Prospective Chapter: Dam Design Challenges under a Clam for Sustainability on a Modified Catchments

Abstract

Dams play a crucial role in water management and have both positive and negative impacts on river catchments. One of the significant concerns is the distortion of natural flow discharge and sediment dynamics downstream of a dam. This distortion affects the ecosystem and the river’s natural habitat, and it is essential to address these implications for sustainable water management. The aim of this study is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of dam construction on river catchments and devise effective strategies to mitigate the negative consequences. To achieve this, it needs to consider the modification caused by dam construction in hydrological simulations to improve downstream hydrologic predictions. Hydrological modeling applications have been instrumental in the design and management of hydraulic structures like dams. These models help estimate essential variables and provide insights into the flow and sediment dynamics within a river catchment. However, to ensure accurate predictions, it is crucial to incorporate the modifications caused by dam in these simulations. A combined hydrologic and hydraulic routing application based on a model background was proposed to consider the modification of a catchment. The study made through this method shows a good improvement for instantaneous flows on a modified catchment