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Evaluation of sediment trapping in check dams, case study: Nehzatabad Watershed

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran

2 Graduated M.Sc. of Watershed Mnagement, Faculty of Natural Resources, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran

3 Assistant professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Check dams are simple and relatively low-cost structures that are widely used to control sedimentation in watersheds due to the lack of special materials and technology. These types of dams have the largest amount of watershed improvement operations in Iran. Therefore, considering the frequency of construction and as a result the cost of construction, it is necessary to investigate their performance in watersheds to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Evaluation of sediment trapping of check dams and correct selection of parameters affecting their sedimentation performance is the main goal of this research.
 
Materials and methods
In this research, the evaluation of check dams from the perspective of sedimentation performance in the Nehzatabad watershed in Kohgiluyeh county has been investigated. For this purpose, after determining the parameters related to the volume of sediments deposited behind 11 selected check dams and calculating their volume, the amount of sediment yield was first measured and then estimated by calculating three different sediment trapping coefficients. Finally, by calculating the sediment delivery ratio, the measured and estimated sediment yield was converted into its equivalent soil loss on the surface in the upstream sub-watershed of the check dams.
 
Results and discussion
The results showed that the amount of  specific sediment yield measured in check dams is from 0.001 to 1.08 and on average 0.13 tons per hectare per year. Considering the ratio of sediment delivery, which varied from 18 to 51 percent for selected dams, this amount of sediment yield is equivalent to 0.01 to 2.1 and an average of 0.3 tons per hectare per year of soil loss in the upstream sub-watersheds of check dams, which is a very small number compared to the figures presented for the average soil loss in most of Iran's watersheds. Taking into account different coefficients of sediment trapping, the estimated average values for  specific sediment yield in check dams are 2.88, 7.46 and 0.87 tons per hectare per year, which are equivalent to 9.41, 30.5, 3.49 tons per hectare per year of soil loss respectively, which compared to the average amount of soil erosion in Iran's watersheds, seem more reasonable and logical numbers.
 
Conclusions
Considering the factors affecting the sediment trapping coefficient, it can be said that if check dams are built at a point in the waterway where the ratio of the storage capacity of the dam reservoir to the area of ​​the sub-watershed upstream of the dams is higher, the sediment trapping coefficient in the dams will increase, which it is more favorable in terms of sedimentation efficiency. By examining the amount of sediment trapping coefficients in the investigated check dams in the Nehzatabad watershed, which are relatively low, it can be said that one of the reasons for the low coefficients is the reduction in the ratio of the storage capacity of the dam reservoir to the area of ​​their upstream watershed. Therefore, if the scientific principles are not observed in the correct selection of the effective parameters for the placement of check dams, the implementation of such projects does not have the necessary and sufficient effectiveness, while the sediment measured in these dams and the soil erosion equivalent to it are a basis for the implementation of other watershed management measures are in watershed areas and if they are not accurate, It can lead to ineffectiveness of these measures and incorrect calculations.

Keywords

References
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Watershed Engineering and Management
Volume 16, Issue 4
January 2025
Pages 586-599
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