Evaluation of the effect of porous check dam location on fine sediment retention (a case study)

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of porous check dam location on the retention of fine sediments in the Droodzan watershed in Southern Iran. Five long streams with several porous check dams that were more than 27 years old were studied. In each stream three check dams: at the very upstream section, at the middle section and at the far downstream section were selected for analysis. A number of samples from trapped sediments and from the undisturbed soils in the stream banks (adjacent to the check dams) were collected. Laboratory analysis showed that the soil samples taken from undisturbed banks have smaller particle sizes compared to the trapped sediments. The results indicated that the check dams located at the far downstream sections were more efficient at trapping fine sediment than those located at the middle sections. Also the check dams located at the middle sections were more effective than those located at the upstream sections. Comparison of sediment texture also showed that the portion of clay and silt trapped by the check dams decreased from the downstream sections toward the upstream sections. Hence, whenever, the retention of fine sediments is the primary function of the check dams, it appears that they should be located in the far downstream sections of a stream. The experimental analysis indicated that using broken and angular rocks instead of rounded rocks in porous check dam’s construction improves the effectiveness of the check dams for the retention of fine sediments. The analysis of the failed check dams also showed that erosion of the bank sides underneath the check dams is the primary cause of dam collapse.