HydroVision International 2015

Session 4G: Sediment Impacts on Project Operations and Aquatic Habitat - Options, Methods and Tools (Room B116)

16 Jul 15
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Tracks: Track G: Water Resources

Speaker(s): Tetsuya Sumi, Professor, Kyoto University; R. Hotchkiss, Professor, Brigham Young University; Gregory Morris, President, Gregory L. Morris Engineering; Violeta Martin, Specialist Hydrotechnical Engineer, Knight Piesold Ltd.

Moderator(s): George Annandale, Principal, George W. Annandale, Inc.;

Sediment impacts hydropower projects in various ways. For run-of-river projects one of the major concerns is abrasion of turbines, while at storage projects reservoir sedimentation diminishes storage volumes and reduces the reliability of power supply. Reservoir sedimentation also has impacts up- and downstream of dams and reservoirs. On the downstream side, river degradation occurs that may impact aquatic habitat and thereby cause environmental and social harm. On the upstream end of reservoirs, sedimentation can lead to increased flooding potential. Panelists will use case studies to demonstrate effective solutions to many of these problems. Issues that will be discussed include intake design to minimize the impact of sediment on hydro machinery and reservoir sedimentation management techniques that can be used to minimize the impact of sediment deposition and storage loss.