lq12 lop BHOLA II IRRIGATION PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY HYDROLOGY Report to Coode Blizzard Ltd/ Asian Development Bank This report is an official document prepared under contract between Coode Blizzard Ltd and the Natural Environment Research Council. It should not be quoted without permission of both the Institute of Hydrology and Coode Blizzard lid Institute of Hydrogy Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford Oxfordshire OXIO 8BB UK Tel: 0491 38800 Fax: 0491 32256 Telex: 849365 Hydro! G May 1991 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Executive Summary The hydrological aspects of the project were divided into three areas: assessing irrigation water salinity; estimation of flood risk from drainage congestionand high tides; and calculation of crop water requirements. • • A. ASSESSMENT OF IRRIGATION WATER SALINITY A I . The preferred source of irrigation water for the Bhola PhaseII project is the Mayar Don khal which, at present, is open to the Tetulia channel which has freshwater for most of the year but episodes of high salinity have been recorded. A2. As the tide rises saline water is transported landward. When freshwater velocities are low, normally from February through April. the tidal currents are sufficiently strong to carry saline water with an electrical conductivity of 5000 microsiemens (3000 ppm) north of Bhola island. A3. Previous work undertaken to assess the probability of given levels of salinity was based on annual maximum salinity levels plotted against the mean March discharge from the Ganges and Brahmaputta combined. However, in 1990 the mean March flow was 7079 m'S', but the salinity level reached 2060 mS at Mayar Don, when only 1100mS would he predicted. Recalculationusing the 1990 data suggested that salinity would exceed 1000 mS in 4 years out of 5 at Mayar Don. A4. In April 1991 EC levels in the Mayar Don area reached 5640 mS. Unfortunately, discharge data were not readily available to indicate whether this could be attributable to an unusually low freshwater dischargeearlier that year. A5. The two main factors influencing salinity levels are freshwater discharge and tide levels, but no simple relationship between these variables was found. However, the number of days salinity levels remain above critical values, given the peak, was found to be consistent between events. Thus the entire shape of the salinograph could he constructed by reference to the peak salinity level alone. • A6. Analysis of flows from the River Ganges were based on the period 1975-1989 (ie after construction of the Farraka Barrage). The level of compensation flow from the Barrage had not been agreed between the Bangladesh and Indian governments, but flows might be reduced in future. • A7. Deposition of sediment in the Meghna delta has led to a constantlychanging pattern of sand bars and islands, which affects the distribution of freshwater flows and tidal movements and hence salinity levels. Implementationof land reclamation projects, linking islands and sand bars to Bhola island would change salinity levels in the Tetulia channel further. • • • A8. Since simple empirical relationships have failed to provide adequate models for predicting salinity levels, a physically based modelling approach may he necessary, such as that being constructed by the Master Plan Organisation in collaboration with the Danish Hydraulics Institute, A9. It was recommended that further measurements of salinity levels at various location within the Tetulia channel should be made, with a sampling frequency of at least twice daily (at high and low tide) by conductivity meter. • B. ASSESSMENT OF FLOODING Bl. There are four main sources of flooding: (i) storm and tidal surges; 00 high tides; (iii) excess rainfall; and (iv) overflow from the mainland rivers. Potential flooding from sources (i), (ii) and (iii) were considered as Bhola island is not affected by flooding of the mainland rivers. B2. The island of Bhola is almost totally surrounded by an earthen embankment of around 6 - 7 m in height, with the exception of a number of khal openings including the Mayar Don khal. Whilst providing a barrier against flooding from the outside, during periods of heavy rainfall the embankment causes drainage congestion and flooding. B3. The 1990 Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh lists 60 cyclones which have occurred since 1797. Thus one has occurred, on average, once every 3 to 3.5 years. Twelve of the 60 appear to have affected the Bhola area, thus a surge tide of perhaps 3-10 metres will affect Bhola about once every 15 years. B4. Normal high water levels were analysed using 16 years of data from Dasmonia. Higher levels are experienced during the summer months when the tides are elevated by high river discharges. There is only a small range in tide height with the 50 year return period maximum being only 0.5 metres greater than the average and only the areas immediately around the khal openings would be subject to flooding. B5. Sluice gates have been provided to allow excess water on the landward side to drain through the embankment. The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) has produce standard procedures to size the structures, which require design rainfalls of 1 to 10 days duration with a return period of 10 years. • B6. Extreme value distributions were fitted separately to annual maximum daily rainfalls from the four rainfall stations on Bhola. The resulting standardised frequency curves did not vary by more than which might be expected due to sampling variability. Hence they were combined to form a regional rainfall frequency relationship applicable to all sites within on Bhola. • • • C. CROP WATER REQUIREMENTS • CI . Monthly average values of ETo were evaluated usingdata from the meteorologicalstationat Bhola and were found to rangefrom2.73mm day-1 in Decemberto 5.19 in April. C2. MO recommendedkcvalueswere usedto assessthewaterrequirementfor each crop likely to he grown in the project area. The total farm water requirementwas evaluatedfor each crop in I s1, separatelyfor each half month. As anexamplethe maximumtotalrequirementtogrowboro/ausrice 4111 was 11166 I s' (in the secondtwo weeks of April and first two weeks of May) or approximatelyoneI 51 for eachhectare. • C3. Analysisof the monthlyrainfall data was undertakento definean 'average' and a 'dry' year. It was concludedthat, for return periodsup to 5 years, estimatesfrom individual rain gauge sites could be used But for return periodsof 10yearsor greater,regionalanalysisof rainfall datawasrequired. •• ••••••••••••• 0••••••••••••••••• Contents A. ASSESSMENT OF IRRIGATION WATER SALINITY A 1. Background Introduction Salinity surveys Time series data AS. Hydraulics Research 1981 report AG. Further work for Bhola Phase I Recent studies Hydraulics Research 1991 report Salinity measurements made in the Mayar Don khal A9. MPO 1987 report MPO's salinity model of the delta A 11. Future changes in freshwater flow regime Al2. Channel pattern changes Summary Recommendations B. ASSESSMENT OF FLOODING 131. Background Flood embankment Storm and tidal surges High water levels in the delta area 135. Excess rainfall B6. Summary and conclusions C. ASSESSMENT OF CROP WATER REQUIREMENTS C I . Background C2, Introduction 0. Calculation of the reference evapotranspiration rate Calculation of the evapotranspiration rate for individual crops Crop water requirements Irrigation requirements Rainfall data analysis Summary and conclusions Annex I Rainfall stations Annex 2 Meteorological station • • • A. Assessmentof irrigationwater salinity • • AI. BACKGROUND The FAO report on Water Quality for Agriculture (1976) indicated that water with an electrical conductivity (EC) of 750 micro-siemens (mS) - equivalent to a salinity level of 450 ppm - provides an upper limit for the salinity of irrigation water for rice paddies. The Leedshill-Deleuw report (1968) suggests that supplementary irrigation water with an EC up to 2000 mS (1200 ppm) will only slightly reduce crop yields and that rice can tolerate short duration applications of water up to 6000 mS. • The preferred source of irrigation water for the Bhola Phase 11 project is the Mayar Don khal which, at present, is open to the Tetulia channel which bas freshwater for most of the year but episodes of high salinity have been recorded. This report • provides Mr an assessment of the potential salinity of water sources for irrigation. • A2. INTRODUCTION All the rivers in Bangladesh, apart from those in the south east around Chittagong, flow into a single large estuary (Figure A2.1). The influence ofthe tidal cycles reaches up the estuary far into interior of the country. As the tide rises saline water is transported landward. The limit of saline intrusion depends upon the relative magnitudes of the tide and of freshwater flowing seaward. When freshwater velocities are low, normally from February through April, the tidal currents are sufficiently strong to carry saline water along the Shahabazpur channel north of Bhola island. Figure A2.2 shows for Ilishaghat. However, at the end of March 1979 the EC of the water at Ilishaghat was recorded as 5000 mS (3000 ppm). Along the east coast of the island the salinity frequently reaches 18,000 mS. Salinity levels in Tetulia channel have generally been found to be much lower and rarely exceed 3000 mS. • • A3. SALINITY SURVEYS • The Master Plan Organisation's (MPO) Land Reclamation Project (LRP) was involved in salinity data collection in the Bay of Bengal including the Shahabazpur and Tetulia channels. However, water samples