Sediment management
The challenge
Over the lifetime of a hydropower dam, sediment will be trapped behind the infrastructure and deposited in the reservoir.
Dams are traditionally designed to provide enough reservoir storage to offset at least 50 to 100 years of sedimentation, which is caused by natural erosion and activities such as construction, deforestation and agriculture.
As the reservoir accumulates sediment, its storage capacity will decrease. Sedimentation also causes operational and maintenance challenges, resulting in the obstruction of water intake, the abrasion of mechanical equipment, and reductions in power supply.
Downstream environmental impacts can include increased erosion, reduction in nutrient deposits inland and retreat of deltas. Changes in sedimentation due to climate change can also compromise the performance of a facility.
Effective sediment management is essential for ensuring storage capacity for water and renewable energy supply, and for protecting the health of the ecosystems that a river system supports.
Our strategy and action
IHA is building awareness and disseminating knowledge on successful sediment management strategies.
Working in close collaboration with a group of industry experts and partner organisations, we are identifying and sharing good practices on managing sediment in a variety of geographies and environments.
In December 2016, we partnered with the World Bank on a project to study and document strategies and case studies across the world. These resources are now available on a new Hydropower Sediment Management Knowledge Hub.
In our engagement with IHA members, emphasis is always given to the adoption of sustainable practices: both at the initial stages of hydropower development and throughout the operation of a project.
Throughout 2018, we will continue to provide a platform for the sharing of strategies and resources to minimise the impacts of sedimentation and extend the life of hydropower facilities and reservoirs.
Recent activities
In January 2017, we began work on a project funded by the South Asia Water Initiative - a partnership between the World Bank and the governments of UK, Australia and Norway - to document sediment management strategies and case studies around the world.
In May 2017, at the World Hydropower Congress, we convened a workshop of members and stakeholders to discuss success stories and lessons learned in sediment management. In two other events, initiatives to reduce upstream erosion were introduced. They included cloud-forest conservation mechanisms and watershed management in the Ethiopian highlands.
In September 2017, a beta version of the Hydropower Sediment Management Knowledge Hub was made accessible online and later, in November, was showcased at a hydropower sector conference in Medellin, Colombia.
In December 2017, the Hydropower Sediment Management Knowledge Hub was launched with 18 case studies from 15 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Central and South America and the Pacific. Downloadable resources include the RESCON2 tool to help developers and operators choose an appropriate sediment management strategy.
Join the network
IHA’s Sediment Management Knowledge Network supports members to learn and exchange experiences on sediment management.
If you are an IHA member, you can join the Sediment Management Knowledge Network.
Contact us
For any questions, please contact IHA senior analyst María Ubierna at maria.ubierna@hydropower.org
Latest associated content
-
Hydropower stakeholders come together to build knowledge and address challenges for hydropower
Over 500 participants from 60 countries convened this week in Malaysia at the IHA 2013 World Congress on advancing sustainable hydropower.
Type:News postDate:24 May 2013 -
IHA 2013 Hydropower Report: now available
The new IHA 2013 Hydropower Report is now available for download.
Type:News postDate:5 April 2013