ASSESSMENT OF SEDIMENT TRANSPORT LOAD IN GOMAL RIVER AND ITS IMPACT ON THE GOMAL ZAM DAM LIFE SPAN
Abstract
This paper estimates the sediment load transported by Gomal River at Khajuri Katch and Kot Murtaza on yearly-basis. An eight years sediment data (1981-88) compiled by the surface water hydrology division of WAPDA was analyzed and model of power relation was chosen to be fitted to the collected data. Regression analysis was used to establish a correlation between water discharge and sediment load. The model is an attempt to ascertain the rate of erosion in the catchment of the Gomal River since no generalized model has so far been developed to explain the nature of such weathering activities and all such works are situation specific. Relation between the water discharges to sediment load that it carries has been developed to signify the Gomal River catchment’s erosion. The analysis shows that the catchments is eroding at the rate of 1.67 acre-feet and the sediment water ratio is 3.0% which is the second highest value the world over after Yellow River in China. The variation of different parameters in sediment-water system i.e. water discharge, sediment load, sediment concentration and sediment quality have been estimated from the actual data and are shown by histograms and bar graphs. The relations developed are applicable only to the Gomal River system. It is hoped that the study will invite interest and attention of planners, researchers, and all those concerned with the problems and menace of soil erosion, sediment load concentration in hydraulic structures and its impact over the life span of hydraulic structures i.e. dams deemed to be constructed across the river with the objective to minimize the sedimentation problems.
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