Environmental Management of Multipurpose Reservoirs Subject to Fluctuation Flood Pools, June 1979

(1979) Environmental Management of Multipurpose Reservoirs Subject to Fluctuation Flood Pools, June 1979. Iowa State University

Preview

PDF enviro_management_fluctuation_flood_pools_1979_OCR_RED_.pdf File Size:25MB

Abstract

The last two decades four large multipurpose reservoirs have been constructed by the Corps of Engineers in Iowa. They are the Coralville, Rathbun, Red Rock and Saylorville Reservoirs (Fig. 1). Coralville Reservoir is the oldest (with operations beginning in 1958) and Saylorville is the newest (with operations beginning in 1977). In addition, several smaller multi-purpose reservoirs have been constructed during the past few years by various state and local agencies, such as the Iowa Conservation Commission and the various county conservation boards. Two, Pleasant Creek at Palo and Lake Panorama at Panora, involve electric utility companies and recreation interests. All these reservoirs are providing valuable services to the people of Iowa. Storage of water in these reservoirs provides water supply, flood peak reduction, erosion and sediment control, low head hydroelectric power generation, low flow augmentation and recreation. However, the potential for conflicts between the competing users of water in a multipurpose reservoir project always exists. The large fluctuations in the water level within the flood pool of a reservoir often causes severe impacts on the shoreline areas that are heavily used for recreation. These impacts may be so severe that the estimated recreation use of the area is never fully realized. Maximizing the use of a reservoir for hydroelectric power requires maintaining a high, stable pool elevation.