Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID ND_2023_Lim_1

Sustainable Management of Dams and Reservoirs in North Dakota: Sediment Transport Characterization

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-05-15
Total Federal Funds: $4,572 Total Non-Federal Funds: $4,933

Principal Investigators: Yeo Howe Lim

Project Summary: Reservoirs and dams play a very important role in the ecosystem, including supplying water, electricity generation, and serving several other beneficial purposes including flood control, recreation, and navigation. In North Dakota, there are 128 reservoirs and 392 dams which are very important to people, animals, industries, and other organisms in the ecosystem. The investigation of sediment accumulation in selected reservoirs in North Dakota will be conducted by accurate bathymetry surveys using an autonomous surface vehicle equipped with an echo sounder. The extent to which the sediments are present will determine the volume of storage capacity loss for these water bodies. The water quality of the reservoirs will be studied to know the chemical elements that are present including PFAS, a growing health concern in the water supply industry. It is essential to conduct these investigations to ensure that these dams can safely perform the functions for which they are designed.