Discharging Sediment Downstream: Case Studies in Cost Effective, Environmentally Acceptable Reservoir Sediment Management in the United States
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 148, Issue 2
Abstract
Sediment accumulation in reservoirs across the world diminishes reservoir benefits, increases maintenance costs, and damages the environment. United States regulatory policy requires State and Federal permits for discharging sediment into waterways, which has tended to discourage alternatives that pass sediment downstream of the dam. The cost of methods that remove the sediment from the fluvial system is usually prohibitive and is a major factor precluding sustainable sediment management in the United States and other countries with similar sediment reduction policies. This paper challenges the notion that US policy requires sediment removal and terrestrial storage by highlighting seven case studies in the United States where reservoir sediment management included downstream sediment discharge. Where technically feasible, these types of solutions can lead to greater economic and environmental sustainability of US reservoirs.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 148 • Issue 2 • February 2022
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 31, 2020
Accepted: Sep 16, 2021
Published online: Nov 25, 2021
Published in print: Feb 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Apr 25, 2022
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Architectural engineering
- Benefit cost ratios
- Building management
- Business management
- Case studies
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- Financial management
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic structures
- Hydrologic engineering
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- Management methods
- Methodology (by type)
- Practice and Profession
- Research methods (by type)
- Reservoirs
- River engineering
- Sediment
- Sustainable development
- Water and water resources
- Water discharge
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