A Spreadsheet Tool for Defining Dangerous Flow Ranges of Low-Head Dams

Low-head dams can be dangerous to recreational river users when a submerged hydraulic jump forms downstream, with recirculating surface flows that repeatedly carry trapped recreationists upstream into the high-velocity jet plunging over dam crest. The flow endangers those who pass from and also entrap approach too closely downstream. A national task force is using range of methods identify potentially structures, but definite determination requires field data an analysis conditions for each site’s likely rates. spreadsheet tool described here determines submergence created by site-specific tailwater levels uses previous research results estimate associated magnitude reverse velocities. crucial level at which passing stops pool instead flips surface, creating safer, downstream-directed article describes application specific sites provides insight about typical low-head dams.