A method for estimating stored sediment volumes by check dam systems at the watershed level: example of an application in a Mediterranean environment

Abstract

Purpose In this paper a quick, easy and accessible methodology to estimate the sediment volume trapped behind a fully filled check dam system is proposed. As it is well known, check dams play an important role in the sediment balance between watershed and coastline. However, on a large scale, especially in those contexts where a great number of structures was installed, detailed surveys and measurements of sediment storage capacity would be extremely time-consuming and costly in terms of both economic efforts and human resources. Methods To this aim, the proposed method considers only four easy-to-obtain morphometric parameters to combine with the number of check dams. The method was calibrated on a sample of 912 check dams located in seven long-term studied watersheds and, therefore, validated in a sample of three regulated Spanish catchments with an independent dataset. Results At watershed level, the comparison between the calculated and estimated values showed a good capability of the method in evaluating the sediment volume trapped by the 912 studied check dams (RMSE ≈ 16,900 m3; R2 > 0.9). The validation revealed encouraging results with estimation errors below 25%. Conclusion The use of this accessible and easily usable method could represent a supporting tool for planning, monitoring and assessment of the environmental effects of control works. Moreover, these results are useful to carry out actions aimed to mitigate natural hazard and environmental as well as socio-economic problems of the watershed-coast system (e.g. shoreline retreat and morphological instability of the urban and tourist areas).

Evolution of Sedimentation in a Headrace Canal for Hydroelectric Production Case of the Shongo Basin of the Inga Complex from February 2020 to May 2021 (Kongo Central Province/DR Congo)

“…According to (Mekonnen et al, 2022;Ilçi et al, 2017) can be implemented, e.g. the Prism method used in Italy to determine the maximum potential volume of sediment stored in 912 check dams by combining the geometric characteristics of the reservoirs, silted structures and the sediment basin of seven catchments (Bombino et al, 2022). This work uses the bathymetric hydrographic method to quantify sediment deposition in the Shongo Basin.…”

Evaluation of reservoir sedimentation using bathymetry survey: a case study on Adebra night storage reservoir, Ethiopia

“…It was not possible to obtain undisturbed samples from some center parts of the reservoir because lack of the necessary equipment. Soil sample were taken up to a maximum of 70 cm depth (Bombino et al 2022;Rahmani et al 2018;Sang et al 2016), but for this study would be taken maximum 15 cm depth to determine dry density in laboratory, because subsurface layers are not more compacted and have more organic matter, high aggregation and root. On the 10, 11, and 12 February 2020, a sample was taken during reservoir drawdown conditions or when reservoir elevation reaches a minimum level between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. for three consecutive days.…”

“…Another method for evaluating sediment yield is to measure the thickness of reservoir sediment deposits using sediment pits (Hassan et al 2017;Maina et al 2018). Because measurements of sediment deposits do not include generalized statistical models of sediment erosion and transport, reservoir sedimentation survey methods are more useful and representative than the other approaches (Bombino et al 2022;Issa 2015). A bathymetry survey is a more exact indirect approach to evaluating the volume deposited and its pattern in reservoirs than a geophysical survey (Maina et al 2018;Zarris and Lykoudi 2017).…”