curriculum in natural environmental science, vol. 2, 2010NEAR

Swiss examples of the impacts of dams on natural environments and management

strategies of sediment control

Jean-Luc Loizeau, Stéphanie Jüstrich and Walter Wildi

Institut F.-A. Forel, University of Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva

Bern

Zurich

Dams in Switzerland

Verbois dam

Wettingen dam

Dams in the Rhone River watershed

Evolution of the reservoir cumulated capacity in the Rhone watershed

Verbois dam and reservoir

Photo: J.-L. Loizeau

Rhone River and Arve River confluence in Geneva

Photo: J.-L. Loizeau

Verbois reservoir sediment flushing in 2000

Photo: J.-L. Loizeau

Verbois reservoir sediment flushing in 2000

Photo: J.-L. Loizeau

Verbois reservoir sediment flushing in 2000

Photo: J.-L. Loizeau

Verbois reservoir flushing

Year

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Se

dim

ent v

olu

me

(Mm

3 )

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

Flu

shin

g ef

ficie

ncy

(%

)

40

60

80

100

120

140

Photo: S. Jüstrich

Wetttingen dam and reservoir

Wetttingen dam and reservoir

Point bar Main channel

Exposed contaminated sediments

Contaminated sediment layer

0 50 100 150 200 m

365

370

375

380

Ele

vatio

n (m

asl

)

1958-1975

1975-20031932-1958

Wetttingen dam and reservoir