Skip to main content
Log in

Reservoir Regulation for Control of an Ancient Landslide Reactivated by Water Level Fluctuations in Heishui River, China

  • Published:
Journal of Earth Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Due to the complex geological processes of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, numerous deposits, especially the large-scale ancient landslide deposits, are characteristic features of the valleys incised in southwestern China. Intense water level fluctuations since 2011 in Maoergai Reservoir, China, registered the reactivation of Xierguazi ancient landslide, and presented a significant risk to neighboring facilities. Based on detailed field survey and drilling exploration, the landslide was divided into Zone A and Zone B, and other characterizations of landslide were studied as well. To precisely measure the extent of landslide displacement during filling and drawdown stage, surface displacement monitoring system was deployed on the landslide. The monitoring analyses data reveal that reservoir fluctuation is the dominant factor influencing landslide displacement, especially during drawdown stage. Moreover, a future sliding is anticipated in Zone A, while a creep had already existed in Zone B. A reservoir regulation was then established using the lead-lag correlation between reservoir fluctuation and landslide displacement and landslide stability analysis. In the end, the follow-up deformation monitoring demonstrates that the reservoir regulation controlled the landslide effectively. Landslide control by reservoir regulation in Maoergai can serve as a case study for other settlements involved in similar construction activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References Cited

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41807292) and the Opening Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection (Chengdu University of Technology) (Nos. SKLGP2017K001, SKLGP2018K003). Thanks to go to the PowerChina Chengdu Engineering Corporation Limited for providing monitoring data. Thanks also go to the reviewers and the editors for their useful suggestions. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1341-7.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mo Xu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guo, J., Xu, M., Zhang, Q. et al. Reservoir Regulation for Control of an Ancient Landslide Reactivated by Water Level Fluctuations in Heishui River, China. J. Earth Sci. 31, 1058–1067 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1341-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1341-7

Key Words

Navigation