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Dynamics of sedimentary environments in the accelerated siltation of a reservoir: the case of Alhama de Granada, southern Spain

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

An analysis has been made of sedimentary systems involved in the rapid silting of a reservoir constructed in 1974 in Alhama de Granada (S. Spain); in only 30 years the storage capacity of the reservoir has shrunk by 80% and its perimeter has decreased by 64%. A study of sediment lithofacies identified in a series of shallow trenches and of georadar facies identified in a series of almost 900 m lines of ground penetrating radar (GPR) images, together with a survey of surface geology, has identified 3 alluvial systems (2 transversal systems and a longitudinal system) whose deltas have filled in the reservoir. Thus, there are three phases in the evolution of the reservoir siltation: (1) an initial stage (1974–1977) typified by northward progradation of the longitudinal river delta of about 100 m year−1 and an eastward progradation of the transversal system delta of about 20 m year−1; (2) an intermediate stage (1977–1984) in which the longitudinal river delta progradation slowed to 25 m year−1 and the axial drainage became obstructed due to the considerable eastward progradation of the transversal delta; and (3) a final phase (1984–present) in which there have been few changes in the areal distribution of the deltas apart from a southeastward expansion of the transversal delta. Generally, aggradational growth patterns (vertical accretion) have dominated in this final phase. The lithology of the source area, the slope and precipitation distribution has a significant effect not only on the sediment supply, but also indirectly on the creation of accommodation space and on the evolution of stratal growth patterns.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the participants in the Ports and Coastal Work Group, in the Rivers and Reservoirs Work Group of the University of Granada, and participants in the Project to Study and Find Alternatives for the Use and Management of the Alhama de Granada Reservoir. This work has been funded by Research Project CGL2005-06224/BTE (MEC-FEDER) and CGL2004-02748 (MEC) and by Research Groups RNM-163, RNM-200 and RNM-123 of the Junta de Andalucía, to which some of the authors belong. Our thanks to Dr. Martin-Rosales for his contribution with some climatic data and Christine Laurin for her efforts in improving the English text. The paper has greatly benefited by the constructive comments of Dr. Th. Kanellopoulos and an anonymous reviewer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva, 18071, Granada, Spain

    César Viseras & Juan Fernández

  2. Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad de Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain

    Fernando García-García

  3. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Alicante, 3080, Alicante, Spain

    Jesús M. Soria & Pedro Jáuregui

  4. Departamento de Geodinámica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva, 18071, Granada, Spain

    María Luisa Calvache

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  1. César Viseras
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  2. Juan Fernández
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  3. Fernando García-García
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  4. Jesús M. Soria
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  5. María Luisa Calvache
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Correspondence to Fernando García-García.

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Viseras, C., Fernández, J., García-García, F. et al. Dynamics of sedimentary environments in the accelerated siltation of a reservoir: the case of Alhama de Granada, southern Spain. Environ Geol 56, 1353–1369 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1231-2

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