Addis Ababa University Hydraulic Structures I

1 Introduction
1.1 General
Hydraulic Structures are engineering constructions designed and mechanically fit for managing and
utilizing water resources to the best advantage of the human being and environment.
Dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a
Reservoir.
Reservoir is an artificial lake created by flooding land behind a dam. Some of the world's largest lakes
are reservoirs.
Spillway is a section of a dam designed to pass water from the upstream side of a dam to the downstream
side. Many spillways have gates designed to control the flow through the spillway.
Flood is an overflow or an expanse of water submerging land.
Dams differ from all other major civil engineering structures in a number of important regards:
 Every dam, large or small, is quite unique; foundation geology, material characteristics, catchment
flood /hydrology etc. are each site-specific.
 Dams are required to function at or close to their design loading for extended periods.
 Dams do not have a structural lifespan; they may, however, have a notional life for accounting
purposes, or a functional lifespan dictated by reservoir sedimentation.
 The overwhelming majority of dams are of earth fill, constructed from a range of natural soils; these
are the least consistent of construction materials.
 Dam engineering draws together a range of disciplines, e.g. Structural and fluid mechanics, geology
and geotechnics, flood hydrology and hydraulics, to a quite unique degree.
 The engineering of dams is critically dependent upon the application of informed engineering
judgment.
Hence the dam engineer is required to synthesize design solutions which, without compromise on safety,
represent the optimal balance between technical, economic and environmental considerations.
1.2 Types of dams
Dike is a stone or earthen wall constructed as a defense or as a boundary. The best known form of dyke is
a construction built along the edge of a body of water to prevent it from flooding onto adjacent lowland.
Levee is a natural or artificial structure, usually earthen, which parallels the course of a river. It functions
to prevent flooding of the adjoining countryside. However it also confines the flow of the river resulting
in higher and faster water flow.
Weir is a small overflow type (designed to be overtopped) dam commonly used to raise the level of a
small river or stream. Water flows over the top of a weir, although some weirs have sluice gates which
release water at a level below the top of the weir.
Check dam is a small dam designed to reduce flow velocity and control soil erosion
Diversion dam is a type of dam that diverts all or a portion of the flow of a river from its natural course
Masonry dam is a type of dam constructed with masonry. It is made watertight by pointing the joints
with cement. A plaster of cement is also applied. The interior could be either in coursed masonry or
rubble masonry.

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Dams may be classified according to

Material of construction,
structure,
intended purpose or
height;
Hence, no classification is exclusive.
Classification according to material of construction
Timber dams
Steel dams
Concrete dams
Earth dams
Rockfill dams
Combined dams
Classification according to design criteria
Hydraulic design Stability consideration
Non-overflow dams Gravity dams
Overflow dams Non-gravity dams
Composite dams
Classification according to Purpose
Storage dams Stage control dams Barrier dams
Flood control Diversion Levees and dykes
Water supply Navigation Coffer dams
Detention storage

Classification according to height (H)

H ≤ 30m low dam
30 ≤ H ≤ 100m medium
H ≥ 30m high dam
When the size of the dam has been determined, the type of dam envisaged requires certain geological and
topographical conditions which, for the main types of dams, may be stated as follows.
Concrete Dams Embankment Dams
Gravity dams Rock fill dams
Buttress dams Hydraulic fill dams
Multiple ach dams Earthen embankments
Thick arch dams Composite dams
Thin arch dams

1.3 Characteristics of dams

Coffer dam is a temporary structure constructed of any material like timber, steel, concrete, rock or earth.
It is built to enclose certain work site or to divert the flow to enable construction activity in the main river
channel. After the main structure is built (bridge, barrage or dam) either the coffer dam is dismantled or it
becomes part6 of the structure if the design so provides.
Gravity Dams
Stability is secured by making it of such a size and shape that it will resist overturning, sliding and
crushing at the toe.
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The dam will not overturn provided the resultant force falls within the base.
to prevent tension at the upstream face and excessive compression at the downstream face, the dam cross
section is usually designed so that the resultant falls within the middle third at all elevations of the cross
section
good impervious foundations are essential
inspires more confidence in the layman than any other type; it has mass that lends an atmosphere of
permanence, stability, and safety

Shasta Dam impounds the Sacramento River in northern California. Like all concrete gravity dams, Shasta Dam
holds back the water in its reservoir, Shasta Lake, by the sheer force of its weight. Built of solid concrete, the
massive structure rises 183 m (602 ft). It measures 165 m (542 ft) at the base and just 9 m (30 ft) at the crest.
This shape, typical of concrete gravity dams, counteracts the force of the water pressing against the dam at the
bottom of the reservoir, where the pressure is most intense.
Courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation/Microsoft Corporation Illustration
Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights
reserved.
Figure 1-1 Example of concrete Gravity dam
Gravity dams are classified as "solid" or "hollow." The solid form is the more widely used of the two,
though the hollow dam is frequently more economical to construct. Gravity dams can also be classified as
"overflow" (spillway) and "non-overflow."
Buttress Dams
 The buttress dam is suitable where the rock is capable of bearing pressures of 2 - 3 MPa.
 Buttress dams require between one thirds and half of the concrete required for a gravity section,
hence making it more economical for dams over 14m.
 Additional skilled labor is required to create the formwork.
 Threat of deterioration of concrete from the impounded water is more likely than from a thick
gravity section.
 There is also an elimination of a good deal of uplift pressure, the pressure resulting from the
water in the reservoir and possibly of water from the hillside rocks gaining access through or
under any grout curtain and exerting upwards underneath the mass concrete dam.

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Lake Tahoe Dam impounds the Truckee River in northern California. Like all flat slab buttress dams, it has a flat
slab upstream face supported by a series of buttresses on the downstream side. Lake Tahoe Dam measures 5.5 m
tall and 33 m long. It was completed in 1913 to raise the water level in Lake Tahoe, a natural lake, to provide
additional water for crop irrigation.
Figure 1-2 Profile of buttress dam

Arch dam
 Stability is obtained by a combination of arch and gravity action
 Utilizes the strength of an arch to resist loads placed upon it by 'arch action'
 The foundations and abutments must be competent not only to support the dead weight of the
dam on the foundation but also the forces that are directed into the abutments because of arch
action in response to the forces acting on the dam.
 The strength of the rock mass at the abutments and immediately down valley of the dam must be
unquestionable and its modulus of elasticity must be high enough to ensure deformation under
thrust from the arch is not so great as to induce excessive stresses in the arch.

Monticello Dam impounds Putah Creek west of Sacramento, California. The solid concrete structure stands 93 m
tall. The dam’s arched upstream face transfers some of the pressure from its reservoir, Lake Berryessa, onto the
walls of the canyon. This design enables an arch dam to be much less massive than an equivalent gravity dam,
which relies solely on the force of its weight to hold back the water in a reservoir. While Monticello Dam measures
30 m at its base, an equivalent gravity dam might be more than five times as thick at the base.
Figure 1-3 Sample of Arch dams

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Rockfill dams
 Can be built where the following conditions exist -
 Uncertain or variable foundation which is unreliable for sustaining the pressure necessary for any
form of concrete dam.
 Suitable rock in the vicinity which is hard and will stand up to variations of weather.
 An adequate amount of clay in the region which may be inserted in the dam either as a vertical
core or as a sloping core.
 Accessibility of the site and the width of the valley is suitable for the manipulation of heavy
earth-moving machinery, caterpillar scrapers, sheepfoot rollers and large bulldozers.
Hydraulic Fill Dams
Hydraulic fill dams are suitable in valleys of soft material and are constructed by pumping soft material
duly consolidated up to moderated heights up to 30m.
A hydraulic fill is an embankment or other fill in which the materials are deposited in place by a flowing
stream of water, with the deposition being selective. Gravity, coupled with velocity control, is used to
effect the selected deposition of the material.
Earthen Embankment dams
Near the site there must be clay to fill the trench and embanking material capable of standing safely,
without slipping, to hold up a clay core.
An advantage of earthen embankments is that troubles due to the deterioration of the structure by peaty
waters of low pH do not arise.

Figure 1-4 Typical profiles of Earth dam

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Rock-fill dams
are embankments of loose rock with either a watertight upstream face of concrete slabs or timber or a
watertight core
Where suitable rock is at hand, a minimum of transportation of materials can be realized with this type of
Resist damage from earthquakes quite well.

Figure 1-5 Typical profile of Rock fill dams

Composite Dams
Not only can different types of dam can be built in the same valley, but the same dam can be of different
types owing to the varying geological and topographical features of the dam site.
Many buttress dams also join up with gravity mass concrete dams at their haunches at the sides of the
valley, and again at the centre have a mass concrete gravity dam to form a suitable overflow or spillway.

Figure 1-6 Profile of Composite dam

1.4 Reservoir Planning
The absence of natural storage of adequate capacities necessitates construction of some artificial storage
works. Development of natural storages may also be included in this category sometimes (Cherecherea
weir at Lake Tana). In rainy season there is excess flow down the valley in a river. An impounding

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reservoir can be constructed in the valley to store this excess water which will meet the demand in dry
periods.
Storage works may be designed and constructed to serve single or multipurpose. The various purposes for
which storage works are required are mentioned below
1. Irrigation
2. Hydro-electric power generation,
3. control of destructive floods
4. Low water regulation for navigation
5. Domestic and industrial water supply
6. Recreation
7. Preservation and breeding of useful aquatic life, etc.
Before any dam is built, certain hydrological information is necessary regarding river discharge, rate and
character of siltation, and the location and duration of flooding. A critical concern in rivers is the
magnitude and duration of discharge with respect to time. Feasibility studies are necessary in assessing
the water budget for future industrial operations. Relevant studies involve meteorological monitoring,
hydrological measurements, reservoir capacity, safe yield, and flood frequency. Questions that need to be
confronted during dam site investigation include the depth at which adequate foundation materials exist,
the strength of the rocks and soils, and the likelihood of water leakage.
By analysis of storage data, availability of water is ascertained before any project is contemplated. The
next step in reservoir planning is to fix the reservoir capacity. The reservoir has to provide sufficient
storage for various purposes, namely
1. Dead storage to contain silt deposition,
2. Storage to account for evaporation loss
3. Live storage to meet the downstream demands for irrigation domestic or industrial supply, power
generation, etc.
4. Storage to act as flood protection.
The basis of fixing storage capacity for dead storage and evaporation loss depends upon the amount of
incoming sediment and the annual evaporation loss respectively. Requirement for flood protection
depends on the intensity and volume of flood flow. The live storage capacity of a reservoir depends on the
demand for various purposes. It can be arrived at by plotting the mass curves of demand and inflow of
accumulated flow or rainfall plotted against time. The capacity of the reservoir is fixed in such a way as to
take care of the demands during the minimum flow period in the driest year on record. In some cases it is
necessary to cover a period of successive dry years to consider storing of sufficient water to meet the
demand during periods of prolonged drought.
1.5 Hydrology and geology
The hydrological and geological or geotechnical characteristics of catchment and site are the principal
determinants establishing the technical suitability of a reservoir site. The hydrology of the catchment
indicates the available quantity and quality of water to be stored in the reservoir. The geology of the site is
one of the important aspects to be investigated for a dam to take decision about selection and location of
the reservoir and the type, and size the dam. More discussion will be made in the following sections about
the hydrology and geology considerations for dam design.

Assignment. #1
It is proposed to construct a reservoir in a river basin for which 34 years run off data is available as shown
in Table 1-1. The pattern of releases required from the storage to meet irrigation and hydro-power
generation requirements are 1300Mm3 per annum. Take average annual evaporation loss to be 120Mm3.
Assuming the rate of demand distribution to be uniform over the year calculate the capacity of the
reservoir that needs to be created.
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Table 1-1 Monthly flow data of a nearby hydrologic station in m3/s

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec AnnuaL Q
1965 6.04 4.22 10.54 11.49 10.57 10.21 125.57 414.22 276.45 30.16 17.25 16.51 933.23
1966 11.85 15.14 10.26 18.59 6.1 17.56 162.21 651.63 426.9 43.23 11.78 7.88 1383.13
1967 6.29 8.16 6.39 7.68 34.24 32.79 213.26 405.98 296.78 85.18 43.48 13.17 1153.4
1968 14.44 25.05 20.1 91.7 25.72 25.25 261.3 464 262.9 57.12 21.45 20.79 1289.82
1969 23.4 31.51 66.51 36.47 43.21 75.73 431.3 897.4 336.7 28.72 16.48 14.61 2002.04
1970 17.92 14.56 64.89 20.34 11.47 16.73 481.8 842.2 384.2 45.62 19.38 17.27 1936.38
1971 18.42 8.91 5.28 12.43 15.13 106.21 455.13 977.54 709.57 47.7 15 12.34 2383.66
1972 13.1 23.01 27.13 33.69 22.68 29.01 218.93 397.65 146.19 20.01 7.83 6.39 945.62
1973 8.92 6.9 6.32 5.68 11.15 16.83 133.04 540.64 429.09 87.16 11.38 7.99 1265.1
1974 7.85 6.24 15.9 18.2 13.78 22.48 296.45 538.89 314.51 35.53 15.17 11.38 1296.38
1975 6.35 5.78 5.86 9.35 9.25 29.37 349.02 473.14 358.47 38.48 11.85 9.51 1306.43
1976 8.91 7.85 13.6 13.68 18.81 28.68 184.22 440.84 216.59 21.52 16.78 10.8 982.28
1977 17.88 12.7 10.7 16.4 19.3 41.42 320.93 558.26 270.18 69.22 210.81 16.74 1564.54
1978 13.42 14.78 19.58 11.8 13.4 50.5 241.47 527.92 325.97 83.79 16.9 14.68 1334.21
1979 18.74 14.06 21.25 17.15 27.12 31.73 220.68 533.13 177.24 47.79 17.33 14.08 1140.3
1980 13.41 13.1 9.97 8.1 17.47 30.24 260.32 597.44 226.63 31.94 12.48 11.51 1232.61
1981 10.91 9.5 41.83 59.18 20.9 16.88 248.7 510.7 492.9 51.57 16.39 14.24 1493.7
1982 11.99 11.09 10.03 15.32 14.43 16.99 120.08 469.42 199.56 71.05 15.65 13.14 968.75
1983 10.49 10.22 14 30.07 62.84 60.47 161.26 633.54 379.24 42.86 14.73 11.06 1430.78
1984 10.11 7.37 7.53 5.68 10.96 66.13 325.27 372.87 277.83 18.13 8.34 7.51 1117.73
1985 7.1 5.52 4.43 7.07 26.5 19.33 231.92 750.94 322.14 29.45 9.58 9.92 1423.9
1986 5.45 14.98 15.2 26.14 21.54 59.13 187.81 417.06 266.62 22.43 9.27 8.77 1054.4
1987 7.9 8.89 34.26 64.72 58.11 75.84 131.6 192 46.53 17.34 9.65 7.98 654.82
1988 8.59 7.97 8.16 11.11 8.52 24.9 138.66 736.75 548.97 52.54 11.83 9.86 1567.85
1989 10.78 13.49 16.59 28.75 12.77 21.17 286.32 540.02 416.9 31.18 10.15 10.62 1398.72
1990 8.99 28.64 47.48 68.29 12.13 25.72 235.25 676.85 306.22 41.47 9.92 7.82 1468.79
1991 7.44 11.49 22.43 7.3 6.85 24.46 256.25 773.08 429.32 23.07 9.35 8.61 1579.65
1992 8.94 14.88 8.8 10.8 10.55 25.65 188.19 588.96 394.35 39.42 10.33 8.48 1309.33
1993 7.78 11.07 6.83 24.14 32.58 65.16 352.1 795.05 538.46 79.39 18.68 10.34 1941.57
1994 7.54 5.79 6.68 11.54 10.8 23.76 208.31 440.09 400.07 40.39 12.1 12.1 1179.17
1995 10.79 10.28 8.15 35.05 13.6 25 188.44 544.38 192.78 19.06 8.3 7.62 1063.45
1996 13.42 9.88 7.46 29.15 53.09 207.3 574.8 1108.4 351.2 32.07 14.18 3.81 2404.76
1997 10.33 7.74 7.88 13.2 10.52 37.03 147.5 326.4 76.99 24.09 24.68 14.97 701.32
1998 12.57 8.58 27.19 20.06 28 62.27 386.51 1621.8 442.63 105.66 21.11 13.49 2749.87
Mean 11.12 12.04 17.92 23.54 21.00 41.82 256.61 610.56 330.62 44.54 20.58 11.358 1401.70

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Reservoir capacity determination partial procedure.

To select ten consecutive years which relatively show dry periods, plot the annual average flow
for the entire data.

Average annual flow

250

200
Flow (m 3/s)

150

100

50

0
1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999
Year

Figure 1-7 Annual average flow

From the plot it can be seen that the flow record from 1978-1988 can be taken as a critical period
and be used for further analysis and determination of reservoir capacity.

10 years flow hydrograph

flow
800 demand
700
600
Flow (m3/s)

500
400
300
200
100
0
Jan-78 Jan-79 Jan-80 Jan-81 Jan-82 Jan-83 Jan-84 Jan-85 Jan-86 Jan-87 Jan-88
Tim e

Figure 1-8 Critical dry period hydrograph from data series

The 10 year flow hydrograph indicates a dry period to be used in the mass curve analysis. This
dry period is from January 1986 to January 1989. For this specific period the mass curve is
plotted as shown below.
To know the capacity of the reservoir needed to meet the demand, the reservoir can be considered
as full or empty at the beginning. Assuming that the reservoir is full at the beginning, move the
demand line in a way that it forms tangent line that do not intersect the inflow mass curve of the
previous period. The point at which the tangent line crosses the inflow mass curve is where the
reservoir fills again. If the line never intersects the curve this means that the reservoir will never
be full with in the time frame considered.

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Mass curve
9000

8000 Inflow
Demand_1
7000 Tang 2
Dem_2
6000 Tang 3
Dem_3
Volume (Mill M3)

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0
Jan-86 Jun-86 Dec-86 Jun-87 Dec-87 Jun-88 Dec-88
Time (months)

Figure 1-9 Mass Curve diagram for reservoir capacity

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1.6 Environmental, Social, Economical and Political investigation

The environmental, economic and other socio-political issues associated with reservoir
development must in all instances be acknowledged at the outset and fully addressed thereafter.
This is especially important in the case of the larger high-profile projects and all other, large or
lesser, sited in environmentally or politically sensitive locations.
Environmental impacts and other socio-political considerations can extend across a diverse
spectrum of issues. Socio-political considerations may range from population displacement, with
consequent economic impacts, to the preservation of cultural or heritage sites; from the
consequences of sedimentation and/or of changing flood regimes to altered patterns of disease.
It is necessary to examine the complex relationships between human society and its surrounding
environment, paying particular attention to issues relating to the local and regional environment,
especially the use and misuse of water resources and the policies governing resource use.
Various types of surveys based on functional and technical requirements should be carried out for
selecting a site for the dam and reservoir. Functional suitability of a site is governed by the
balance between its natural physical characteristics and the purpose of the reservoir. Catchment
hydrology, available head and storage volume etc. must be matched to operational parameters set
by the nature and scale of the project served. Technical acceptability is dictated by the presence
of a satisfactory site for a dam, the availability of materials suitable for dam construction, and by
the integrity of the reservoir basin with respect to leakage. To these must be added an assessment
of the anticipated environmental consequences of construction and operation of the dam.
1.7 Location criteria for dam and spillway site
While selecting a site for a dam the following points should be taken into consideration
i. The dam should be as near as possible to the area to be served, hence conveyance
cost and water losses will be minimized.
ii. Foundation area should be impervious and should be able to support the weight of the
dam.
iii. The topography of the dam and reservoir sites should permit maximum storage of
water at minimum cost.
iv. Materials of construction should be available in sufficient quantity and good quality
at a reasonable distance.
v. The value of property and land which will be submerged by the reservoir has to be as
small as possible.
vi. The cost of relocating roads, buildings etc. should be as small as possible
vii. The cost of stream diversion and dewatering the site should be as small as possible
viii. Transportation facilities and accessibility of the site
ix. Availability of suitable sites for construction equipment and camps
x. The safety of the structure.
While selecting a site for spillway the following points should be taken into consideration
i. The spillway must be a part of the dam itself (not for embankment dams) or it may be
located at a separate site,
ii. The location depends on the foundation and the topography of the area. Good rock
foundation is always desirable and the topography should permit easy diversion of
the flood waters passing over the spillway, back into the original stream channel.

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1.8 Dam site investigation

The items of investigation required mainly for a dam structure are listed below:
1. General planning and preparation of location maps: before undertaking actual
investigation it is necessary to prepare location maps indicating
 likely dam and spillway site,
 proposed relocation of approach roads,
 quarry sites for construction material,
 stream gauging stations,
 proposed camp site,
 existing utilities like lines of communication, transmission lines, rail/road
communication,
 Other important features.
2. Hydrologic investigation:
 collection and analysis of stream flow and precipitation records,
 assessment of available yield, estimation of flood peaks,
 determination of spillway capacity and
 Ground water studies.
3. Topographic survey:
 Detailed survey for the dam site covering sufficient area on the u/s and d/s as well
as above the likely height of the dam on both the banks,
 Detailed survey for areas proposed for constructing spillway, diversion tunnels,
outlets, power houses etc
 Preparation of detailed maps to various scales based on the data collected.
4. Surface geologic investigation:
 identification of boundary and nature of deposits and overburden;
 the characteristic, structure, strike of rock beds;
 Shape and magnitude of folds and fault zones.
5. Subsurface or foundation exploration:
 sinking open pits,
 drilling holes,
 driving shafts and drifts,
 Geophysical prospecting using latest techniques.
6. Seismic surveys.
7. Construction material survey:
 location and estimate of quantities of available construction material,
 estimates need to be supported by laboratory tests to determine suitability of
various materials for construction of dam and other structures.
1.9 Data collection
The collection of relevant data is the first state in the formulation of a project.
i. Physical data
General plan
 obtain a general plan of the catchment and project area
 carryout limited surveys to include additional information in this plan
 the plan must include the dam site, spillway site, irrigable area, catchment area of
the stream, locality to be supplied with potable water (if any)
map scale may vary from 1:1000 – 1:10,1000
 features to be included in the map

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o contour at 0.5 – 1.5m interval

o location of existing works, if any, affected by the proposed development,
o Proposed relocation of roads, railways, transmission lines, etc.
o Additional transportation facilities such as access roads, cableways, etc.
required for the execution of the project.
o Location of stream gauging station, water sampling and meteorological
stations, if any, in the area.
Larger plans for dam and spillway sites
o This should be in the scale of 1:500 – 1:1000 with contours as small as
possible
o The plans should show the following
 Over-banks
 Location of elevation of all features such as buildings, roads, etc.
 Location and number of test pits and boreholes
ii. hydrologic data
 data needed:
 Monthly flow, momentary peak flow of a stream at or near the dam site
 Annual sediment load
 If available, the following information is necessary
 Maximum observed flood level in the system
 Report on damage caused by flooding
 Data for estimating water demand
 # of people to be served
 approximate maximum and minimum daily water demand
 irrigation water requirement
 Other water requirements (industries, livestock, etc.)
iii. Meteorological Data
 Average monthly temperature
 Average monthly rainfall
 Maximum recorded storm intensities
 Annual rate of evaporation
iv. Geologic Data: geological map of the entire catchment area.
 Dam and Spillway sites
 Geologic map is essential
 Subsurface investigation should be carried out by an experienced geologist
 geologic sections of selected dam site
 quality of the overburden material if an earth dam is to be built
 shearing strength of the overburden material and the dam material
 permeability of the overburden material
 quantity and quality of the overburden material for construction purposes
 Presence, orientation and extent of joint planes, seams, caverns, and solution
channel.
 Strength of the rock (Hardness, etc.) if a concrete dam is to be built.
 Reservoir site
 Check the existence of cracks
 Banks should be checked for possible zones of landslides
v. Earthquake information on past seismic activity in the area should be obtained
vi. Agricultural data
 For irrigation purposes, the following data are essential for determining of water
requirement

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 The size of the area to be irrigated

 Soil structure
 Possible types of crops
 Soil types
vii. Material type
 Soil, sand and stone (for aggregate and riprap) are needed in good quality and
sufficient quantity for dam construction. Therefore, possible quarry sites for these
materials should be identified with in a reasonable distance from the construction
site.
 Selection of a suitable burrow area is influenced by
 Thickness of top organic soil which has to be discarded
 Content of organic matter in the rest of the soil
 Quantity of oversize cobbles which could have to be removed from the soil
 Rock for aggregate and riprap has to pass the standard tests of specific gravity
absorption, abrasion soundness etc.
viii. Miscellaneous data
 Erosion in the catchment area
 Identify exception sources of erosion
 Transport
 Existing facilities and rates
 Local labor
 Availability and rates

1.10 Site Requirement

For the budget allocated and the data collected the site selected for the reservoir and dam need to
be further evaluated for detail design. The detail design will of course necessitate additional data
collection.

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1.11 Stages in Project Planning and Implementation

Strategic Planning:
Project Initiative

Field Reconnaissance Mapping, Surveys, Data collection

Feasibility study and report Technical resources, options, etc.

Phase 1 dam site evaluation: reservoir site evaluation

Confirmation of dam type

Phase 2 dam site

investigations

Dam design

Construction foundation feedback

Figure 1-10 Stages in dam site appraisal and project development (P. Novak, 2001)

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