New Economic Paradigm for Sustainable Reservoir Sediment Management

Water storage reservoirs can be either sustainable or exhaustible. In the absence of sediment management, reservoir is an exhaustible resource with long-term consequences. Previous economic planning essentially guaranteed non-sustainable solutions. This paper describes a new paradigm for assessments and existing reservoirs. The provides framework comprehensive accounting benefits costs over sufficiently long period analysis, including cost estimates dam decommissioning lost where sediments are not sustainably managed. A case study applies this to hypothetical western US quantitatively compare status quo (i.e., no management) selection management alternatives. Results indicate that less expensive than consequences ignoring sedimentation (e.g., eventual replacing capacity). Additional work shows beginning within decade construction prevents most severe impacts sedimentation. An investigation alternative discounting approaches indicates approach employed have significant impact on results.