement concentration of the North-West Karakorum. Traditional ways of life can be expected to be well protected from outside influences. In the North-West Karakorum we find a debris landscape which differs greatly in its development and distribution from that of the Himalayas, influenced particularly in the lower valley locations between 1000 and 3000 m by the different climatic situation, and where therefore in comparison with the Himalayas a completely different pattern of natural hazards arises.

Jobs as Dam Sites

Much economic analysis is based on stylized relations between the nature of economic processes and the functions economists use as their tools of analysis. For example, if production processes are duplicable, constant returns to scale production functions are obtained. The student of elementary economics is told that if goods are difficult to substitute, their demand is inelastic; if easy to substitute their demand is elastic. In similar fashion it is the purpose of this paper to categorize the nature of jobs and to show that it has implications for the elasticity of demand for labour with respect to the wage. We see a job as like a dam site. A dam which underutilizes a dam site, even though productive in the sense that water is usefully stored or electricity is usefully produced, will nevertheless be costly in the sense that the valuable dam site is wasted. Even at zero cost (and hence a benefit/cost ratio of infinity) it may not pay to use a dam which underutilizes the site. We picture jobs and workers in the same way. Jobs are pictured as being like dam sites and workers of different skills as being like the potential dams on the dam site. Workers of sufficiently low skills will not be able to get jobs even at zero wages, not because their output on those jobs is negative, but because they underutilize the jobs themselves. Nor may it matter that the firm will have to pay significantly positive wages to hire skilled workers on its jobs. This image of the job gives reason for pessimism about the wage elasticity of demand for labour of a given skill, since it says that unskilled workers, no matter how low they bid their wages, may still be unable to bid jobs away from skilled workers. This has at least five consequences. First, it shows that in a demand downturn, in which prices of final goods and services are below the full employment level, wage flexibility alone will not be sufficient to restore full employment. Skilled workers will receive jobs and positive wages; unskilled workers will not be able to capture jobs even at zero wages. Second, the minimum wage is often considered a major cause of unemployment in general and among youth in particular (see Feldstein (1973) for one example). The effects of minimum wages on employment depends critically on the wage elasticity of demand, which is low for unskilled workers if, as in our argument, they cannot capture jobs even at zero wages. Third, Feldstein among others (1973, pp. 19-26) has argued that wage subsidies should be paid to encourage employees to hire youth in ladder jobs. Feldstein's recommendation rests implicitly on the belief that the elasticity of demand for such youths in such jobs is fairly high-at least in the sense that employers would more than willingly hire such workers with sufficient reduction of the minimum wage. Wage costs thus serve as an upper bound to his estimates of the costs of such programmes. If, on the other hand, jobs are as pictured in this paper, like dam sites, even at a zero wage firms may be quite unwilling to hire unskilled workers in ladder jobs because they may underutilize the ladder jobs themselves. The other side to the subsidy issue is manpower training programmes. Such programmes have been strongly criticized in the US for their high cost per worker. Implicit in much of this criticism has been the comparison with on-the-job training on the supposition

Cow-Indexing Procedure and Culling Levels for Potential Dams of Dairy Bulls

A procedure to index dairy cows on milk production is described. First records of cows were compared to first records of contemporaries, and second and later records of cows to second and later contemporary records. The index combined this information with the proof of the cow's sire. Of 5,704 Guernsey cows, 144 had indices two or more standard deviations above the average index. Restrictions on the milk fat percentage of these “potential” dams of bulls caused the numbers to drop rapidly. Restrictions on type classification decreased numbers to a lesser degree. Mean indies suggested that cows classified “Excellent” received preferential treatment.