Authors: Dr. Meenakshi Iyer, Rahul Dandekar
Abstract: Reservoirs are vital infrastructures in water resource systems, supporting irrigation, hydropower, flood control, and drinking water supply. However, sediment accumulation significantly hampers their storage capacity and operational efficiency over time. This paper investigates comprehensive strategies for reservoir operation and sediment management. It explores sedimentation processes, quantifies its impacts, and reviews techniques such as drawdown flushing, sluicing, bypassing, dredging, and watershed management. Emphasis is also placed on integrating adaptive operation rules, real-time monitoring, and sediment routing models. The analysis highlights case studies and innovations enhancing sediment control while maximizing reservoir utility. The study concludes with policy and design recommendations for sustainable sediment management in existing and new reservoirs.
Keywords: Reservoir Operation, Sediment Management, Sluicing, Flushing, Dredging, Watershed Management, Storage Loss
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