Using the buffer capacity in large reservoirs to reduce the effects of downstream flooding

As climatic conditions become more and more varied, and extreme events occur more frequently, estimates of extreme precipitation and flooding continue to increase. Many existing dams are not designed to handle the flood values resulting from revised flood calculations. As a result, upgrades, which can be expensive, are required to achieve sufficient flood-diversion capacity. The article discusses how the increased buffer capacity of large reservoirs can be utilized to achieve better flood control in cascades, and ways to identify optimum flood management strategies by considering the behaviour and operation of the whole cascade.