A Flexible Curtain Structure for Control of Vertical Reservoir Mixing Generated by Plunging Inflows

by Perry L. Johnson, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, United States,
Tracy B. Vermeyen, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Hydraulic Engineering

Abstract:

To maintain salmon habitat in the Sacramento River, efforts are being made to pass cold water inflows through Whiskeytown Reservoir, California, with minimal warming. In Whiskeytown, summer and early fall inflows come primarily from a diverted cold water source. Comparison of temperature profiles from various stations in the 2.6 ? 10⁸-m³, 76-m-deep reservoir show that a 3 to 6 ?C warming of inflows occurs as they plunge and shear (mix) with the warm epilimnion (surface layer). A lightweight curtain structure is currently being studied through use of a 1:72 scale, undistorted, density-stratified physical model. The curtain will be used to retain the epilimnion and introduce the cold inflow at sufficient depth to limit mixing-generated warming. A curtain has been designed on an accelerated schedule and will be installed by June 30, 1993.

Subject Headings: Inflow | Hydration | Reservoirs | Aquatic habitats | Rivers and streams | Temperature effects | Water temperature | California | United States

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