(Proceedings, INDIA HYDRO 2005, 19–21 February 2005, New Delhi, pp. 10–21).
By mid-21st century, over 30% of the world's reservoir capacity will have been lost to sedimentation. In India, on the order of 20% of large reservoirs will have lost 50% of their capacity during the first quarter of the 21st century. Traditional sediment management techniques focused on preventive measures: provision of large reservoir storage volume and reduction in sediment inputs by erosion control activities within the watershed. However, as reservoirs accumulate sediment additional measures are starting to be used to balance sediment inflows and outflows across the impoundment. Techniques briefly described herein include sediment bypass, sediment pass-through, and sediment removal by flushing or dredging. Although these strategies may not be attractive at many reservoirs today due to their large capacities, such techniques will become more attractive as their volume is reduced by sedimentation. The world's current inventory of reservoir capacity is an irreplaceable resource, and it is being gradually consumed by sedimentation. Through sediment management this process may be substantially retarded, or even halted or reversed at certain sites.
A national sedimentation inventory is needed to identify sites for immediate action and to direct investigation and remedial actions in the most productive manner.
Reservoir capacity, Sedimentation, Sediment management techniques, Preventive measures, Watershed
