Efficient methods of measuring discharge and reservoir-sediment inflow

The inflow of reservoir sediment mainly takes place during periods of high flows that are invariably unsteady. The conventional methods of measuring discharge and sediment transport require too much time to be applicable during such periods The efficient method of discharge measurements presented herein estimates the mean velocity from the maximum velocity. The maximum velocity can be obtained quickly; therefore, the method can be easily used to automate the discharge measurement. In high flows the conventional depth-averaged sampling of sediment concentration is infeasible due to strong currents. The efficient method of measuring the inflow of reservoir sediment presented herein is tied to the efficient method of discharge measurement. Mathematical models have been developed that can completely describe the distribution of sediment concentration from the channel bed to the water surface. These models can be used to estimate the mean (depth-averaged) sediment concentration by a quick, point sampling near the surface.