Author(s): A. Lucia; C. Zarfl; L. Ranghiero; M. Tubino; G. Zolezzi; S. Bizzi; R. Schmitt; A. Castelletti

Linked Author(s): Ana Lucía Lim Cárdenas

Keywords: Hydropower dams; Sediment trapping; Zambezi river; Morphological changes; Reservoir life span

Abstract: We analyse the interaction between planned hydropower dams, lateral sediment supply and longitudinal continuity associated to downstream morphological changes in the Zambezi river. There is a global boom in hydropower dam construction and Africa is one of the hotspots with 300 major hydropower dams under construction or planned. Despite the benefits, hydropower dams fragment rivers changing the sediment and hydrologic regime, with potential alteration of the morphological trajectories of the downstream river reaches. Sediment trapping in reservoir also affects dam operation and decreases their life span. In this work, we develop an integrated model of the Zambezi river to: quantify the possible magnitude of sediment trapping by future hydropower on the catchment, where 23 large hydropower dams are planned and estimate possible morphological changes at the reach scale downstream of selected reservoirs.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-981-11-2731-1_322-cd

Year: 2018