Conemaugh River Lake Sediment Removal Study
Abstract
The Conemaugh River Lake is a flood-control project formed by the closure of the Conemaugh River Dam in late 1952. Over a 30-year period, an accumulation of sediment resulted in a reduction in gross reservoir storage capacity of 4.14 percent. Sediment removal to restore flexibility of operation of the conduits at the Conemaugh River Lake Dam is required. One alternative being considered is hydraulic dredging with disposal of the dredged material in an upland confined disposal facility (CDF). The conceptual design of the CDF requires an evaluation of the settling behavior and properties of the dredged material to be placed therein to estimate storage requirements and to estimate total suspended solids concentration. The Conemaugh River Lake and its main tributaries were modeled to investigate the effectiveness of various alternative solutions to the sedimentation problem. Model verification and adjustments were performed based on reproduction of the accumulation rate over the period 1966 to 1982. Laboratory column tests were performed on the Conemaugh River Lake sediment. The settling behavior was observed to be typical of other sediments if hydraulically dredged and placed in a CDF. The compression test data were used to develop the initial storage requirements. The flocculent indicated that the suspended solids will settle by gravity. Adjustments, Flocculent, Turbidity, Compression, Numerical model, Sedimentation, Zone, Confined disposal facility.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA284271
Entities
People
- Allen M. Teeter
- Gary E. Freeman
- Roy Wade
- William A. Thomas