Module 2- Site selection

Addis Ababa University Hydraulic Structures I

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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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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General provisions
• Hydropower development models may be divided into basic types such as dam-toe type, riverbed
type, diversion type and hybrid hydropower station.
• The general engineering layout of a hydropower station mainly includes the selection of the dam site,
diversion route and plant site (switchyard), as well as the dam type selection and engineering layout
of a multi-purpose project.
• The layout of hydropower project may be performed under the following principles:

a. The requirements for flood control, power generation, shipping, fishery, forestry, transportation,
and the eco-environment shall be comprehensively considered. The requirement of structures for the
layout shall be met so as to ensure them to work normally under any working conditions.
b. The structures of project shall be compactly laid out to reduce investment and for operational
and management convenience under the premise of meeting the functional requirements.
c. One structure shall be used for multiple purposes, or the temporary structure and permanent
structure shall be combined in the layout to give full play to comprehensive benefits.
d. The layout of project shall be considered with the purpose of reducing the total construction cost
and annual operating costs of the project under the premise of meeting the structure strength and
stability requirements.
e. The construction diversion method, the construction method for main structures and the
construction schedule shall be selected for the convenience of construction, a short construction period
and low construction cost.
f. The appearance of the project shall be coordinated with the ambient environment, and
integrated into the natural environment according to the local conditions so as to create a multi-
functional and pleasant environment.
• When the water retaining structure (except for an arch dam) is laid out, the dam axis should be short
and straight. The relatively longer straight axis or broken-line or curve axis may also be adopted
according to the actual situation.
• The layout of the water releasing structure depends on the dam type for the water retaining
structure
and the geological and topographical conditions near the dam site.
• The general requirements for layout of water intake:

a. In any period, it is necessary to supply water without interruption according to the diversion
requirement;
b. On a silt-rich river, it is necessary to implement effective sediment control measures to prevent
the sediment from entering the diversion channel;
c. With regard to head works for comprehensive utilization, it is necessary to ensure that the
structures could work normally and will not interfere with each other;
d. It is necessary to take measures to prevent the floatage, such as floating ice, from entering the
diversion channel;
 e. It is necessary to renovate the river channel near the intake as necessary to bring the
mainstream closer to the water intake to ensure the required water intake volume;
f. The layout of the intake structure shall be convenient for management and easy for modern
management facilities.
• The structures of the powerhouse shall be laid out so that:
• The water channels to upstream and downstream regions are as short as possible.
• The water flow should be smooth, the head loss should be minimal and the water outlet
shall not be deposited or impacted by the ice blocks.
• The tailrace shall be sufficiently deep and wide, the plane curvature shall not be
extensive, the depth shall vary gradually and the tailrace shall be smoothly connected to
the natural river flow or channel.
• The water flow or energy dissipation facilities at the outlets of the release structure shall
be laid out to avoid raising the tailwater level of the hydropower station as much as
possible.
• The following data shall be collected for design of the hydraulic structures：
✓ Topographic data: including regional topographic map on small scale (1:10000 to 1:50000) and the
surveyed topographic map of dam site on large scale (1:200 to 1:1,000).
✓ Geological data: the geological survey results for the dam area, including the distribution and depth
of the overburden, lithology, structure and burial depth of the rocks, groundwater level and burial
depth of the relative confining bed, dam foundation, rock weathering belt and unloading belt of the
dam abutment as well as the distribution and characteristics of the faults, particularly the faults
along the river and with low-angle dip.
✓ Hydrological and meteorological data: the hydrological data mainly refers to all kinds of hydrological
characteristics of the dam area such as runoff, flood, corresponding water level and sediment
concentration. The meteorological data mainly refers to the meteorological factors for the region
where the project is located, including sunlight, rainfall, snowfall, wind power, air temperature and
water temperature.
✓ The results of hydraulic energy calculations include the water level of each characteristic of the
reservoir (normal reservoir level, designed flood level, checked flood level, dead water level for
power generation), characteristic parameters of flood discharge structures (outlet size, control
elevation, dispatching mode).
✓ Data on construction materials: including the distribution of construction materials on the dam site
and in the nearby area, including the quality, reserves and physical and mechanical properties of the
natural construction materials (rock blocks and sandy gravel), as well as the characteristic
parameter, transportation distance and price of the artificial materials (cement and rebar)
✓ Shall acknowledge the property and geologic structure of the rock stratum, the hydrogeology, the
stability of the side slope, the karst, landslide mass and the harmful gas along the route of the
diversion system, as well as the ground stress and the rockburst situation in the region with high
ground stress.
✓ For the overloaded river, the information about the content, particles, hardness, unit weight and
motion law of the bed load and the suspended load in the river channel shall be collected. For the
water intake that takes water from the reservoir, the deposition morphology and elevation of the
sediment in the reservoir area also shall be acknowledged.
✓ For the river channel with heavy trash, the source, variety, quantity and drifting pattern of the trash
shall be collected.
✓ For the river in a frost region, the icing period, floating ice features and floating ice quantity; the size
of the ice blocks and the thickness of the ice layer; the operating data for the hydropower station
intake in winter under similar conditions shall be collected.

• Dam site selection

• The possible alternative dam sites shall be envisaged in accordance with the geological and
topographical conditions of river reach as well as the development and utilization requirements; the
representative dam axis, dam type and project layout of every dam site shall be determined through
study and comparison, and the dam site shall be selected and determined through comprehensive
technical and economic comparison.
• If the river valley is narrow and the geological conditions are good, then it is suitable for an arch dam;
if the river valley is wide and the geological conditions are relatively good, a gravity dam may be
selected; if the river valley is wide, the riverbed overburden is deep and thick or the geological
conditions are relatively poor, and the local material reserves such as earth, stone and gravel are
abundant, it is suitable for an earth and rockfill dam.
• With regard to a gravity dam site, the rocks shall have sufficient strength, integrity and homogeneity;
with regard to a concrete arch dam site, the requirements for rock mass strength and integrity are
greater than those for a gravity dam, meanwhile the dam abutment shall be stable. With regard to
earth and rockfill dam sites, it is necessary to ascertain the thickness of dam foundation overburden,
and verify whether liquefiable soil layer exists in the dam foundation.
• The dam site shall be convenient for construction diversion; the terrain near the dam site shall be
relatively wide and open for convenience when laying out the construction site; meanwhile, attention
shall be paid to the difference between the overall construction layout and the operation
management conditions for convenience of project operation and management. The dam site shall
also be selected with consideration given to the external traffic conditions.
• The dam site shall be selected with consideration given to the variety, reserve, quality, quantity,
distribution and transportation distance for different construction materials.
• It is preferable to select the dam site with the least submergence, land acquisition and resettlement
of residents; when comparing and selecting the dam site, it is also necessary to consider the influence
on the environment and try to keep away from sensitive objects; it is necessary to select the dam site
which is the most technologically reliable and economical.
• When a dam site is selected, it should be considered whether large-scale collapses and landslides will
occur in the reservoir area after reservoir impoundment. In hilly and plain areas, excessive
immersion should be avoided.
• When the peak ground acceleration in the dam site area is greater than or equal to 0.1g, anti-seismic
construction measures should be undertaken for the hydraulic structures.

• Dam type selection

• If the traffic is inconvenient or the steel, cement and concrete aggregate are insufficient in the dam
site region, but there are abundant earth and stone materials and the terrain is suitable for building
river bank spillway, then an earth and rockfill dam shall be selected and built with precedence using
local materials.
• If the geological conditions are relatively good, and a lot of gravel aggregate or stone materials are
available in local region, and the access and traffic is relatively available, a gravity dam may be built.
The spillway may be arranged while flooding may be discharged directly over the upper portion of
the gravity dam.
• If the dam site is located in a narrow V-shaped or U-shaped valley, and the rock foundation of the
dam abutment on both banks is good, an arch dam may be built. With regard to an arch dam, the
construction cost is usually relatively low, the construction period is short, and the flooding may be
discharged over the dam crest or through the openings in the dam body.

• Layout of the project

• The discharge structure of an earth and rockfill dam shall be arranged on the rock foundation near
the bank, and can adopt an open spillway and tunnel.
• If the terrain on both banks is abrupt and there is a saddle-shaped bealock with
appropriate elevation, or the terrain on both banks is gentle and the ridge is saddle-
shaped, and there is a channel convenient for returning the flooding into the river in the
region downstream of the site where an auxiliary dam water retaining structure needs
to be built, the river bank spillway should be laid out.
• If the spillway inlet is laid out on such position, and the flood discharge route thereafter
is led to another river channel, the scheme shall be reasonable inform an economic aspect
and the flood control problem of another river channel should be properly handled.
• When the aforesaid advantages are unavailable near the dam site or in a remote part of
the upstream region, the spillway should be laid out on the dam abutment.
• With regard to concrete or masonry gravity dam projects, the overflow dam section should be used
as the main release structure.
• The release structure shall be laid out so that the discharged water flow direction is
consistent with the axis of the original river for the benefit of the stability of the
downstream river bed.
• When the geological conditions vary along the axis of the dam, the overflow dam shall be
laid out on the relatively solid foundation.
• With regard to concrete or stone masonry arch dam projects, the overflow dam section should
usually be used as the main release structure. The release structure shall be laid out so that the
discharged water flow direction is consistent with the axis direction of the original river. If there is
saddle-shaped bealock with appropriate elevation on both banks, and there is a channel that is
convenient for returning the flooding into the river in the downstream region, the spillway may be
laid out on the river bank.
• With regard to multi-purpose hydraulic projects built on a river with high
sediment concentration, the release structure and the water intake structure
shall be laid out with consideration given to the reservoir sedimentation and the
influence on the erosion of the downstream river bed. For a hydraulic project
located on a river with high sediment concentration, bottom openings or a
tunnel with large diameter will usually be provided to discharge flood and
sediment during the flood season to extend the life of the reservoir.
• The water requirements of the downstream ecological environment shall be
considered in the layout of the project structures.