Validation of methods to estimate design discharge flow rates for dam spillways with large regulating capacity

Abstract

The estimation and review of discharge flow rates in hydraulic works is a fundamental problem in water management. In the case of dams with large regulating capacity, in order to estimate return periods of discharge flow rates from the spillways, it becomes necessary to consider both peak flow and volume of the incoming floods. In this paper, the results of the validation for several methods of assessing design floods for spillways of dams with a large flood control capacity are presented; the validation is performed by comparing the maximum outflows (or the maximum levels reached in the reservoir) obtained from the routing of the design floods with those obtained from the routing of the historical annual maximum floods. The basin of Malpaso Dam, Mexico, is used as the case study.

Editor D. Koutsoyiannis

Citation Domínguez, M.R. and Arganis, J.M.L., 2012. Validation of methods to estimate design discharge flow rates for dam spillways with large regulating capacity. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 57 (3), 460–478.     

Ping Jian (1964–2015)

ABSTRACT

Metasedimentary rocks from the El Triunfo Complex (Jocote Unit) in the southern Chiapas Massif (SE México) are constituted mainly by sillimanite-rich micaschist, locally intercalated with marble and calc-silicate rocks. Mafic rocks (now amphibolite) intruded the sequence prior to deformation and folding. Peak metamorphic conditions are estimated by geothermobaromerty at ~6.0 kbar and ~650ºC. The timing of the metamorphic event is dated by LA-MC-ICPMS analysis on zircon rims at 438⁺²³/_–12 Ma. Furthermore, detrital zircon grains yield mainly Stenian–Tonian and minor early Mesoproterozoic ages, indicating provenance from Grenville-type orogens (such as Oaxaquia) and some older cratonic sources. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values of 0.70775–0.70777 and the δ¹³C values from +1.9‰ to +2.7‰ in associated calcite marble define the time of deposition between 600 and 580 Ma. Geochemical markers from metapelite samples (such as La/Th > 3.94, La/Sc > 3.72, Th/U > 8.19, Th/Co > 0.42 and CIA = 74 to 83), as well as Sm–Nd isotope data (εNd_i = ?8.1 to ?4.0, TDM_(Nd) = 1.65–1.32 Ga) suggest weathering of Mesoproterozoic felsic rocks during temperate to warm climate. Furthermore, Zr/Sc values (9.1–21.0), chondrite-normalized REE patterns [La/Yb]_N = 10.3–23.3, Eu/Eu* < 0.64), and ΔHf values (1.98–10.02) are indicative of pelagic and zircon-depleted sediments of a passive margin. The results suggest that the Jocote Unit was deposited during the opening of the Eastern Iapetus Ocean in the Ediacaran Period. This is the first evidence for Rodinia breakup in southern México. Besides that, the Ordovician tectonothermal event is probably related to compression during subduction and accretion along the western margin of Gondwana.     

The Campanian-Maastrichtian rudist bivalves succession in the Chiapas Central Depression,Mexico

The restudy of the Late Cretaceous rudist fauna of the Chiapas Central Depression, considered Campanian-Maastrichtian with no more precisions in literature, reveals that, in fact, three successive rudist assemblages occur: (1) a lower one, early and middle Campanian, in the uppermost part of the Sierra Madre Formation (distinguished as Suchiapa Formation); (2) a middle one, early Maastrichtian, in the upper part of the Ocozocoautla Formation; and (3) an upper one, late Maastrichtian, in several horizons within the Angostura Formation. Published data on planktic and benthic foraminifers and inoceramid bivalves, as well as new findings of ammonites, helped bracketing the age of the three rudist assemblages. Their stratigraphic position fits with a depositional model assuming a basal carbonate platform fragmented into blocks each following a different tecto-sedimentary evolution: (1) a drowned block constituting the Tuxtla Gutiérrez Basin, deepening towards the neighbor raised block and receiving terrigenous material from the emerged Sierra Madre de Chiapas, that, after a long hiatus, was filled up and, subsequently, a marginal shallow carbonate platform, surrounded by a detritic belt and prograding towards the basin, installed on top; (2) a raised block constituting a high where, after a long hiatus, an insular shallow carbonate platform installed.     

Benthic macroinvertebrate communities of three tropical,warm monomictic Mexican lakes

Most studies of benthic macroinvertebrate communities are from shallow lakes or restricted to the littoral zone of deep, temperate lakes, with just a few dealing with the deep benthos. Furthermore, the deep benthic macroinvertebrate communities of tropical lakes are almost unknown. The present work describes the benthic macroinvertebrate communities of three tropical, warm monomictic lakes in “Lagunas de Montebello” National Park, Mexico, by describing the differences along the bathymetric profile, from the littoral down to the profound benthos. We studied the benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the two contrasting hydrodynamic periods of the warm monomictic lakes: a) stratification, when the hypolimnion becomes anoxic, and b) mixing, when the water column becomes oxygenated. We expected: 1) a reduction in the benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomic richness, density, and biomass from the littoral to the deep zone, 2) an impoverished benthic macroinvertebrate community while stratified (anoxia) compared to mixing (oxygenated), and 3) depletion in the taxonomic richness, density, and biomass of the profundal benthic macroinvertebrates in the tropical compared to temperate lakes. We found: 1) a decreasing trend in taxonomic richness (6 ± 2–3 ± 1 taxa), density (1868.7 ± 1069.7–349.1 ± 601.8 in. m⁻²) and biomass (277.8 ± 188.9–85.1 ± 95.6 mg C m⁻²) from the littoral to the deep zone; chironomids dominated the littoral zone, while oligochaetes dominated the deep zone. 2) Lower density and biomass but not taxonomic richness while stratified (4 ± 3 taxa; 586.2 ± 527.6 in. m⁻²; 81.6 ± 164.3 mg C m⁻²) compared to mixing (4 ± 3 taxa; 877.5 ± 1051.4 in. m⁻²; 190.1 ± 131.1 mg C m⁻²). 3) lower taxonomic richness and density but not biomass in tropical Montebello oligotrophic lakes (3 ± 3 taxa; 349.1 ± 601.8 in. m⁻²; 85.1 ± 195.6 mg C m⁻²) compared to temperate analogous (2–48 taxa; 492−83,189 8 in. m⁻²; 0.13−201.5 mg m⁻²). We conclude the early onset and long-lasting hypolimnetic anoxia restrict the benthic macroinvertebrate community radiation and diversification in tropical, oligotrophic, warm monomictic lakes.     

Chemical composition of fumarolic gases and spring discharges from El Chichòn volcano, Mexico: causes and implications of the changes detected over the period 1998–2000

Since the March–April 1982 eruption of El Chichòn volcano, intense hydrothermal activity has characterised the 1-km-wide summit crater. This mainly consists of mud and boiling pools, fumaroles, which are mainly located in the northwestern bank of the crater lake. During the period 1998–2000, hot springs and fumaroles discharging inside the crater and from the southeastern outer flank (Agua Caliente) were collected for chemical analyses. The observed chemical fluctuations suggest that the physico-chemical boundary conditions regulating the thermodynamic equilibria of the deep rock/fluid interactions have changed with time. The chemical composition of the lake water, characterised in the period 1983–1997 by high Na⁺, Cl⁻, Ca²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ contents, experienced a dramatic change in 1998–1999, turning from a Na⁺–Cl⁻- to a Ca²⁺–SO₄²⁻-rich composition. In June 2000, a relatively sharp increase in Na⁺ and Cl⁻ contents was observed. At the same time, SO₂/H₂S ratios and H₂ and CO contents in most gas discharges increased with respect to the previous two years of observations, suggesting either a new input of deep-seated fluids or local variations of the more surficial hydrothermal system. Migration of gas manifestations, enhanced number of emission spots and variations in both gas discharge flux and outlet temperatures of the main fluid manifestations were also recorded. The magmatic-hydrothermal system of El Chichòn is probably related to interaction processes between a deep magmatic source and a surficial cold aquifer; an important role may also be played by the interaction of the deep fluids with the volcanic rocks and the sedimentary (limestone and evaporites) basement. The chemical and physical changes recorded in 1998–2000 were possibly due to variations in the permeability of the conduit system feeding the fluid discharges at surface, as testified by the migration of gas and water emanations. Two different scenarios can be put forward for the volcanic evolution of El Chichòn: (1) build-up of an infra-crater dome that may imply a future eruption in terms of tens to hundreds of years; (2) minor phreatic–phreatomagmatic events whose prediction and timing is more difficult to constrain. This suggests that, unlike the diminished volcanic activity at El Chichòn after the 1982 paroxistic event, the volcano-hydrothermal fluid discharges need to be more constantly monitored with regular and more frequent geochemical sampling and, at the same time, a permanent network of seismic stations should be installed.     

Maize diversity, rural development policy, and farmers' practices: lessons from Chiapas, Mexico

Maize diversity is important to the livelihoods of millions of farmers in Mexico, the crop's centre of origin; to maize breeders seeking new genetic material; and to producers and consumers worldwide. Key social processes that determine maize diversity include historic and cultural emphases on maize as a primary crop; land-use practices encompassing heterogeneous agro-ecological conditions; farmers' seed-saving practices; farmer selection of useful traits; and farmer seed exchange and purchasing networks. We consider the impacts of recent agricultural and rural development policies on these processes. We focus on La Frailesca, a commercial and semi-subsistence maize-growing region in southern Mexico. Qualitative data were collected via focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation in four villages at intervals over a 2-year period. These techniques were complemented with semi-structured interviews with local and state policymakers. Observations suggest that policies promoting market liberalisation, agricultural modernisation, and rural education have contributed to significant changes in the social processes which have historically generated maize diversity. Increasing numbers of smallholder maize producers are diversifying into alternative livelihood options, including temporary or permanent migration, and cultural and economic emphases on maize production are changing. Changes in La Frailesca raise important questions about the fate of maize genetic diversity as the Mexican agricultural sector is further realigned with the global agricultural economy.     

Single-grain apatite geochemistry of Permian–Triassic granitoids and Mesozoic and Eocene sandstones from Chiapas,southeast Mexico: implications for sediment provenance

ABSTRACT

This article reports single-grain multi-elemental results (Sr, Y, Th, U, and rare earth elements) obtained in 966 apatites from 18 rocks (sandstones and granitoids) that were sampled from the Mesozoic (Todos Santos and San Ricardo Formations) and Eocene (the El Bosque Formation) successions as well as from the Permian–Triassic Chiapas Massif Complex (CMC), all of which are exposed within the Sierra de Chiapas (SCH), SE Mexico. The objectives of the present study are (1) to establish changes in provenance between the Mesozoic and Eocene sedimentary sequences using single-grain apatite geochemistry, and (2) to identify source areas for siliciclastic materials from the Todos Santos, San Ricardo, and the El Bosque Formations. The results of the present work strongly suggest that apatites from the Todos Santos and San Ricardo Formations were mainly derived from intermediate to felsic I-type granitoids as well as from arc-related volcanic rocks, indicating that the CMC basement was the most important source area for the Mesozoic sandstones in the SCH. An abrupt change in provenance from Mesozoic to Eocene units was identified based on single-grain apatite geochemistry. Detrital apatites of the Ypresian–Lutetian El Bosque Formation were derived from diverse source rocks such as mafic–ultramafic rocks, intermediate to felsic I-type plutons, strongly fractionated S-type granites and pegmatites, as well as from different metamorphic source lithologies (including high-pressure rocks) such as gneisses, migmatites, metapelites, and/or eclogites. It was proposed, therefore, that most Eocene sediments of the SCH were derived from the Guatemala Suture Complex, which involves all the rock types mentioned above. A minor portion of the El Bosque Formation sediments was derived from the CMC area and/or from recycled sandstones from the Mesozoic Todos Santos and San Ricardo Formations. Some advantages and disadvantages of provenance studies based on detrital apatite chemistry were also observed and briefly discussed.     

The September 8–9, 1998 Rain-Triggered Flood Events at Motozintla, Chiapas, Mexico

In September 1998 tropical storm “Earl” swept southern Mexico, producing intense rainfall in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. Among the most devastated cities was Motozintla, located in the drainage basin of the Allende, La Mina and Xelajú Grande Rivers. The rainfall from the tropical storm totaled 175 mm on September 8 and 130 mm on September 9, duplicating in two days the average monthly precipitation in the region. Numerous landslides occurred in the vicinity of Motozintla, depositing large volumes of material into the Xelajú Grande stream. Much of this sediment was subsequently remobilized, yielding debris flows, hyperconcentrated flows, and sediment-laden flows that inundated most sections of Motozintla city. The flows covered an approximate area of 3.15 km² with a minimum volume of 4.4 × 10⁶ m³ of sediment. Communication of Motozintla with the rest of the Chiapas State was interrupted for about a month, as was the supply of potable water, food, electricity, and fuel. The geologic record around Motozintla indicates that the Xelajú Grande River has been a pathway for similar large floods during the last 6000 years. The oldest deposit yielded a radiocarbon age of 5320 ± 100 ¹⁴C years. B.P. At least two historic floods have occurred during the last 100 years, a time period defined by a stratigraphically distinct tephra of 1902. Frequency analysis of the historical record of daily rainfall in the Motozintla area suggests that events like that of September, 1998, have a recurrence interval of about 25 years. After the catastrophic flows of 1998, the mitigation measures by Municipal Authorities were made without regard to geological and environmental factors, or to taking into consideration the flow magnitude and appropriate hazard-mitigation techniques, with the result that Motozintla remains at serious risk for future floods. Unfortunately, prior to the publication of this study, in early October 2005, Motozintla was seriously damaged again by intense rain provoked by Hurricane Stan.