Sedimentation in reservoirs. Case study: the reservoir of the Sao Bartolomeu stream, Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil/Sedimentacion en embalses. Estudio de caso: el embalse del arroyo Sao Bartolomeu, Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil

• Published in: Earth sciences research journal 2021-06, Vol.25 (2), p.193
• Main Authors: Saito, Youlia Kamei, Viana, Lucas Jose Ferreira, Ferreira, Italo Oliveira, Marques, Eduardo Antonio Gomes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Case studies; Reservoirs; Sediments (Geology); Soil erosion
• ISSN: 1794-6190
• DOI: 10.15446/esrj.v25n2.79584

Sedimentation in bodies of water is a worldwide problem that impairs its navigability and utilization, and, in reservoirs, this process reduces their partial or total storage capacity. Using single-beam bathymetric survey techniques, this study evaluates the sedimentation process in a reservoir section at the Federal University of Vicosa (UFV), located in Vicosa, Minas Gerais, in the Southeast region of Brazil. An analysis of the charts showing the DEM (Digital Elevation Models) and the Elevation x Surface Area x Accumulated Volume for three surveys conducted in 2010, 2012, and 2016 provided the sedimentation rates between these years, as well as the accumulated volume of sediments in the area under analysis for each year. The information we collected shows sediments accumulated in the deepest part of the reservoir in the period between 2010 and 2012. From 2012 to 2016, however, the sedimentation effect was concentrated in shallower depths, whereas the desilting was observed in the deepest parts. Moreover, the sedimentation rate in the analyzed area may be linked to the total precipitation in the municipality during the concerning time frame, as well as to changes in land use that occurred over the past years throughout the watershed. This data indicates a call for management actions to reduce soil erosion in the watershed, as well as a need for desilting of the reservoirs in order to recover its storage capacity. Keywords: Bathymetry; Carving; Kriging; Reservoir; Sedimentation; La sedimentacion en las masas de agua es un problema mundial que perjudica su navegabilidad y utilization, y en los reservorios, este proceso reduce su capacidad de almacenamiento parcial o total. Usando tecnicas de levantamiento batimetrico de haz simple, este estudio evaliia el proceso de sedimentacion en una section de reservorio en la Universidad Federal de Vicosa (UFV), ubicada en Vicosa, Minas Gerais, en la region sureste de Brasil. Un analisis de las tablas que muestran los modelos de elevation digital (DEM) y el volumen acumulado x area de elevation x area de tres encuestas realizadas en 2010, 2012 y 2016 proporciono las tasas de sedimentacion entre estos anos, asi como el volumen acumulado de sedimentos en el area en analisis para cada afio. La information que recopilamos muestra los sedimentos acumulados en la parte mas profunda del reservorio en el periodo comprendido entre 2010 y 2012. Sin embargo, desde 2012 hasta 2016, el efecto de sedimentacion se concentro en profun