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SEDIMENTATION IN SUNGAI SARAWAK : POST·BARRAGE .' Chai Su Boon . Master of Environmental Science (Land Use and Water Resource Management) 2006

SEDIMENTATION IN SUNGAI SARAWAK : POST·BARRAGE In Sungai Sarawak ; Post... · akan meninggikan paras dataran dan ... yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

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SEDIMENTATION IN SUNGAI SARAWAK POSTmiddotBARRAGE

Chai Su Boon

Master of Environmental Science (Land Use and Water Resource Management)

2006

Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik UNlYERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

PKHIDMAT MAKLUMAT AKADEMIK

111111111 rliiiilllllllill 1000246211 ~

SEDIMENTATION IN SUNGAI SARAWAK POST- BARRAGE

CHAISUBOON

A thesis submitted

In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

Masters ofEnvironmental Science (Sustainable Land use and Water

Resource Management)

-Faculty ofResource Science and Technology

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

2006

Acknowledgement

I am greatly indebted to my thesis supervisor Associate Professor Dr Lau

Seng for his kind advice and guidance throughout the course of thls study

His comments have been of great help every time guiding me through the

process of finishing this thesis My gratitude also goes to all the lecturers

that have been involved in this programme leading up to this final module

for channelling their knowledge in a thoughtful and passionate manner I

would also like middotto thank all the parties which have contributed to this

study whether information wise or through moral support Thank you to

Kuching Barrage Management Sdn Bhd The Sarawak Marine

Department and The Sarawak Rivers Board just to name a few

This dissertation is dedicated to my middotfamily friends and course mates

whose example and aspirations in life will be with me always

middotChai SuBoon (2006)

ii

Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademillt UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement 11

Table of Contents ill

List of Figures -Vll

Abstract lX

List of Tables vi

Abstrak x

Chapter 1 -Introduction 1

Hypothesis 10

Study Objective 10

-Chapter 2 - Literature Review 11

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition 11

22 Barrage 13

23 Turbidity 15

24 Total Suspended Solids 16

25 Impacts of Barrages and Dams from a Sedimentation

-Perspective 17

iii

26 Summary - Sungai SarawakEnvironmental Control and River

Management Study Sedimentation Study 20

Chapter 3 - Methodology 2-9

31 Study Area 29

32 Barrage Operation 29

33 -Riverbed Survey Data 31

34 Water Quality Data 32

35 Data Analysis 34

Chapter 4 - Results and Discussion 37

41 Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme 37

42 Barrage Operation 37

421 -Intended-Operation Approach 37

422 Present Operation Approach 39

423 Classification of Barrage Gate Operation 44

43 Riverbed Survey Data 47

431 Cross-section Profile Comparison 47

432 Longitudinal Profile Comparison 50

44 Water Quality Data 54

iv

54441 Cross-section Profile Comparison

56442 Water Quality Comparison

-J

59Chapter 5 - Conclusion

61References

Appendix 63

v

List of Tables

Table 21 - Simulated Trap Efficiency

Table 41 - Turbidity Measurements and Corresponding TSS Levels

vi

List of Figures

Figure 11 - Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

Figure 22 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Malaysia

Figure 23 - Locality Plan of the Three Gorges Dam China

Figure 31 - Location of the Study Area (Henderson Point to Sungai

Sarawak Barrage

Figure 32 - Location ofGenerated -Cross Sections (01 to -12)

Figure 33 - Location of Water Quality Sampling Sites

Figure 41 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Operation Levels II

Figure 42 - Barrage Gate Operation (1-998 - 2005)

Figure 43 - Barrage Operation 2005

vii

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik UNlYERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

PKHIDMAT MAKLUMAT AKADEMIK

111111111 rliiiilllllllill 1000246211 ~

SEDIMENTATION IN SUNGAI SARAWAK POST- BARRAGE

CHAISUBOON

A thesis submitted

In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

Masters ofEnvironmental Science (Sustainable Land use and Water

Resource Management)

-Faculty ofResource Science and Technology

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

2006

Acknowledgement

I am greatly indebted to my thesis supervisor Associate Professor Dr Lau

Seng for his kind advice and guidance throughout the course of thls study

His comments have been of great help every time guiding me through the

process of finishing this thesis My gratitude also goes to all the lecturers

that have been involved in this programme leading up to this final module

for channelling their knowledge in a thoughtful and passionate manner I

would also like middotto thank all the parties which have contributed to this

study whether information wise or through moral support Thank you to

Kuching Barrage Management Sdn Bhd The Sarawak Marine

Department and The Sarawak Rivers Board just to name a few

This dissertation is dedicated to my middotfamily friends and course mates

whose example and aspirations in life will be with me always

middotChai SuBoon (2006)

ii

Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademillt UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement 11

Table of Contents ill

List of Figures -Vll

Abstract lX

List of Tables vi

Abstrak x

Chapter 1 -Introduction 1

Hypothesis 10

Study Objective 10

-Chapter 2 - Literature Review 11

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition 11

22 Barrage 13

23 Turbidity 15

24 Total Suspended Solids 16

25 Impacts of Barrages and Dams from a Sedimentation

-Perspective 17

iii

26 Summary - Sungai SarawakEnvironmental Control and River

Management Study Sedimentation Study 20

Chapter 3 - Methodology 2-9

31 Study Area 29

32 Barrage Operation 29

33 -Riverbed Survey Data 31

34 Water Quality Data 32

35 Data Analysis 34

Chapter 4 - Results and Discussion 37

41 Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme 37

42 Barrage Operation 37

421 -Intended-Operation Approach 37

422 Present Operation Approach 39

423 Classification of Barrage Gate Operation 44

43 Riverbed Survey Data 47

431 Cross-section Profile Comparison 47

432 Longitudinal Profile Comparison 50

44 Water Quality Data 54

iv

54441 Cross-section Profile Comparison

56442 Water Quality Comparison

-J

59Chapter 5 - Conclusion

61References

Appendix 63

v

List of Tables

Table 21 - Simulated Trap Efficiency

Table 41 - Turbidity Measurements and Corresponding TSS Levels

vi

List of Figures

Figure 11 - Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

Figure 22 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Malaysia

Figure 23 - Locality Plan of the Three Gorges Dam China

Figure 31 - Location of the Study Area (Henderson Point to Sungai

Sarawak Barrage

Figure 32 - Location ofGenerated -Cross Sections (01 to -12)

Figure 33 - Location of Water Quality Sampling Sites

Figure 41 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Operation Levels II

Figure 42 - Barrage Gate Operation (1-998 - 2005)

Figure 43 - Barrage Operation 2005

vii

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Acknowledgement

I am greatly indebted to my thesis supervisor Associate Professor Dr Lau

Seng for his kind advice and guidance throughout the course of thls study

His comments have been of great help every time guiding me through the

process of finishing this thesis My gratitude also goes to all the lecturers

that have been involved in this programme leading up to this final module

for channelling their knowledge in a thoughtful and passionate manner I

would also like middotto thank all the parties which have contributed to this

study whether information wise or through moral support Thank you to

Kuching Barrage Management Sdn Bhd The Sarawak Marine

Department and The Sarawak Rivers Board just to name a few

This dissertation is dedicated to my middotfamily friends and course mates

whose example and aspirations in life will be with me always

middotChai SuBoon (2006)

ii

Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademillt UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement 11

Table of Contents ill

List of Figures -Vll

Abstract lX

List of Tables vi

Abstrak x

Chapter 1 -Introduction 1

Hypothesis 10

Study Objective 10

-Chapter 2 - Literature Review 11

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition 11

22 Barrage 13

23 Turbidity 15

24 Total Suspended Solids 16

25 Impacts of Barrages and Dams from a Sedimentation

-Perspective 17

iii

26 Summary - Sungai SarawakEnvironmental Control and River

Management Study Sedimentation Study 20

Chapter 3 - Methodology 2-9

31 Study Area 29

32 Barrage Operation 29

33 -Riverbed Survey Data 31

34 Water Quality Data 32

35 Data Analysis 34

Chapter 4 - Results and Discussion 37

41 Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme 37

42 Barrage Operation 37

421 -Intended-Operation Approach 37

422 Present Operation Approach 39

423 Classification of Barrage Gate Operation 44

43 Riverbed Survey Data 47

431 Cross-section Profile Comparison 47

432 Longitudinal Profile Comparison 50

44 Water Quality Data 54

iv

54441 Cross-section Profile Comparison

56442 Water Quality Comparison

-J

59Chapter 5 - Conclusion

61References

Appendix 63

v

List of Tables

Table 21 - Simulated Trap Efficiency

Table 41 - Turbidity Measurements and Corresponding TSS Levels

vi

List of Figures

Figure 11 - Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

Figure 22 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Malaysia

Figure 23 - Locality Plan of the Three Gorges Dam China

Figure 31 - Location of the Study Area (Henderson Point to Sungai

Sarawak Barrage

Figure 32 - Location ofGenerated -Cross Sections (01 to -12)

Figure 33 - Location of Water Quality Sampling Sites

Figure 41 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Operation Levels II

Figure 42 - Barrage Gate Operation (1-998 - 2005)

Figure 43 - Barrage Operation 2005

vii

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademillt UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement 11

Table of Contents ill

List of Figures -Vll

Abstract lX

List of Tables vi

Abstrak x

Chapter 1 -Introduction 1

Hypothesis 10

Study Objective 10

-Chapter 2 - Literature Review 11

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition 11

22 Barrage 13

23 Turbidity 15

24 Total Suspended Solids 16

25 Impacts of Barrages and Dams from a Sedimentation

-Perspective 17

iii

26 Summary - Sungai SarawakEnvironmental Control and River

Management Study Sedimentation Study 20

Chapter 3 - Methodology 2-9

31 Study Area 29

32 Barrage Operation 29

33 -Riverbed Survey Data 31

34 Water Quality Data 32

35 Data Analysis 34

Chapter 4 - Results and Discussion 37

41 Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme 37

42 Barrage Operation 37

421 -Intended-Operation Approach 37

422 Present Operation Approach 39

423 Classification of Barrage Gate Operation 44

43 Riverbed Survey Data 47

431 Cross-section Profile Comparison 47

432 Longitudinal Profile Comparison 50

44 Water Quality Data 54

iv

54441 Cross-section Profile Comparison

56442 Water Quality Comparison

-J

59Chapter 5 - Conclusion

61References

Appendix 63

v

List of Tables

Table 21 - Simulated Trap Efficiency

Table 41 - Turbidity Measurements and Corresponding TSS Levels

vi

List of Figures

Figure 11 - Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

Figure 22 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Malaysia

Figure 23 - Locality Plan of the Three Gorges Dam China

Figure 31 - Location of the Study Area (Henderson Point to Sungai

Sarawak Barrage

Figure 32 - Location ofGenerated -Cross Sections (01 to -12)

Figure 33 - Location of Water Quality Sampling Sites

Figure 41 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Operation Levels II

Figure 42 - Barrage Gate Operation (1-998 - 2005)

Figure 43 - Barrage Operation 2005

vii

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

26 Summary - Sungai SarawakEnvironmental Control and River

Management Study Sedimentation Study 20

Chapter 3 - Methodology 2-9

31 Study Area 29

32 Barrage Operation 29

33 -Riverbed Survey Data 31

34 Water Quality Data 32

35 Data Analysis 34

Chapter 4 - Results and Discussion 37

41 Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme 37

42 Barrage Operation 37

421 -Intended-Operation Approach 37

422 Present Operation Approach 39

423 Classification of Barrage Gate Operation 44

43 Riverbed Survey Data 47

431 Cross-section Profile Comparison 47

432 Longitudinal Profile Comparison 50

44 Water Quality Data 54

iv

54441 Cross-section Profile Comparison

56442 Water Quality Comparison

-J

59Chapter 5 - Conclusion

61References

Appendix 63

v

List of Tables

Table 21 - Simulated Trap Efficiency

Table 41 - Turbidity Measurements and Corresponding TSS Levels

vi

List of Figures

Figure 11 - Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

Figure 22 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Malaysia

Figure 23 - Locality Plan of the Three Gorges Dam China

Figure 31 - Location of the Study Area (Henderson Point to Sungai

Sarawak Barrage

Figure 32 - Location ofGenerated -Cross Sections (01 to -12)

Figure 33 - Location of Water Quality Sampling Sites

Figure 41 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Operation Levels II

Figure 42 - Barrage Gate Operation (1-998 - 2005)

Figure 43 - Barrage Operation 2005

vii

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

54441 Cross-section Profile Comparison

56442 Water Quality Comparison

-J

59Chapter 5 - Conclusion

61References

Appendix 63

v

List of Tables

Table 21 - Simulated Trap Efficiency

Table 41 - Turbidity Measurements and Corresponding TSS Levels

vi

List of Figures

Figure 11 - Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

Figure 22 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Malaysia

Figure 23 - Locality Plan of the Three Gorges Dam China

Figure 31 - Location of the Study Area (Henderson Point to Sungai

Sarawak Barrage

Figure 32 - Location ofGenerated -Cross Sections (01 to -12)

Figure 33 - Location of Water Quality Sampling Sites

Figure 41 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Operation Levels II

Figure 42 - Barrage Gate Operation (1-998 - 2005)

Figure 43 - Barrage Operation 2005

vii

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

List of Tables

Table 21 - Simulated Trap Efficiency

Table 41 - Turbidity Measurements and Corresponding TSS Levels

vi

List of Figures

Figure 11 - Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

Figure 22 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Malaysia

Figure 23 - Locality Plan of the Three Gorges Dam China

Figure 31 - Location of the Study Area (Henderson Point to Sungai

Sarawak Barrage

Figure 32 - Location ofGenerated -Cross Sections (01 to -12)

Figure 33 - Location of Water Quality Sampling Sites

Figure 41 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Operation Levels II

Figure 42 - Barrage Gate Operation (1-998 - 2005)

Figure 43 - Barrage Operation 2005

vii

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

List of Figures

Figure 11 - Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

Figure 22 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Malaysia

Figure 23 - Locality Plan of the Three Gorges Dam China

Figure 31 - Location of the Study Area (Henderson Point to Sungai

Sarawak Barrage

Figure 32 - Location ofGenerated -Cross Sections (01 to -12)

Figure 33 - Location of Water Quality Sampling Sites

Figure 41 - Sungai Sarawak Barrage Operation Levels II

Figure 42 - Barrage Gate Operation (1-998 - 2005)

Figure 43 - Barrage Operation 2005

vii

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Figure 44 - Typical -Cross-section Profile -Comparison Template

Figure 45 - Cross Sectional Area Comparison

Figure 46 - Comparison ofMaximum Depth at Each Cross Section

Figure 47 - Longitudinal Profile Comparison (Scenario F amp 2003)

Figure 48 - Longitudinal Profile -Comparison (Scenario A amp 2003~

Figure 49 - -Differences in Bed Level (Compared to Baseline Simulation)

Figure 410 - Total Suspended Solids Trend(LKIM Jetty)

Figure 411 - Total Suspended Solids Trend (Satok Bridge)

viii

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Abstract

The general objective of this ~tudy was to reVIew the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study 1997 One of the

crucial problems related to the performance of reservoirs such as the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage impoundment is the progressive reduction in

storage capacity due to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises

flood plain levels reducing its effectiveness for flood mitigation purposes

The primary study area was the river section beginning from Henderson

Point (near Ban Hock Wharf) to the Sungai Sarawak Barrage further

downstream Channel cross-section and longitudinal profiles were

generated through manual profiling using navigation charts

Subsequently comparative analyses of the profiling results were done

using traditional methods Comparisons between actual and simulated

levels were conducted The effectiveness of barrage operation from a

sediment re-suspension aspect was roughly gauged by comparing turbidity

measurements taken prior to and during barrage gate operation The

assessment of cross sectional profiles conducted in this study suggests that

most sections of the river reach in question were deeper and wider This

indicates that the river reach from Henderson Point to Sungai Sarawak

Barrage has not been affected by impoundment sedimentation in any

detrimental manner The increase in total suspended solids level during

gate operation as opposed to levels prior to operation was quite

appreciable It is reasonable to assume that the turbulence created during

gate operations is sufficient to re-suspend some of the settled sediment

particles and effectively transport the particles out of the impoundment

Generally the impoundment sedimentation upstream of the Sungai

Sarawak is not significant due to regmar gate operation

ix

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Abstrak

Objective am tesis ini adalah untuk menelitikembali kesimpulanshy

kesimpulan kajian mendakan yang dijalankan sebagai sebahagian

daripada Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River

Management Study 1997 Salah satu masalah utama yang dihadapi

dalam pengendalian kawasan tadahan air seperti yang terdapat di Baraj

Sungai Sarawak adalah pengurangan progresif isipadu takungan air

yang disebabkan olehmendakan Mendakan di kawasan takungan air ini

akan meninggikan paras dataran dan mengurangkan keberkesananya

dalam perihal perlindungan banjir Kawasan utama kajian ini meliputi

bahagian sungai bermula dari Henderson Point di hulu sehingga Baraj

Sungai Sarawak di hilir Profilsungai secara melintang and memanjang

telah dihasilkan secara kasar menggunakan carta navigasi Profil sungai

yang dihasilkan akan dibandingkan dengan menggunakan cara-cara

tradisi Perbandingan di antara paras sebenar dan paras simulasi telah

dilakukan Keberkesanan operasi baraj middotdari segi menimbulkan semula

mendakan dapat dinilai secara kasar melalui perbandingan ukuran

turbiditi sebelumdan semasa operasi pintu baraj Perbandingan profil

sungai dalam kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa secara amnya bahagian

sungai yang dikaji telah menjadi lebih Lebar dan dalam Ini menandakan

bahawa bahagian sungai dari Henderson Point menuju ke Baraj Sungai

Sarawak tidak mengalami masalah mendakan yang serius Kenaikan

paras pepejal terampai semasa operasi pintu baraj jika dibandingkan

dengan paras sebelum operasiadalahagak ketara Jadiadalah

munasabahjika menganggap bahawa arus air yang dihasilkan semasa

operasi baraj adalah cukup untuk menimbulkan sebahagian mendakan

dan membawanya keluar daripada kawasan tadahan ke laut ampcara

amnya masalah mendakan dikawasan tadahanbaraj telah dapat

dikurangkan dengan operasi pintu baraj yang sentiasa

x

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

I

Chapter 1 - Introduction

The progress of human civilization has been sustained by rivers for many

centuries Various essential needs such as water supply generation of

electricity agricultural irrigation and ship navigation are fulfilled by river

systems such as Sungai Sarawak The river is a vital water supply source for

Kuching City and various other communities along the river stretch Sungai

Sarawak is also a key transportation route for goods and people via small

craft as well as larger container ships This method of transport is still

crucial for some communities especially in the upper basin areas that are not

linked by roads All along Sungai Sarawak numerous agricultural activities

can be found such as aquaculture schemes plantations and animal farms

which rely on the river for irrigation and drainage Agriculture activities are

a source of food and income for the local population Other economic

activities closely linked to Sungai Sarawak include sand dredging and small

scale fishing Annually a number of recreational activities are held along the

river such as -boat races and parades Some -are carried out as tourist

attraction programmes whilst others are linked to tradition and leisure

interest Sungai Sarawak is a key aesthetical component of Kuching City as

the river flows right through it In fact the river forms a natural boundary

for the citys northern and southern administrative zones The Kuching

Waterfront was built on both banks of the river to obscure its muddy banks

consequently increasing its aesthetic appearance Most of the inhabitants

within the Sungai Sarawak basin are connected to the river one way or ~

another Sungai Sarawak is very dependable as it is fed by rainfall and

groundwater all year round

The length of Sungai Sarawak is -approximately 120 kilometres along its

longest stretch and drains a basin area of approximately 1400 square

1

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

kilometres The upper river basin is steep while the lower basin is relatively

flat The river has two principal tributaries Sungai Sarawak Kiri and

Sungai Sarawak Kanan The Kiri tributary rises from the Bengoh Range ~

whilst the Kanan tributary flows from the mountain ranges southwest of

Kuching near the Indonesian border The tributaries meet just downstream

of Batu Kitang some 34 kilometres upstream from Kuching City Onwards

from the convergence ofthe tributaries Sungai Sarawakmeanders through a

wide coastal flood plain before flowing into the South China Sea There are

various manmade structures spanning across and along the river serving

various purposes These structures have altered the natural river flow and

consequently the morphological development as well Examples include the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage and the Batu Kitang Weir that spans across Sungai

Sarawak Kiri just above the confluence The exponential increase in human

population has necessitated the construction of these structures creating

artificial reservoirs capable of meeting various needs -ranging from increased

water supply demand to provision of safe navigation Alluvial rivers such as

Sungai Sarawak pose a number -of challenging problems in the design of

reservoirs on account of the intricate role of the sediment load they carry

(KTA 1997) It is often difficult to predict the effects of such man-made

creations due to the multitude of factors involved The construction of a dam

weir or barrage will invariably alter the equilibrium of the river leading to

aggradation and degradation in some sections of the river

The Sungai Sarawak Barrage was considered to be a unique engineering

endeavour in its time Irrefutably th~ concept of integrating barrage bridge and ship lock into a single structure was somewhat innovative The barrage

is actually a component of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS)

which also includes two causeways one across Sungai Santubong at Bako

and the other across Sungai Sarawak at Pending The project was divided

2

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

into three phases with Phase 1 being the construction of the BaltoCauseway

which was completed in 1993 The rock-filled dam stretches across Loba

Santubong linking the Bako road to Sejingkat Phase 2 was the construction ~

of the main barrage facility inclusive of (i) barrage equipped with five radial

gates to regulate Sungai Sarawak water level(ii) ship lock with dimensions

of 125 metres long by 25 metres wide and (iii) four lane bridge with a span of

435 metres The third and final phase was the construction of the Second

Causeway another rock-filled dam across the Sarawak River at Pending

(LSS 1998)

With the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme project in

1997 it is now possible to regulate the river water level upstream of the

barrage The closure of the river by the causeways and barrage creates a

massive reservoir from Pending up to Batu Kitang The locality plan and

longitudinal profile of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage can be referred to in

Figure 11 The main objectives of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme

are as follows (LSS 1998)

bull To provide communication links to Sejingkat and the Pending Isthmus

bull To regulate the river water level upstream of the barrage

bull To reduce the transport of muddy sediments to the foreshores of

Santubong and -Damai r

bull To mitigate fluvial and tidal flooding in Kuching City

bull To secure Kuching City water supply

The key component of the scheme is the barrage facility and its five

hydraulically operated radial gates The overall width of the barrage is 145

3

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

metres consisting of 5 bays with a clear opening of 25 metres each The top

level of each bay is at +400 metres LSD while the base is at -800 metres

LSD

Figure 11- Locality Plan of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage

Projects involving the construction of a retention structure like the Sungai

Sarawak Barrage of relatively small height are implemented when the waterdemand is less than the minimum available river flow Such structures will

also playa role in flood mitigation anltl act as temporary retention storage It

is generally believed that such structures will cause fewer disturbances to

river regime compared to those that involve the construction of high dams

and large capacity reservoirs Larger capacity reservoirs are required in

cases of rivers that for several weeks or months in a year have inadequate

4

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

lulat Khldmat Maklumat Akadlmlk UNlVERSm MALAYSIA SARAWAK

discharge to meet the demand One of the crucial problems related to the

performance of reservoirs is the progressive reduction in storage capacity due

to sedimentation Reservoir sedimentation raises flood plain levels and increases the risk of flooding in low lying areas Sedimentation will also

reduce the effectiveness of the reservoir in terms of volume of storage

whether for water supply or flood mitigation purposes In its simplest form

the prediction of sedimentation behaviour involves the estimation of the

annual sediment yield from the basin determination of the fraction of this

which would deposit in the reservoir based on knowledge of its trap efficiency

and finally computation of the deposition profile (Rangaraju 2004)

A similar sedimentation study to the above was carried out as part of the

Sungai Sarawak Environmental Control and River Management Study

(hereafter to be referred to as the Sungai Sarawak Study) This was

conducted to predict potential impacts of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation

Scheme on sedimentation in the impoundment and backwater zones of the

barrage The annual sediment load in Sungai Sarawak was estimated using

data obtained from collection programmes conducted between October and

December 1995 Turbidity meters equipped with data loggers were deployed

at three sites along the Sungai Sarawak Kiri (Kampung Git) and Sungai

Sarawak Kanan (Bau and Buan Bidi) Corresponding water samples were

also collected and the sediment concentrations were derived in order to

calibrate the turbidity meters Using flow data from two Department of ~

Irrigation and Drainage (DID) telemetry stations namely Buan Bidi (Kanan)

and Kampung Git (Kiri) the specific discharge for each station was

calculated The specific discharge was then plotted against the corresponding

sediment concentration to establish correlation

5

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

The sediment modeling in this study was conducted using Mike 11 software

developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI) Sediment transport

modeling involves the scheduling of flow events In this case actual flow data I

from 1984 for Buan Bidi (Sungai Sarawak Kanan) and Kampung Git (Sungai

Sarawak Kiri) were utilized The tributaries downstream of Buan Bidi along

the Kanan were assumed to contribute equivalent specific discharge as the

sub-basin upstream of the station It is similar for Sungai Sarawak Kiri

except that data from Kampung Git were used Beyond the confluence

specific discharge was taken as the mean value of the two tributaries A

number of alternative barrage operational strategies were simulated using

the model to represent post-barrage conditions The water level immediately

upstream of the barrage was used as the downstream boundary condition for

the sediment transport simulations The following were the alternatives for

downstream boundary condition devised for the model

bull Tidal record from 1982 representing pre-barrage conditions (1984 record

unavailable)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 200 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 53 operations per year (roughly 75

of the tides)

bull Operation when combined inflow to the impoundment exceeds 300 m3s

this will correspond to approximately 32 operations per year (roughly 45

of the tides)

bull No operation represented by a constant water level 05 m

The pre-barrage condition was modeled to predict bed profile changes over a

period of time This was done to establish baseline data against which postshy

6

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

barrage scenarios would be assessed Any disparities between the two data

sets were attributed to the barrage and its operational strategy Several

scenarios were modeled representing six years of pre-barrage conditions

bull Scenario A - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand

mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario B - using the Engelund-Hansen sediment transport formula and

sand mining at 500000 tonnes per year

bull Scenario C - using the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and no sand

mmmg

The scenario adopted as the baseline simulation (Scenario A) in this study is

the Van Rijn sediment transport formula and sand mining was assumed to be

500000 tonnes per year

The post barrage condition modelingYias divided into two sections and is as

follows (i) backwater sedimentation and (ii) impoundment sedimentation

Post-barrage conditions were simulated with the model using the Van Rijn

sediment transport formula The three scenarios that were simulated are as

follows

bull Scenario D - No operation and continued dredging

bull Scenario E ~ Operation at Q =300 mSs and continued dredging

bull Scenario F - Operation at Q=200 Irfss and continued dredging

The result from scenario D suggests that without barrage operation there will

be insignificant bed level change in the Sungai Sarawak proper due to

backwater effect However it is anticipated that there will be a consistent

7

bull

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

bed level rise of between 020 and 025 metres annually in the lower Sungai

Sarawak Kiri that will propagate further upstream with time On the other

hand with regular barrage operation as simulated in scenarios E and F it is

expected that the sedimentation problem in Sungai Sarawak Kiri will no

longer be an issue

In order to estimate the extent of impoundment sedimentation a series of

scenarios were run through the model The impounded zone stretches from

the Sungai Sarawak Barrage up to Batu Kitang The completion of the

barrage and causeways has allowed for the creation of a sizeable water

reservoir intended for water storage and also as a flood protection tool Each

scenario takes into account three grain size fractions and is over a period of

three years The trap efficiency refers to the percentage of accumulated

sediments in the impoundment from total sediment supply A total of six

scenarios with distinctive conditions were simulated using the model and

they are as follows

bull Scenario 1 - No operation (constant water level in the impoundment)

bull Scenario 2 - No operation (disregarding re-suspension of clay and silt)

bull Scenario 3 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s

bull Scenario 4 - Operation at Q=200 m 3s (disregarding re-suspension of clay

and silt)

bull Scenario 5 - Operation at Q= 300 m 3s

bull Scenario 6 - No operation and future land use factoring (sediment

concentration increased by a factor of 2)

8

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Generally the simulation results indicate that nearly all (about -90) sand

particles will be trapped in the impoundment zone On the other hand the

trapping of clay particles will be minimal Without barrage operation the trapping of silt particles will be 16 as opposed to 3 (Scenario 3) and SO4

(Scenario 5) with regular barrage operation

The Sungai Sarawak Environmental -and River Management Study

recommended that the barrage operation frequency be increased to reduce

backwater and impoundment sedimentation Modeling results have

consistently shown that the sedimentation rate can be reduced with regular

barrage operation as opposed to fewer operations The introduction of saline

water into the impoundment during the wet season is also undesirable as a

large portion of the annual sediment load will enter the impoundment during

this period Barrage gate operation when combined inflow into the

impoundment exceeds 200 m3s was found to prevent return flow which is

advantageous from a sedimentation viewpoint This thesis generally aims to

review the accuracy of the modeling results and whether recommendations

raised were observed

-9

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Hypothesis

Sedimentation due to the impoundment of the river upstream of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage is not significant because of the regular barrage gate

operations

Study Objective

General Objective

The general objective of this study was to review the findings of the

sedimentation study that was conducted as part of the Sungai Sarawak

Environmental Control and River Management Study-(1997)

Specific Objectives

bull To identify differences if any between present and intended barrage gate

operation approach

bull To ascertain the extent of impoundment sedimentation upstream of the

Sungai Sarawak Barrage

bull To assess theeftectiveness of the Sungai Sarawak Barrage gate operation

strategy from a sediment re-suspension viewpoint ~

10

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

Chapter 2 - Literature Review

21 Sediment Transport and Deposition

The total sediment load transported by rivers consists of bed load and wash

load materials The rate of downstream sediment transport depends on

several factors including the stream transport capacity volume of sediment

supply into the active channel and material particle size available for

transport Annual sediment transport rate is the volume or weight of

sediment moving across a line per year This parameter is closely linked to

the volume of readily available sediment entering an active channel Every

sediment particle which passes a particular cross-section of a river or stream

must satisfy two conditions and are as follows (i) it must have been eroded

somewhere in the river basin above the cross-section and (ii) it must be

transported by the river flow from the place of erosion to the cross-section

Each of these two conditions may limit the sediment rate at the cross-section

depending on the relative magnitude of the two controls The availability of

material in the river basin and transporting ability of the stream will govern

sediment rates measured at a specific cross-section In most rivers the finer

part of the load which the flow can easily carry in large quantities is limited

by its availability in the river basin This part of the load is the wash load

The coarser portion of the load is limited in its rate by the transport ability of

the flow between the source and the section This part of the load is

designated as bed load (Chanson 1999)

Larger and heavier sediment particles are carried downstream as bed load

Bed load is transported downstream of river reaches by rolling or bouncing

along the riverbed The grain size of bed load sediments depends heavily on

discharge channel gradient and channel dimensions all of which control local

11

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

velocity Typically storm flows capable of mobilizing and transporting gravel

and cobbles as bed load occur only several times annually Bed load material

is generally transported from higher to lower gradient reaches where it is

deposited as channel lag or bar deposits The grain-size distribution on the

riverbed generally provides a good indication of the particle sizes being

transported as bed load The suspended sediment load consists of the smaller

grain size fraction of the total sediment load and is transported downstream

by suspension in the stream flow column During the course of a single storm

event suspended sediment is typically transported much further than bed

load sediment The largest particles transported in suspension ranging from

silt to fine sand may be deposited in very low gradient reaches along the river

or on the delta and the smaller particles are typically transported to the

estuary where they eventually settle to the bottom The available sediment

volume therefore can vary from one reach to the next and from year to year

(Zhou 2001)

Sedimentation problems generally occur at locations where the sediment

transporting capacity of the hydraulic system is reduced due to the decrease

of the steady (currents) and oscillatory (waves) flow velocities and related

turbulent motions (Van Rijn 2004) Problems related to sedimentation are

most often associated with human interference in the physical system such as

the construction of artificial structures such as barrage or dam that will alter

the river flow When impoundments are created in a freshwater system the ~

natural dynamic equilibrium between the movement of water and the

movement of sediments that exists in free flowing systems is altered

drastically Sediments which usually move downstream with the flow will

tend to settle at the bottom of reservoirs or in backwater sections of a river

due to the lower water velocities Several techniques exist for moving

sediments across a reservoir and into the downstream areas and they vary in

12

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13

cost and effectiveness depending on the characteristics of each particular

reservoir Sediment management techniques usually follow one of three

general approaches namely mechanical removal sediment routing or

sediment flushing

r~ JI~ - -------------shy ------_shy--11-- 1

I H 1s-

1- ----- shy

-----~~~ ---------~-~- I ~

Figure 21 - Idealized Sediment Transport

(Source httphigheredmcgraw -hillcom)

22 Barrage

A barrage is defined as a barrier fitted with gates that are constructed across a river to raise

~

or lower the water level for navigation flood mitigation

irrigation and other uses A barrage can also function as a bridge linking the

opposite banks of a river Barrages are usually made of concrete and the

gates are made of steel The number of gates would be dependent upon the

river width and discharge capacity Some describe barrages as miniature

dams due to the height of these structures that are normally a magnitude

13