Sediment management decision making of the Sanmenxia reservoir based on RESCON model

Abstract

In order to determine whether the existing in water resources system sustainable management solution, we need to develop a tool to provide reasonable and reliable information to decision makers. RESCON project's goal is to use data for reservoir and dam, to provide a toolkit in policy formulation used in decision making. At the same time, it also prompt policymakers stand at the national level to recognize the importance of reservoir protection. Sediment transport rate is an important parameter, which determines the amount of sediment flushed of the reservoir. So its calculating formula based on RESCON Model is revised and validated that it can be used to evaluate sediment management using the data of the Sanmenxia Reservoir in 2003. Among all the five-sediment management solutions RESCON model recommends that, the Flushing is with the highest economic benefit. Also, Flushing as the current sediment management strategy of the Sanmenxia reservoir shows that it is reasonable and effective. Among 15 Flushing solutions, the best one is that while the water level is at 290 m, flushing discharge rate is 1188 m 3 /s, dredging every two years with a flushing period of 67 days each time and long-term reservoir storage volume is 16.05 billion m 3 below 323 m water level.