Optimum Dredged Depth in Inland Waterway

Criteria for optimum depths in the inland waterway network is minimized value of the sum: cost of tow industry plus cost of waterway structures, in the open rivers mainly cost of dredging. Volume of dredging may be estimated by use of the relationships between the most important hydrological and morphological parameters that determine the degree of stability of riverbed. If extensive dredging is planned, it is necessary to take into account a change of hydraulic parameters of river that will be followed by a lowering of the water level and depth in the channels. In the reaches of open river with sufficient large seasonal oscillation of water levels, it is important to calculate average usable (seasonal or annual) depth and draft on base of relationships between water level and controlling depth. The plan described in the paper represents a simple way for solution to the problem of optimal channel depth, useful for planning purposes and economic estimates.