The Connection between a Suspended Sediments and Reservoir Siltation: Empirical Analysis in the Maziarnia Reservoir, Poland

Abstract

This paper presents research on the influence of suspended sediments on selected aspects of a reservoir’s functioning. As the amount of sediment suspended in water (SS) there was found to correlate significantly with sedimentation rate (Us), it was possible to develop a function allowing the rate of accumulation of sediments to be predicted by reference to known amounts of suspended sediment. The latter factor was also shown to correlate significantly with the content of organic matter in suspension (OMSS), in sediment captured in a sediment trap (OMS), and of bottom sediment (OMSB). Analysis of amounts of suspended sediment can provide for estimates of total loads of organic pollutants deposited in the sediments of a reservoir. A further significant correlation with SS was noted for the concentration of total phosphorus in water (TPW), confirming the importance of internal production where the circulation of this biogenic substance in a reservoir ecosystem is concerned. Analysis of stable carbon isotopes in turn showed that entrapped sediments were depleted of—or enriched in—13C, in line with whether concentrations of total P in those sediments (TPS) were at their highest or lowest levels. This dependent relationship may thus be of key importance in assessing sources of phosphorus, as well as in forecasting concentrations present in reservoir sediments. The results obtained make it clear that sediments suspended in the water of a reservoir unify phenomena and processes ongoing there, between elements of the water-sediment system.

Journal of Water and Land Development

“…A characteristic feature of dammed reservoirs is their ability to permanently retain and deposit (accumulate) trailing and uplifted debris [BĄK et al 2011]. As a result of this natural process, a significantly smaller load of suspended matter is usually transported to the dam zone (matter depletion phenomenon) [CIEŚLA et al 2020b]. Sites located on rivers upstream of the reservoirs (BL-R, M-R and N-R) were characterised by similar SS concentrations (no statistically significant differences were found between suspended sediment concentrations in the waters of the studied rivers).…”