ABSTRACT
Sediments carried into reservoirs have adverse effects both on the operation of the reservoir and the water management of the basin relying on anticipated volumes gained from the reservoir. Problems can exacerbate in cases where the basin faces water scarcity and/or excessive sediment loads from upstream rivers. It is therefore imperative to examine the role of sediment transport in the operation of the receiving reservoir within a greater perspective of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). A toolbox has been designed here to address the issue based on sustainability criteria. The toolbox comprises an estimating engine for the river sediment transport, an IWRM allocation model and a Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) tool. The toolbox may be utilised to investigate the effect of various upstream sediment management scenarios on the role of reservoir in water resources management of the basin. Further assessments are made possible, in an integrated manner, based on sustainability criteria encompassing socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the basin.
