Estimating the uncertainty in simulating the impacts of small farm dams on streamflow regimes in South Africa

Abstract

Small dams represent an important local-scale resource designed to increase water supply reliability in many parts of the world where hydrological variability is high. There is evidence that the number of farm dams has increased substantially over the last few decades. These developments can have a substantial impact on downstream flow volumes and patterns, water use and ecological functioning. The study reports on the application of a hydrological modelling approach to investigate the uncertainty associated with simulating the impacts of farm dams in several South African catchments. The focus of the study is on sensitivity analysis and the limitations of the data that would be typically available for water resources assessments. The uncertainty mainly arises from the methods and information that are available to estimate the dam properties and the water use from the dams. The impacts are not only related to the number and size of dams, but also the extent to which they are used for water supply as well as the nature of the climate and the natural hydrological regimes. The biggest source of uncertainty in South Africa appears to be associated with a lack of reliable information on volumes and patterns of water abstraction from the dams.

Citation Hughes, D. A. & Mantel, S. K. (2010) Estimating the uncertainty in simulating the impacts of small farm dams on streamflow regimes in South Africa. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(4), 578–592.     

The geographic distribution of small dams in Oregon using ecoregion and landform classification

Abstract

Small dams fragment river landscapes, disrupting channel connectivity and impacting water quality and quantity. Although they impound volumetrically less total water than large dams, the ubiquity of small dams suggests their cumulative impacts could be significant. Documenting the distribution and characteristics of small dams is necessary to understanding and mitigating their impacts. In this study, we compare datasets of small dams in Oregon, compile a new comprehensive dataset, and document geographic variations in small dam distributions between different ecoregions. We used Oregon Water Resources Department dam and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fish passage barrier datasets to compare dam heights and contributing drainage areas between different ecoregions. Over 61% of Oregon’s land area is above one or more small dam. We highlight the location of Oregon’s small dams at valley margins, transition zones between flat plains and mountains, and areas of high population density. Given the hidden nature of small dams, evaluation of small dam impacts using public imagery is not effective. However, knowledge of small dam distributions given their association with landforms can aid in finding unrecorded dams, assessing approaches for evaluating their geomorphic impacts, and informing their management.     

大坝帷幕防渗能力研究

研究如何提高灌浆帷幕的防渗能力,对保证大坝的安全具有重要的意义,本文通过总结影响水泥灌浆帷幕防渗能力的因素,分析水泥灌浆帷幕防渗能力衰减的原因,结合国内帷幕灌浆的现状,提出了提高水泥灌浆帷幕防渗能力的措施。     

Characteristics and factors that influenced damage to dams in the M s 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake

Based on raw data from dams damaged in the Wenchuan earthquake, including many that were severely damaged, characteristics and factors that influenced the damage are discussed in this paper. Findings from this study include: severely damaged dams were densely distributed along the seismologic fault; small dams, especially small earth-rock dams, had the most serious damage that was caused by a variety of factors; the most serious damage was caused by seismic waves; damage was aggregated by aftershocks; and the extent of the damage patterns increased with the seismic intensity. Damage patterns varied in different intensity zones and cracking was the most common type of damage. Most of the dams had a good base with relatively high bearing capacity, and the walls of the earth-rock dams were mostly of clay soil. This type of base and body material mitigated some of the damage to dams. Reservoir maintenance and other factors also have a significant impact on the seismic safety of the dam. Finally, some recommendations to reduce seismic damage to dams are proposed.     

A critical review on granular dam filter behaviour – from particle sizes to constriction-based design criteria

Over emphasis on tests results involving base soils with increasing coefficient of uniformity (C_u ) makes the reliability of an empirical particle-based criterion for effective filters questionable. Extra measures such as regrading of base soil are then necessary in order to capture the effectiveness of filter constriction sizes in trapping eroding fines. Recent studies which focused on the role of the sizes of filter voids on overall filtration behaviour have deployed constriction size approaches that were shown to be equally acceptable methods for distinguishing between effective and ineffective filters. This paper examines the evolution of this approach, starting from past empirical and mathematical investigations and proceeding to the eventual development of geometric-probabilistic methods with special reference to embankment dams. Models based on dominant and controlling constriction sizes are introduced, and subsequently the constriction-based retention criteria for granular filters are presented. The proposed retention criteria were verified based on extensive experimental data taken from small- and large-scale filtration tests carried out by various authors. The integration of filter compaction, porosity and C_u , together with the incorporation of analytical principles, provides alternative and rigorous design approaches that remove most limitations of the conventional particle-based criteria, thus making the models essentially more comprehensive and quantifiable.     

Method to improve the mitigative effectiveness of a series of check dams against debris flows

The advance of technology has led to more competent countermeasures, but lives and properties still continue to suffer from water‐induced disasters, such as floods, landslides, and debris flows. To increase the effectiveness of counter systems, improved methods of planning and designing such systems are prerequisite. This paper describes briefly a methodological approach for predicting debris flow characteristics, and proposes techniques for evaluating and improving the mitigative effectiveness of check dams against debris flows in steep mountain torrents. Additionally, a non‐dimensional parameter, namely potential storage volume, is introduced to generalize the evaluation processes. As an example, the 1999 debris‐flow event in the San Julian River, Venezuela, is chosen for discussion. The paper also proposes a method of evaluating the control function of a series of check dams as well as the criteria for the selection of their sizes, numbers and locations. It is hoped that this work will help to determine which combinations of check dams will fit best together for the optimal control of debris flows and available resources in any river basin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

土石坝横向裂缝的土工离心机模型试验研究

岸坡突变所产生的不均匀沉降变形常常是导致土石坝心墙发生横向裂缝的主要原因。使用糯扎渡高心墙堆石坝心墙混合土料进行了模拟心墙发生横向裂缝的土工离心机模型试验。试验中再现了由于岸坡坡度变化导致坝顶发生横向裂缝的现象。采用工程中常用的3种裂缝分析方法：倾度法、Leonards法和有限元应力法对试验结果进行了分析。结果表明,前两种方法仅在测点较多时才是适用的,而有限元应力法对土石坝心墙横向裂缝问题更为有效。     

地震加速度动态分布及对高土石坝坝坡抗震稳定的影响

《水工建筑物抗震设计规范》（DL5073-1997）建议的土石坝地震加速度动态分布系数适合于150 m以下的土石坝,而前许多土石坝的设计高度已远大于150 m。与低坝相比,高坝受地基刚性的约束减弱,坝体的自振周期延长。在坝体地震反应中,高阶自振周期与地震卓越周期耦合的机率增大,高阶振型的振动易被激发放大,从而导致坝体地震加速度沿坝高的分布与低坝有所不同。据此,采用有限元法研究了高土石坝的加速度分布,提出了高于150 m土石坝的地震加速度动态分布系数图示。在此基础上,利用堆石材料的非线性强度准则,对高度超过150 m的土石坝坝坡抗震稳定性作了进一步的分析,得出随着坝体地震加速度动态分布系数的降低,坝坡临界破坏的安全系数有所提高。     

围海造地的软土地基处理方法与效果——以厦门新阳 大桥东南侧造地工程为例

面积为35.64万名的厦门市新阳大桥东南侧造地工程,从围海、吹填到地基处理共经历了18个月,其中软土地基处理从方法试验到大面积施工结束仅6个月时间。针对场地的原有土体条件和吹填土特性与分布条件,分别采用不同的动力排水固结法进行了地基处理,取得了地基土承载力、施工沉降及交工标高完全满足设计要求的效果。     

岩石破裂中的光声效应

在实验室条件下研究了花岗岩样品受单轴压缩破裂过程中的光和声发射效应,所得可见光谱轮廓与空气分子的光谱相似,但具有能量高于紫光的成份。除在主破裂时有大的光脉冲和声发射外,在主破裂前也记录到弱的光脉冲,它们与大的声发射率有同步现象。