Paper

Sand Deposition Near Diversion Dams

in Indonesia

Hajime MIWA*

Summary Recent studies on sand deposition problems of diversion

dams in Japan have suggested that sand deposition near a diversion dam has a
close relation to the formation of river channel bars. From this viewpoint,
similar problems of diversion dams in Indonesia are analyzed.
The reason sand deposition blocks the intake entrance on the Katulampa
Diversion Dam and the Mrican Diversion Dam is that a river channel bar is
located in front of the entrance. It is feared that the same trouble will occur on
the Colo Diversion Dam.
One can predict that a rubber dam will be unable to inflate because of sand
deposition on the Jatimlerek Diversion Dam. This is easily seen by observing
the pattern of river channel bars.
These studies have clarified the importance of choosing a favorable site for
a dam and its intake on the basis of channel bar formation.

I. Introduction

Sand deposition in a river near a diversion dam interferes with its operation. For
example, sand deposition in front of an intake entrance makes water intake
impossible. Sand deposition on the sill of a dam with sluice gates causes
difficulty with operation of the gates. Many cases in Japan of these problems
have been analyzed, and some countermeasures to avoid them have been recom-
mended (Miwa, 1991). These studies have proved that such sand deposition near
diversion dams has a close relation to the process of formation of river channel
bars.
This kind of sand deposition process is also observed in Indonesia. It is caused
in the same way as in Japan, by the formation of bars in a river channel, although
rivers in Indonesia are quite different from Japanese ones in river channel
patterns, the intensity of river training works, flood hydrographs, size and
distribution of particles of river bed materials, the slope of the river bed, the
section length of lowland reach, the ratio of suspended and wash load to bed load,
and so on.
Sand deposition that blocks intake entrances is already well known to river
engineers (Razvan, 1989). However, the fact that such deposition has a close
relation to formation of river channel bars has not been recognized.

*Faculty of Agriculture , Iwate University

(Manuscript Received April 13, 1992, Accepted October 2, 1992)

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 SAND DEPOSITION NEAR DIVERSION DAMS IN INDONESIA 45

Sand deposition in some cases in Indonesia is analyzed and discussed in this

paper.

II. River Channel Bars in Relation to Sand Deposition

1. River Bed Topography in Alluvial Rivers

A river channel bed is not flat in alluvial rivers. It has three remarkable parts,
pool, riffle and bar (Leopold, 1982). Water flows as a sequential pattern of pool-
riffle at low water stage. The simplest pattern of such river bed form can be seen
in a straight laboratory flume, as seen in Photo 1. Bars are located along both
side banks alternately. That is, if one bar is located along the left bank, the next
bar is located along the right bank. The low water course meanders along
alternate bars.
When one of these bars happens to be located in front of an intake entrance,
water cannot be taken in smoothly.

2. The Development of River Channel Bars

in a Straight Laboratory Flume

If hydraulic conditions are well chosen, these channel bed forms are made only by
water Dower.
When water begins to flow in a straight laboratory flume whose bed is
smoothed out with constant slope, water depth is almost equal at every section,

Photo 1 Alternate channel bars in a straight laboratory flume

(Taken in December 1991 at Bogor Agricultural University)
P: pool, B: bar area, R: riffle, F: front line of alternate channel bars

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 46 H. MIWA

and the stream lines are approximately parallel to the banks. However, a few
minutes later river channel bars will occur and develop in this flume, and narrow
and deep pools are formed along both banks alternately. Bars are also located
alone both banks alternately downstream of pools.
The above-mentioned situation is a simulation at high water stage in a river.
When the flow discharge is reduced, high portions of bars appear above water and
a low water course with pool-riffle sequence comes to meander.

3. The Definition of Alternate Channel Bars

Higher areas emerging above water are generally called"bars". However, now
these areas are considered to be part of"alternate channel bars". An alternate
channel bar consists of pool, riffle and so-called bar, and is a fundamental element
of river bed topography. It starts from a deep and narrow pool, spreads toward
the oppsite downstream bank and ends up with a blade-like front. A train of
many channel bars lying in a row toward upstream and downstream can form
patterns in the river channel and channel bed. The shape of an adjacent bar is
reverse to the axis of river flow, as seen in Figure 1.
4. The Relation between Flow Meandering
and Alternate Channel Bars

The main current of flood flow also meanders from one bank to the other
alternately, almost in the same way as low water flow. Moreover, the main
current first concentrates along a bank where a pool is located and diverges
toward a downstream bar front, and then concentrates again along the other
downstream bank.

Figure 1 Relation between alternate channel bars

and main current at flood stage

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Figure 2 Channel bars in a meandering river

If river banks are erodible, both banks along which a main current concentrates
will be eroded alternately. The enlargement of erosion along alternate banks
proceeds along with river channel meander, which indicates that the occurrence
and development of alternate channel bars is one of the main causes of river
channel meanders (Kinoshita, 1961).
River channel bars still exist in such a meandering channel. The pool section
is located in front of the bank between the bottom of the concave bank and the top
of the convex bank. The bar is located alternately below the top of convex bank
(Figure 2).
The main current meanders from one bank to the other as in a straight channel.

5. The Downstream Movement of River Channel Bars

In a straight channel in which river channel bars are formed, the channel bed is
scoured near every pool section. This is because the velocity of the main current
increases near this section as a result of the concentration of meandering flow .
Bed materials carried from there spread toward the next lower bar front . The
flow velocity near the bar front decreases because of the divergence of the main
current. The carrying capacity becomes smaller, too. Consequently some of the
carried materials are deposited near the bar front (Figure 1). That is, the bar
front proceeds downstream.
Since all of the alternate channel bars are situated in almost the same condi-
tions, all the bars migrate downstream. When channel bars can move down-
stream, sand deposition on a bar area coming from upsteam may block an intake

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 48 H. MIWA

entrance.

6. The Prevention of Downstream Movement of Channel Bars

River channel bars also move downstream in a meandering channel, if the
refracting angle of the meandering flume is smaller than a critical value. How-
ever, if its angle exceeds a critical value, alternate channel bars cannot move
downstream.
The critical conditions to suppress the movement of channel bars were clarified
by flume experiments (Kinoshita and Miwa, 1974). In a meandering channel
with larger refracting angle, each bar front is located along the lower section of a
concave bank. Bed materials carried from upper reaches cannot deposit near the
bar front, because the secondary flow induced by the bend of channel meanders
carries them downstream. Although sediment transportation continues, bar
fronts are unable to go forward.
(The constrained channels guarded by bank protection or natural strong rocks
were mentioned above. If the river banks can be eroded, the river channel
migrates downstream little by little, keeping its meandering shape.)

7. The Influence of Diversion Dams on River Channel Bars

A diversion dam is a structure that dams a river and keeps its water level
constant. Some diversion dams consist mostly of spillway sills (low concrete
dams). Since their sill elevation is usually a little higher than the original river
bed, they may also trap sand and gravel on their upstream reaches. Sand
deposition above those dams does not occur uniformly. The location and the
layout of deposition are influenced mainly by the pattern of river channel bars.
That is, sand deposition occurs only near the bar area, and a pool section is kept
deep even on the upper reach of a dam. If a river channel bar blocks an intake
entrance, water cannot be taken smoothly into the canal.
On the other hand, the river bed below the dam may be scoured. The depth
and the area of local scouring also depend on patterns of channel bars. The river
bed below the dam along a pool section is scoured heavily. However, the area
near a bar is not scoured heavily, and sand can deposit on its downstream reach.
Thus, the bar area can be connected between upstream and downstream reaches
of a dam.
Some diversion dams mainly consist of sluice gates or other movable gates. In
those cases a dam hardly changes the pattern of river channel bars, because the
sill elevation of gates is almost equal to the original river bed and gates are fully
opened during a flood. If sand deposition in a bar area is located on the sill of
some gates, it may cause trouble for gate operation.

III. Sand Deposition near Diversion Dams

1. Deposition in Front of an Intake Entrance

If the deposition area of an alternate channel bar, a so-called bar, is located in front

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 SAND DEPOSITION NEAR DIVERSION DAMS IN INDONESIA 49

Photo 2 Sand deposition along the right bank on the upstream reach of
the Katulampa Diversion Dam
(By courtesy of Dr. R. Nakamura, the University of Tokyo)
B: bar area, W: low water course, A: ditch dredged artificially ,
I: the direction of water intake

of an intake entrance, water cannot be taken in smoothly. Deposited sand must

be removed or the leading ditch must be dredged through the deposition area to
the upstream pool section. However, if a flood occurs, sand will deposit again on
the bar area, and will block the intake entrance once again.
Some dams in Indonesia which have had or will face these deposition problems
will he analyzed as follows:
(1) Katulampa Diversion Dam
The Katulampa Diversion Dam is constructed on the middle reach of the Ciliwung
River in Bogor in West Java. Dam height is about 5m, and the river bed below
the dam has been largely scoured. Channel bars cannot be seen for some
distance below the dam.
However, channel bars are clearly formed upstream of the dam , as seen in
Photo 2. Sand and gravel deposit widely along the right bank , and a low water
course is located along the left bank. The intake entrance on the right bank near
the dam is blocked by sand deposition. Two flushing gates about 5m long are
installed near the intake entrance. But they can flush only a very narrow area
adjacent to them. The ditch which can lead water to the intake entrance has
been dredged.
(2) Colo Diversion Dam
The Colo Diversion Dam is located on the Solo River near Surakarta in Central
Java. The river bed below this dam is also largely scoured, because this dam is
about 9 m high.
The pattern of sand deposition above the dam has a close relation to channel
bars near it. Sand is deposited along the left bank and a pool section is located
along the right bank (Photo 3). The intake entrance situated on the right bank

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50 H. MIWA

Photo 3 Intake structure of the Colo Divesion Dam on the right bank and
sand deposition in front of the new intake entrance on the left
bank
B: bar area, P: pool (deep portion), E: intake entrance, N: new
intake entrance under construction

faces a pool section. Flushing gates for this dam are installed near the right
bank.
Thus, the pool section seems to be kept along the right bank by the operation of
these flushing gates. However, the area which can be flushed by the operation of
flushing gates is so narrow that these operations cannot change the pattern of
channel bars. The pool section is located along the right bank in line with the
patterns of channel bars above the dam.

Photo 4 Sand deposition on the upstream reach of the Mrican Diversion

Dam
B: bar area, V: convex bank, M: the direction of main current at
flood stage, I: the direction of water intake

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A new intake entrance on the left bank near the dam is now under construction .
However, the site of this new intake is not ideal for its purpose. Sand deposition
will block the intake entrance after a flood, because a wide bar is always located in
front of the intake entrance.
(3) Mrican Diversion Dam
The Mrican Diversion Dam is situated on the middle reach of the Brantas River
near Kediri in East Java. Water is taken through two intakes , one located on
each bank.
It has 13 sluice gates for controlling water level above the dam and has no fixed
crest for a spillway. When we visited this dam, all the sluice gates were full
opened for a yearly checking and repairing, so the river bed topography above the
dam could be seen, as shown in Photo 4.
Sand and silt are deposited widely along the left bank with the curvature of the
river channel near the dam. Since the area along the left bank near the dam is
below the lower bank of the convex bank, sand deposits easily and widely there
during floods. Such sand deposition causes blockage of the intake entrance .

2. Deposition around Spillway Gates

Sand is rarely deposited on the top of a spillway which consists of only a concrete
crest, because its top elevation is usually higher than the original river bed .
On the other hand, the sill elevation of spillway gates is low enough that sand
may be deposited under the sluice gates. If the particle size of deposited sand is
small, sand can be flushed by the operation of gates at the last stage of flooding .
Although the area which can be flushed is limited to near the gates , all gates can
be closed easily. Nevertheless, if the particle size is very large-that is to say , if
bed materials are gravel and pebbles-it becomes difficult to flush them . The
design of proper sill elevation of sluice gates is very important in a gravel bed

Photo 5 The Jatimlerek Diversion Dam while under construction

(Some spans on this side of the rubber dam are collapsing.)
F: the direction of river flow

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52 H. MIWA

river.
Sand may also be deposited on the flap gates or the rubber dams during flooding.
When the thickness of deposition is small, flap gates can stand up and rubber
dams can inflate easily after flooding. If the thickness becomes larger than the
critical value flap gates will be unable to stand up and rubber dams will be unable
to inflate again. (The critical value has not been determined yet.)
One of the examples which shows that sand deposition on a rubber dam may
cause problems can be seen at the Jatimlerek Diversion Dam on the Brantas River
in East Java. This dam is now undergoing construction, as seen in Photo 5,
made necessary by the lowering of water level at the low water stage. Its
lowering has been caused by the progress of river improvement works, the main
part of which was river bed dredging in order to enlarge channel flow capacity.
Depending on the meandering pattern of a river channel, a pool is located along
the left bank and a bar along the right bank near the dam. The intake entrance
on the left bank can face a pool section. However, sand and silt will deposit on
the right half of the rubber dam during flooding. If the sand deposition becomes
thick, the rubber dam may not inflate to the original height. Consequently the
required low water level cannot be obtained.

3. Deposition Problems caused by Downstream Movement

of Channel Bars
Alternate channel bars can move downstream in a straight channel or in a weakly
meandering channel. Their movement can be suppressed in a moderate meand-
ering channel, as mentioned above. However, if river banks can be eroded, the
river channel may migrate downstream while keeping its meandering pattern.
Channel bars can move downstream, too.
When a diversion dam is located on the reach where alternate channel bars can
move downstream, it may have deposition problems caused by a bar's moving
from upstream during flood.
These examples were not observed during the last survey in Indonesia. One of
the reasons why these problems have not been easily identified is that meandering
channels have hardly been straightened up to now. Main rivers in Java have
been improved while keeping their meandering patterns. River banks along
important reaches are already protected by some structures. Thus, the problems
caused by the movement of channel bars were not observed during the last survey.
However, if a meandering channel is straightened by improvement works or if
river banks are eroded by major floods, channel bars can move downstream. The
above-mentioned problems may occur in future also in Indonesia.

IV. Conclusions and Recommendations

The main problems which were observed in the last survey are those in which
sand deposition blocks the intake entrance. Such sand deposition is closely
related to the process of formation of river channel bars.

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The most elementary way to avoid these problems is to choose a good site for
intake, at which the intake entrance must face an original pool section. If it
faces a bar section it will be blocked by sand deposition after flooding, even if the
river bed in front of the intake has once been dredged as widely as water can be
taken in.
Another problem caused by sand deposition is predictable with a rubber dam.
If the sand deposit becomes thick, the rubber dam may not entirely inflate. River
bed dredging on the upstream reach of the dam may be required. The area which
is to be dredged must be determined through trial and error.
No problems caused by the movement of channel bars could be seen in the last
survey. However, it is necessary to survey continuously and in more detail.

V. Acknowledgements
The field surveys in Java Island reported here were done while the author was at
Bogor Agricultural University ,as a short-term expert with the JICA-DGHE/IPB
Project. The author gratefully acknowledges the support of this project. The
discussions with Dr. M. Azron Dhalhar, who was the author's counterpart at
Bogor Agricultural University and accompanied him during this survey, were
very useful. Mr. K. Sawaya, the General Manager for Indonesia, and the other
staff members of Nippon Koei Co., Ltd., were kind enough to orient and assist the
survey of the Solo and the Brantas Basin. The author also appreciates their help.
Finally, I am indebted to Dr. R. Kinoshita for his thoughtful guidance, to
Professor M. Okamoto for his instructive suggestions, and to my wife for her
assistance in writing this paper in English.

References
1) Kinoshita, R.: The Survey on River Channel Changes in the Ishikari River, Technical
Report No.36, The Science and Technology Agency, 1961. (in Japanese)
2) Kinoshita, R. and Miwa, H.: River Channel Formation which Prevents Downstream
Movement of Transverse Bars, Shin-Sabo, No.94, pp.12-17 (1974).(in Japanese)
3) Leopold, L. B.: Water Surface Topography in River Channels and Implications for
meander Development, "Gravel-Bed Rivers" edited by R. D. Hey, J. C. Bathurst and C.
R. Thorne, p.361 (1982).
4) Miwa, H.: Technical Consideration How to Prevent Sand Deposition around Barrages
on Artificially Dredged River Beds, Trans. of JSIDRE., No.153, pp.93-100 (1991).(in
Japanese)
5) Razvan, E.: River Intakes and Diversion Dams, Elsevier, pp.160-162 (1989)

Irrigation Engineering and Rural Planning No.24, 1993