ABSTRACT
Despite an ever-increasing demand for a more sustainable water supply system, worldwide storage capacity is relentlessly diminishing due to reservoir sedimentation. Over time, the deposition of sediment promulgates significant infrastructure damages both upstream and downstream of the dam, in addition to loss of storage space within the reservoir. The true costs of such damages are often overlooked and, thus, not included in cost-benefit analyses when designing dams. In order to promote long-term economic viability, dam owners (e.g., hydropower companies) and legislative bodies are encouraged to reconsider the traditional, short-sighted reservoir design life approach in favor of a life-cycle management plan which incorporates sediment management. By incorporating overlooked costs into economic analyses and implementing a life-cycle management plan, reservoir lifespans will be more sustainable, profits will be extended indefinitely, and the economic burdens placed upon future generations by ours will be lessened.
