ABSTRACT
Dams and reservoirs have played a vital role in the socioeconomic development of societies across the world. These hydraulic structures are required to reliably supply freshwater resources. However, like any other human enterprise, these hydraulic structures also have a negative side. They trap sediment and starve downstream river reaches and areas of much-needed sediment. The trapped sediment leads to reservoir sedimentation which, in turn, reduces the design life and expected benefits of the dam. Sedimentation is now a major environmental problem and is one of the drivers of the environmental movement against dams. This chapter introduces different aspects of reservoir sedimentation with particular reference to India. It also lays out the objectives and scope of the book.
