A comparison of past small dam removals in highly sediment-impacted systems in the U.S.

The ability to predict the effects of dam removal in highly sediment-filled systems is increasingly important as the number of such dam removal cases continues to grow. The cost and potential impacts of dam removal are site-specific and can vary substantially depending on local conditions. Of specific concern in sediment-impacted removals is the volume and rate of reservoir deposit erosion. The complexity and potential accuracy of modeling methods used to forecast the effects of such dam removals vary substantially. Current methods range from predictions based on simple analysis of pre-dam channel geometry to sophisticated data-intensive, three-dimensional numerical models. In the work presented here, we utilize data collected from past dam removals to develop an additional tool for predicting the rate and volume of sediment deposit erosion. Through the analysis of sediment, discharge, deposit, removal timeline, channel, and watershed data, in conjunction with post-removal monitoring data from a wide range of dam removal projects, some significant trends in the evolution of reservoir deposits following dam removal can be seen. Results indicate that parameters such as median grain size, level of cohesion, spatial variability of the deposit, and removal timeline are among the most influential factors in determining the rate and volume of sediment erosion. By comparing local conditions of dams and reservoirs slated for removal with those of past removals, we hope that predictions of the rate and volume of sediment deposit erosion can be usefully constrained. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.