Sediment
Environmental Indicators:
Societal Indicators:
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The initial map shows the data available for Corps of Engineer Reservoirs. Corps Districts show the percentage of the conservation pool storage volume lost annually.
Each of the above highlighted attributes can be changed in the grey sidebar to the left of the map. Map and charts will automatically update with selection.
Click on a reservoir and scroll down to see sediment changes over time. Click on the tabs to view trends and additional information. Click on the magnifying glass icon on the right side of the map to search for a location.
The three graphs show the percentage of the sediment pool (left; also known as inactive storage or dead storage), conservation pool (middle; also known as a multi-purpose pool) and flood control pool (right) filled by sediment. The solid line shows sedimentation based on rates between surveys. The dashed line shows estimated sedimentation out to 100 years from the date of the first survey. Negative sedimentation rates suggest that the reservoir is losing sediment and gaining greater storage capacity. This could reflect changes in survey methods, sediment compaction, and/or adoption of sediment reduction strategies.
How do sediment rates compare across districts, divisions, and the nation? shows the percentage of storage space lost to sedimentation each year based on the reservoir and pool (sediment, conservation, or flood control) selected. The percentage reflects the median sedimentation rate for all surveys at each reservoir. Reservoirs gaining storage space are not displayedable on log plots. An annual storage loss of 1% means the storage capacity will be filled with sediment in 100 years. A sediment rate of 0.10% would fill the storage capacity in 1,000 years; a rate of 10% in 10 years.
How has sedimentation rate changed over time? shows sedimentation rates by pool and survey. Triangles show survey dates. Some surveys were reported but had no data available.
How do sedimentation rates compare across survey methods? displays the 25th to 75th percentile range of sedimentation rates by survey method.
Sedimentation Summary provides the reservoirs age and the estimated remaining storage capacity in 2018 and 2050 for each pool. The table also shows an estimate of when each pool will be filled with sediment based on the most recent survey.
Methods Summary provides information about surveys by method: number, year, and median sedimentation rate.
Sediment flows downstream and into reservoirs where it accumulates. As sediment accumulates, the storage capacity of the reservoir decreases and it loses some of its functionality and flexibility. Reservoirs are designed so that after 50 to 100 years of sediment accumulation, the reservoir is still fully meeting their intended purposes. The rate of sedimentation, however, is not stationary. In some reservoirs, such as John Redmond in Kansas, the sedimentation rate has more than doubled from design, causing the reservoir to lose functionality. In other reservoirs, such as Jordan Lake in North Carolina, the sedimentation rate has been slower than design and has resulted in storage space that is under-utilized. Knowing the sedimentation rates of a reservoir, compared with the design rate, can be useful for long-term planning.