ABSTRACT

Rivers in the north-western region of China have a high sediment content, and the construction of reservoirs on these rivers must address the problem of sedimentation that results in a loss of reservoir capacity. In this study, the YZD (Yazidang) reservoir was considered as a typical case, to address the problem of sedimentation in injection-type water supply reservoirs in Northwest China. The temporal and spatial characteristics of the sediment in this water diversion project were analyzed based on available 46-year water and sediment data. The concept of ‘sediment avoidance diversion’ was proposed, which reduces the entry of sediment into the reservoir. A one-dimensional numerical model for water-sediment coupling was established, and the characteristics of water-sediment erosion and deposition for different operational modes were analyzed. The results show that during a period of high sediment content, large-scale siltation occurs in a water diversion channel. To alleviate sediment deposition in a diversion channel, two control strategies for mitigating siltation were formulated. Considering the pros and cons of these control strategies, a reasonable water-sediment joint operation plan has been proposed to extend the service life of the YZD reservoir. This research provides a theoretical basis for sedimentation treatment and control of similar reservoirs.