A new approach to sediment transport in the design and operation of irrigation canals / Новые подходы в переносе осадков при проектировании и управлении ирригационными каналами

The transport of sediment in irrigation canals influences to a great extent the sustainability of an irrigation and drainage system. Unintentional or unwanted erosion or deposition of sediment in canals will not only increase the maintenance costs, but also leads to an unfair and inadequate distribution of irrigation water. Proper knowledge of the behaviour and transport of sediment in these canals will help to plan efficient and reliable water delivery schedules to supply water at the required levels; to have a controlled deposition of sediments, to estimate and arrange the required maintenance activities, and to determine the type of desilting facilities and their efficiency, etc.
The study of sediment transport in irrigation canals is mainly focused on the sediment and erosion processes in canal networks. In view of maintenance activities the head works should be designed in such a way that they prevent or limit the entrance of sediment into canals. In addition, the design of the canal system should be based upon the transport of all the sediment to the fields or to specific places in the canal system, where the deposited sediment can be removed at minimum cost. Sedimentation should be prevented in canals and near structures, as it will hamper and endanger a correct irrigation management, the main objectives of which are to deliver irrigation water in an adequate, reliable, fair and efficient way to all the farmers at the required water level. Inadequate management will result in low efficiency, unnecessary loss of the already scarce water and low yields. <...>