Sedimentation and the economics of selecting an optimum reservoir size

This paper attempts to develop an easily reproducible methodology for the economic selection of an optimal reservoir size given an annual sedimentation rate. The optimal capacity is that at which the marginal cost of constructing additional storage capacity is equal to the dredging costs avoided by...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water resources research 1987-08, Vol.23 (8), p.1443-1448
Main Authors: Miltz, D, White, D.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANALISIS DE COSTOS Y BENEFICIOS
ANALYSE COUT AVANTAGE
CAPACIDAD DE RETENCION DE AGUA
CAPACITE DE RETENTION D'EAU
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
EMBALSES
GROSSEUR
ILLINOIS
RESERVOIR D'EAU
SEDIMENTACION
SEDIMENTATION
SIZE
TAMANO
WATER HOLDING CAPACITY
WATER RESERVOIRS
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Summary:This paper attempts to develop an easily reproducible methodology for the economic selection of an optimal reservoir size given an annual sedimentation rate. The optimal capacity is that at which the marginal cost of constructing additional storage capacity is equal to the dredging costs avoided by having that additional capacity available to store sediment. The cost implications of misestimating dredging costs, construction costs, and sediment delivery rates are investigated. In general, it is shown that oversizing is a rational response to uncertainty in the estimation of parameters. The sensitivity of the results to alternative discount rates is also discussed. The theoretical discussion is illustrated with a case study drawn from Highland Silver Lake in southwestern Illinois.
ISSN:0043-1397
1944-7973
DOI:10.1029/WR023i008p01443