Suspended sediment transport modelling and integrative research during maintenance work at the Gepatsch reservoir
Abstract
The sedimentation and the sediment management of hydropower reservoirs is one of the big global issues concerning future hydropower use. Exemplarily for Asia a reduction of 80 % of the potential storage volume is predicted by 2035. For Europe those thresholds in sedimentation are predicted by 2080. Consequences of those sedimentations are beside a reduction of the storage volume and the related restriction in hydropower production, effects on downstream aquatic ecology related to artificial downstream flushing of deposited fines. Impacts on aquatic ecology, however, are manifold. Consequences might be given due to changes in morphology and sediment quality with possible clogging of the gravel matrix and an increase of stress due to an increased turbidity. The presented case study is dealing with a lowering of the water surface level of the reservoir Gepatsch (Tyrol) beyond the operational level. Thus, an increased erosion of fines might be expected. Based on the awareness of possible negative ecological consequences a complex set of measures and an integrative monitoring design has been developed. Monitoring is based on detailed event based sampling of the reservoir by drones for quantification of eroded sediments. Moreover, high resolution turbidity data are available for the entire Inn river based on nine monitoring stations. In addition freeze-core samples are taken before and after the lowering of the reservoir volume, in combination with cocooning of brown trout during the spawning period. Based on the detailed monitoring recommendation for future sediment management for alpine reservoirs will be achieved.
keywords suspended sediment transport monitoring reservoir management Spawning habitats clogging macroinvertebrates
Publikationen
Project staff
Christoph Hauer
Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Christoph Hauer
christoph.hauer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81912
Project Leader
11.01.2017 - 31.12.2018
Project Leader
19.11.2015 - 01.06.2016
Michael Tritthart
Assoc. Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Michael Tritthart
michael.tritthart@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81910
Project Leader
02.06.2016 - 10.01.2017
Helmut Habersack
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Dr.h.c. Helmut Habersack
helmut.habersack@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81901, 81911
Sub Projectleader
01.09.2015 - 31.12.2018
Marlene Haimann
Dipl.-Ing. Marlene Haimann
marlene.haimann@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81936
Project Staff
01.09.2015 - 31.12.2018
Patrick Holzapfel
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Patrick Holzapfel
patrick.holzapfel@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81918
Project Staff
01.09.2015 - 31.12.2018
BOKU partners
External partners
UWITEC
Richard Niederreiter
partner