A Research Overview of the Siltation Loss Controls and Capacity Recovery Processes in China’S Reservoirs
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MATEC Web of Conferences 246, 01086 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201824601086 ISWSO 2018 A Research Overview of the Siltation Loss Controls and Capacity Recovery Processes in China’s Reservoirs H H Hu, A J Deng, J G Chen, H L Shi and M Ye China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, China Abstract. There are many reservoirs in China with serious siltation issues which are affecting the function and safety of the reservoirs. Recently, research studies have been carried out regarding siltation loss control and capacity recovery technology due to the decreases in suitable dam sites for establishing reservoirs, and the increasingly serious siltation losses which have been occurring in the present reservoirs. The results of these studies have been of great significance to the partial recoveries of the siltation capacities of reservoirs, improvements in the respective efficiencies of the current reservoirs, and the prolonging of the service life the reservoirs. This study presented a simple review of the previous research findings regarding the current siltation loss situations and controls, as well as the capacity recoveries which have been achieved. Also, this study proposed the urgent need for in-depth examinations to be conducted pertaining to the national investigations of the reservoir siltation status in China, as well as a review of the current mechanisms and control measures for reservoir siltation losses. 1 Introduction At the present time, millions of different dams have been built around the world, which include 50,000 large dams, China has the largest number of reservoirs among all forming a global reservoir capacity of approximately 7 countries of the world. There are a total of 98,002 billion m3 [1]. These reservoirs have many functions, such reservoirs in China, with a total capacity of 932.3 billion as providing flood control, water supply sources and m3. This is equivalent to one fifth of the country's total power generation sources. The reservoirs also have river runoff. China’s reservoirs play important roles in irrigation and shipping functions. All of these functions providing clean energy, maintaining regional ecological have created significant benefits for social development. balance, ensuring an adequate water supply, and However, at the current time, siltation deposition in mitigating flood situations. However, China is also the reservoirs is a worldwide problem due to the siltation country with the most serious reservoir siltation issues. transport accompanied by the flow movements in rivers. The average annual siltation rate of China’s reservoirs is The average service life of a reservoir is approximately 2.3%, and the annual siltation loss capacity is equivalent 22 years, which is far less than the service life of the to a super-large reservoir of 10 billion m3. In recent body of a large dam (at least 100 years). In regard to the years, the reductions in China’s reservoir functionality, construction processes of dams in other countries, the safety and comprehensive benefits have become a annual siltation transport capacity of the Nile River bottleneck which has restricted economic and social before the Aswan Dam was built was approximately 100 development. Therefore, it is necessary to control the to 124 x 106 tons. However, now the annual siltation siltation of the country’s valuable reservoirs, as well as transport capacity has been determined to be only 10% to maintain the reservoir storage capacities and actively of the previous rate, which indicates that the siltation implement rescue measures for the siltation of China’s deposition of reservoirs is very significant. Since the reservoirs. It has become a priority to conduct partial establishment of the Ribarroja-Mequinenza reservoir hub siltation cleaning in the reservoirs and recover the on the Ebro River, 96% of the siltation from the storage capacities of the reservoirs in order to prolong upstream has been detained, which has not only led to their service life. Also, various functions which will the erosion and undercut of the downstream riverbed, but improve and promote the sustainable use of the has resulted in the ceasing of delta silting at the mouth of reservoirs should continue to be introduced. river, which effectively further extended the erosion situation. The annual siltation discharge of the Colorado River in the United States was previously L50 × 106 tons. 2 Comparison the siltation situation in However, due to water diversion from the river basins China and the current global siltation and reservoir construction processes, the siltation which issues enters into the sea has been greatly reduced. These findings have further highlighted that the siltation a Corresponding author: H H Hu, [email protected] © The Authors, published by EDP Sciences. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). MATEC Web of Conferences 246, 01086 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201824601086 ISWSO 2018 situations in global reservoirs have become relatively even reached more than 30%. In 2012, the Ministry of obvious. In additional, similar phenomena have occurred Water Resources conducted investigations and analyses in the Danube (France) [2]; Rhone (Europe) [3]; Don of the reservoir siltation in four typical provinces: Shanxi, (Russia) [4]; Niger (Africa) [5]; and Skokomish (United Shaanxi, Guizhou and Jiangxi. The total reservoir States) [6] Rivers, as well as China's Luan, Yangtze, capacity and siltation rate of Shanxi Province were Yellow, and Huaihe Rivers. The affected reservoirs determined to be 4.765 billion m3 and 34%, respectively. throughout the world have reduced the safety of dams The total reservoir capacity and siltation rate of Shaanxi with rates of 0.5% to 1% siltation of their storage Province were determined to be 4.043 billion m3 and capacities[7]. The development of the functions and 34%, respectively. It was found that the total reservoir comprehensive efficiencies of the reservoirs have also capacity and siltation capacity of Jiangxi Province were been weakened. However, the annual siltation rate of the 2.955 billion m3 and 893 million m3, respectively. reservoirs in China has been determined to be 2.3%, However, the siltation rate was observed to be only 3%. which is far greater than the capacity loss rates observed The total reservoir capacity and siltation capacity of in the global reservoirs. Therefore, for the majority of Guizhou Province were 2.540 billion m3 and 110 million the reservoirs in China, their normal service life roles are m3, respectively. However, the siltation rate was being determined by the siltation deposition of the observed to be only 4.3%. Although the siltation rates in reservoirs, and not the service life of the dams. the provinces of Guizhou and Jiangxi were not found to Table 1. Regional distributions of the global capacities and be high, and the overall siltation rates were not large, the siltation reservoirs (dams). siltation degrees were observed to be different, and Storage Annual average silting siltation problems still existed in many of the reservoirs. Area capacity loss rate of storage 3 According to the statistical data, 6,376 reservoirs in (km ) capacity(%) Jiangxi Province displayed siltation problems, and 979 World 6,325 0.5-1 reservoirs in Guizhou Province displayed siltation problems. Some of these reservoirs were found to have Europe 1,083 0.17-0.2 serious siltation issues. For example, the siltation rates of the Tangbei Reservoir in Jiangxi Province, and the New North America 1,845 0.2 Bridge Reservoir in Guizhou Province were determined Central and to be 58.9% and 80.0%, respectively. Generally speaking, 1,039 0.1 South America the differences in the reservoir siltation rates of the North Africa 188 0.08-1.5 different river basins were obvious. The siltation of the Yellow River Basin located in the provinces of Shanxi South Africa 575 0.23 and Shaanxi was observed to be relatively serious. Meanwhile, the degree of siltation in the reservoirs of Middle East 224 1.5 Jiangxi and Guizhou Provinces were found to be much Asia (except lower. 861 0.3-1.0 China)) China 510 2.3 3.2 Reservoir siltation prevention methods and effects 3 Research progress in the functional The characteristics of reservoir, conditions of basins and other factors determine the pattern and distribution of recovery of silted reservoirs siltation. However, these factors also determine the control methods which are put in place for reservoir 3.1. Current status of reservoir siltation in China siltation. Cao Huiqun [8] compiled detailed statistics regarding siltation reduction methods and their effects in According to the statistical data, the annual silt 26 reservoirs in China and proposed some siltation transportation of the seven major rivers in China is as reduction methods for reservoirs. These included high as 2.3 billion tons. It has been observed that, even methods for reducing the amounts of silt entering into though the Yangtze River has a silt concentration of only reservoirs; discharging and flushing methods to remove 0.54 kg/m3, the annual silt volume is approximately 500 silt deposits in reservoirs; mechanical dredging methods, million tons due to the large amount of water. After a and so on. reservoir is built on a river, the water level will go up, The methods of reducing the amounts of silt entering and the flow velocity will tend to decrease. Therefore, as into reservoirs was found to be mainly suitable for the the siltation force decreases, the siltation deposits in the Yellow River, as well as other areas with serious water reservoir will increase. and soil losses. Soil erosion is the main mode of silt At the present time, the basic data and characteristic production, as well as the main cause of reservoir information of the reservoir siltation status in China has siltation in the aforementioned basins.