Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Evaluating Sediment Accumulation Behind Dams In The Great Lakes Watershed From Past To Present, Fatemeh Alighalehbabakhani Alighalehbabakhani

Wayne State University Dissertations

Reservoir sedimentation and the consequence long term loss of storage capacity have been a serious threat to the natural environmental system. However, there is only few information and physical measurements regarding to the sediment accumulation rate within the reservoirs. The average age of dams in the country is more than 50 years old, and with aging dams, the number of high-hazard dams continues to increase. There are some serious risks associated with aging dams. Dam removal or dam failure can release considerable sediment load to downstream reaches, eventually deteriorate water quality and fish habitat. The present dissertation investigates the historical …