Discharging Sediment Downstream: Case Studies in Cost Effective, Environmentally Acceptable Reservoir Sediment Management in the United States

Sediment accumulation in reservoirs across the world diminishes reservoir benefits, increases maintenance costs, and damages the environment. United States regulatory policy requires State and Federal permits for discharging sediment into waterways, which has tended to discourage alternatives that pass sediment downstream of the dam. The cost of methods that remove the sediment from the fluvial system is usually prohibitive and is a major factor precluding sustainable sediment management in the United States and other countries with similar sediment reduction policies. This paper challenges the notion that US policy requires sediment removal and terrestrial storage by highlighting seven case studies in the United States where reservoir sediment management included downstream sediment discharge. Where technically feasible, these types of solutions can lead to greater economic and environmental sustainability of US reservoirs.