Dam break analysis using Hec-Ras techniques. Case study: Cal Alb dam (NE Romania)

Abstract

Along with the understanding of the importance of a water resource in the vicinity of a human settlement, human societies have begun to build weirs, dams or hydraulic structures to use more efficiently the natural resource. One of the most important works that can be done in the course of a river is the construction of dams for the formation of storage areas. The importance of storage areas is given by their extensive use, whether used for flood defense, pisciculture, water supply or recreation. The Cal Alb lake is located in the Başeu river basin, which is further located on the territory of Botoșani county. Botoșani county is statistically mentioned as the second county in Romania with the largest surface of water. Cal Alb lake has an area of 180 ha and a retention volume of 16.3 million m3. Immediately downstream of the Cal Alb lake are built 20 polders and 4 ponds, but with a much lower retention volume. The present study aims to model flood caused by the failure of the dam of Cal Alb lake and its impact both on the elements of retention of the downstream storage areas and on the localities in the surrounding area.