This book provides a novel integrated solution for sedimentation problems in major dams in the Damodar River Basin. Damodar River in India has been extensively regulated by major dams since the 1950s to manage water resources and control floods. According to the Central Water Commission and Damodar Valley Corporation report (2018, 2006), the Maithon, Panchet, and Tenughat dams suffer from a considerable reduction in water-holding capacity by 38%, 25.17%, and 16.8% respectively due to substantial sediment production from the upper catchment. The unpredictable nature of climate change in addition to human-caused impacts (deforestation, open cast mining) significantly enhanced soil erosion and ready downstream transfer into the channels. Thus, it is essential to identify the sediment source zone and understand the nature of connectivity between the sediment source and to sink (dam) simultaneously managing the sediment yield from the upper catchment is also important for increasing the life span of dams. The book examines the entire domain of sedimentation processes connected to the dams by exploring the upper catchment's sediment source zone and downslope sediment connectivity considering numerous landscape features into account. The book will appeal to environmental scientists and civil engineers, as well as students, researchers, dam operators, government agencies, policymakers, management planners, conservation organizations, local communities, earth science, and applied geomorphology.

Autorentext

Sk Asraful Alam works as a senior research fellow (SRF) in the Department of Geography at Vidyasagar University in Midnapore, West Bengal, India. He completed his M.Phil. degree at Vidyasagar University in the Center of Earth System Science. His research interests are generally focused on Indian river systems, with a special emphasis on geomorphic river evolution, responses to anthropogenic disturbances, dam sedimentation, geomorphic hazards, the impact of climate change on the fluvial system, hydrological modeling, sediment budgets, and connectivity. The extensive use of his work in river management methods attests to its importance and usefulness in tackling actual problems about river systems.

Ramkrishna Maiti presently serves Vidyasagar University in the post of professor in the Department of Geography, West Bengal, India. His significant contributions have been in the areas of geomorphology, hydrology, environmental hazards, and geographical philosophy. He leads several research projects funded by the UGC and ICSSR. He has over 100 publications to his credit in the national and international journals of repute.