Modelling of flood flushing in a tributary constrained by barrages

Abstract

Purpose

Flood flushing is one natural cleansing capability of a natural river channel to wash away in‐stream pollutants and debris. The purpose of this paper is to explore the flood flushing restriction in a tributary due to its regulated main river channel between two barrages.

Design/methodology/approach

In the absence of detailed data, a concerted effort of computer river modelling is conceptualized to represent possible flushing conditions.

Findings

Regulation schemes of barrages are deduced to interrupt the natural tidal and river flow interaction zones and thus impede river flushing capability.

Practical implications

Modelling of barrages’ operating modes suggested that though the man‐made structures are unable to replicate natural flood flushing, proper operations offer a secondary option to achieving the desired water quality objective in a constrained tributary.

Originality/value

Studies on minor tributary of modified main‐stem river are few. The attended tributary‐trunk relationships carry the credibility of this paper.

Citation

Yau Seng Mah, D. and bt Bateni, N. (2012), "Modelling of flood flushing in a tributary constrained by barrages", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 101-108. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777831211191629