1Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victoria, Australia
The global escalation of climate change has manifested in rising average tempera-tures, altered rainfall patterns, increased peak flows, flash floods, forest fires, and prolonged droughts. Despite international efforts to reduce emissions, these alarming trends are expected to persist, compelling operators of critical infrastructure, such as dams and reservoirs to adapt to the evolving environmental conditions.
Water levels, filling targets and operational requirements for dams and reservoirs are changing with changing rainfall patterns and antecedent catchment conditions. Other severe weather-related phenomena are also impacting these assets in ways that are outside the original design parameters. These evolving climatic conditions are changing the cyclic wetting and drying of dam embankments, requiring heightened surveillance and adaptive operational strategies. Pro-longed droughts are identified as potential triggers for embankment movement and cracking, necessitating enhanced monitoring and operational adjustments.
At the other end of the spectrum, extreme rainfall events are impacting not only dam and reser-voir structures but also auxiliary equipment and infrastructure such as electrical switchboards and access roads. Additionally, events like large bushfires, storms and high temperatures in wa-ter catchments can compromise water quality in reservoirs. Fish deaths in rivers and reservoirs are being observed at relatively higher frequencies than before. Prolonged occurrences of algae in reservoirs, particularly Blue Green Algae, are reported persisting well into cooler months, with escalating ecological challenges.
This paper explores the implications of climate change, emphasizing its influence on the opera-tion, maintenance and upgrades to existing dams, and future dams to identify and manage cur-rent and future risks.
The paper is based on observations spanning two decades in the State of Victoria, Australia. The State has experienced severe bushfires, major flooding and extended periods of drought over this period, and this trend is expected to continue. Much investigation and studies are being un-dertaken on how best to adapt and plan for such conditions. The paper focusses on adaptive measures essential for dam operators in areas such as flood operations, dam inspections and surveillance programs, operation and maintenance activity and emergency management proce-dures and processes. It also provides insights into the significance of workforce development in-cluding training and capacity building to prepare organizations for challenges posed by climate change.
While recognizing the region-specific nature of these impacts, the lessons can be extrapolated to shed light on potential challenges faced by operators of dams and reservoirs globally.
