Sedimentation Processes and Useful Life of Mosul Dam Reservoir, Iraq

Abstract

The sedimentation process is the most important problems that affects directly the performance of reservoirs due to the reduction of the storage capacity and possible problems effecting the operation. Thus periodic assessment of the storage capacity and determining sediment deposition patterns is an important issue for operation and management of the reservoirs. In this study, bathymetric survey results and an analytical approach had been used to assess the characteristics of sedimentation and estimate the useful life of Mosul Reservoir. It is located on the Tigris River in the north of Iraq. The water surface area of its reservoir is 380 km 2 with a designed storage capacity of 11.11 km 3 at a maximum operating level (330 m a.s.l). The dam started operating in 1986. No detailed study was yet carried out to assess its reservoir. The present study indicated that the annual reduction rate in the dead and live storage capacities of the reservoir is 0.786% and 0.276% respectively. The observed results (bathymetric survey) and algebraic formula show approximately that the useful life of Mosul dam reservoir is about 125 years. Furthermore, the stage-storage capacity curves for the future periods (prediction curves) were established using bathymetric survey data.

Sediment in Mosul Dam reservoir using the HEC‐RAS model

“…The total sediment deposition in the reservoir until the end of the simulation time was 1.13 km 3 , while the total sediment load deposition estimated with field surveys (Al‐Ansari ; Issa et al . ,b,c) was 1.143 km 3 . This result indicates a good performance of the HEC‐RAS model for both flow and sediment routing simulations.…”

“…This equation was applied to simulate sediment transport and routing for the period starting from 1986 (beginning of dam operation) to 2011 (the year of available reservoir bed survey data by Issa et al . (,b,c) and Al‐Ansari ()). The parameters of the considered model were calibrated, to provide the best results for the reservoir bed level and deposited sediments.…”

“…Issa et al . () estimated the useful life of Mosul Dam, based on a bathymetric survey analytical approach. Their survey results indicated that a 0.786% and 0.276% yearly reduction occurred for both live and dead storage, respectively, for the period from 1986 (beginning of dam operation) to 2011 (time of reservoir bed survey).…”

Application of DInSAR-PSI Technology for Deformation Monitoring of the Mosul Dam, Iraq

“…Although the planned useful life of the Mosul reservoir is estimated at 125 years [25], it will occur sooner at 50% of its storage capacity, when sediments fill the reservoir up to its dead storage level [26,27]. [24], view looking from the west to east; photo taken on 20 September 2012.…”

Estimation of sediment deposits in the Ghézala reservoir in northern Tunisia

“…The results indicated a reasonable prediction of both daily flow rates and sediment loads. Issa et al (2013) estimated the useful life of Mosul Dam, Iraq, based on a bathymetric survey approach. Mohammad et al (2016) focused on studying the sediment deposition within Mosul Dam reservoir for the period from 1986 to 2011, using the HEC-RAS 4.1 model.…”