Proceedings of the 19th IAHR-APD Congress 2014, Hanoi, Vietnam

ISBN 978604821338-1

Preliminary Research on Hydrodynamic Dispatch Method of Algal Blooms in Three Gorges Reservoir Bays

WEI YIN (1), XIAOKANG XIN (2) & ZHONGPING PEI (3)
(1)
Changjiang Water Resources Protection Institute, Wuhan, China
2000yinwei@163.com
(2)
Changjiang Water Resources Protection Institute, Wuhan, China;
State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
xin.xiaokang@163.com
(3)
Changjiang Water Resources Protection Institute, Wuhan, China
65196888@qq.com

ABSTRACT
Spring algal happened in the bays area frequently after Three Gorges Reservoirs impoundment. Algal bloom is closely
related with nutrients, light, temperature and flow velocity. This paper carried out preliminary research on algal blooms
hydrodynamic control method by optimizing reservoirs dispatch on main and tributary channels. Making use of
software MIKE 21, a Xiangxi River-Three Gorges Reservoir integrate hydrodynamic numerical model has been
established, and a series of conditions have been simulated and studied. The result shows that if Three Gorges Reservoir
operates alone, velocity at Xiangxi River mouth is less than 0.05m/s, and if Xiangxi Reservoir operates alone, velocity at
Xiangxi River mouth is larger than 0.05m/s in wet year. It implies that Three Gorges Reservoirs water level change has
little to do with improvement of tributaries velocity, but reservoir in main and tributary channels dispatch together can
improve the velocity obviously, which can control algal bloom in tributary bays.

Keywords: Three Gorges Reservoir; Xiangxi River; Algal bloom; Hydrodynamic control; Numerical model

1. INTRODUCTION
Spring algal blooms have been taken placed in Xiangxi
River, Daning River, Meixi River and the other tributaries
many times since Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) started
impounding. Statistics shows that there are 3 algal
blooms incidents happened in year 2003, 9 in 2004, 22 in
2005, 15 in 2006, 10 in 2007, and 17 in 2010 (see Figure 1).
Incidents focus between March and June. Algal blooms
are closely related with water nutrient concentration,
temperature, light intensity and flow conditions (Baker
and Baker, 1979; Krike, 2002; Zeng, et al, 2007; Wang, et
al, 2007; Jams, et al, 2010). Water quality monitoring data
demonstrates that the concentration of TP in TGR is
about 0.15 mg/L~ 0.25 mg/L, and TN is about 1.5
mg/L~2.8 mg/L before TGR begins to running, which
shows the concentration of nutrient had exceeded the
eutrophication standard threshold value (TP>0.1mg/L,
TN>1.0mg/L), However, TGR had never emerged algal
blooms. Thats to say, low velocity after TGR
impounding is the fatal factor of algal blooms (Li, et al,
2005; Liao, 2008).
(a) Times of algal blooms happened in TGR
(b) Number of tributaries that happened algal blooms
Figure 1. The algal blooms conditions of TGR
Algal blooms may bring in some dangers to aquatic
environment. Firstly, the color and the smell are
disgusting. Secondly, it disrupts the aquatic ecological
balance, and it may cause the concentration depletion of
dissolved oxygen, which can cause the death of aquatic
life (Wong, Lee, et a1, 2007). Thirdly, it may produce
algal toxins and threaten the safety of drinking water
(Ibrahim, 2007). And various algal control methods have
been proposed in the past a few decades (Bibak and
Hosseini, 2013). As a national fresh water resource, water
resources protection of TGR has drew great attentions of
the government and the public. So the ecological factors
should be taken account as a dispatch goal when we
prepare for reservoir operation rules (Cai, 2006; Liu, 2010;
Liu, et al, 2012). Since low velocity is the fatal factor of
algal blooms in TGR, using proper dispatch method to
changing flow velocity to control algal blooms is
proposed by many researchers. But reservoir dispatch
scheme should be designed by numerical modeling (Li et
al, 2007; Chung, et al, 2008; Wang, et al, 2009; Wang, et al,

1
2009). This paper carried out some research on TGR
dispatch by using MIKE 21 model developed by DHI
(Danish Hydrodynamic Institute).
2. EXPERIMENT DESIGN
2.1 Experimental tributary bay
There are 40 tributaries in the Three Gorges Reservoir
Basins whose watershed area is more than 100 km 2. After
TGR impounded, algal blooms mainly happened in
Xiangxi River Bay, Tangxi River Bay, Meixi River Bay and
so on. But Xiangxi River is the biggest tributary of TGR in
Hubei Province and it is also the nearest one to the TGR
Dam. The flow conditions of Xiangxi River are directly
affected obviously. The length of Xiangxi River is 106 km,
area of river basin is 3099 km 2, and the distance between
river mouth and Three Gorges Dam is about 40 km.
When TGR impounded for the first time and the normal
water level was up to 135 m in the year of 2003, the
backwater zone of Xiangxi River stretched from Xiakou
to Pingyikou, the total length of which is 24 km. When
the normal water level of TGR reached 156m in the year
of 2006, the length of backwater zone reached 32.3 km.
After the water level reached TGRs designed normal
water level 175 m, the upper edge of the backwater zone
reached Gufu, the total length of which was 40 km (see
Figure 2). The back water zone next to the river mouth is
so called the Bay. Monitoring data shows that the velocity
in the Bay declines from 0.43~0.92 m/s to 0.002~0.004
m/s, which is considered to be the inducing factor of
algal blooms in the Bay of Xiangxi River. Do some
experimental research on how to use TGR dispatch to
control algal blooms in the Bay of Xiangxi River make
significant sense of algal blooms controlling measures,
reservoir ecological dispatch, water resources utilization
planning, et al.
Figure.2 The scope of Xiangxi River
2.2 Critical flow velocity of algal blooms
Reservoir dispatch can change the flow velocity and flow
velocity has relations with algal blooms, so some
experiment has been carried out to figure out the critical
velocity of algal blooms. However, different algae
responses differently on flow velocity, and the critical
velocity is different accordingly. Some researches
considered that if we want to remove algae on the river
bank, the flow velocity should be increased more than
0.3~0.4 m/s (Poff, et al, 2003), some researcher found that
the critical velocity of anabaena in reservoir is about 0.05
m/s (Mitrovic, et al, 2003), Escatins research showed that
the critical velocity should be greater than 0.1 m/s when
to destruct the algal structure (Escatin, et al, 1995). Jiaos
research implied that critical velocity of chlorella and
ankistrodesmus were 0.05 and 0.01m/s, respectively
(Jiao, 2007).
On the basis of research findings by predecessors,
consider the composition of algal bloom happened in the
Bay of Xiangxi River, and the critical velocity can be
chosen as 0.05 m/s.
2.3 Experimental method
Once the critical velocity has been ascertained, the next
step is to do some computation experiment to figure out
proper operation schemes for reservoirs in order to meet
the critical velocity. This job should make use of
hydrodynamic numerical models. MIKE21 is a
hydrodynamic module developed by DHI, and it is a
component of MIKE ZERO. This module can be used to
compute water level and flow velocity 2-demensional
field for river sections, lakes and reservoirs. Yan used this
module to simulate the flow conditions of Bahe River
section, and carried out flood impact assessment for the
construction of Bahe River Bridge (Yan and Xu, 2006).
Sun used MIKE21 to simulate the flow evolution process
of Yellow river section (Jiahetan~ Gaocun), sound flood
simulation results have been achieved (Sun, eta l, 2009).
All this researches proved the applicability of this
module. This paper will use this module to simulate the
flow field of Xiangxi River~ Yangtze River, and to do
some research on TGRs dispatch scheme. The computing
area and model mesh of simulating can be seen as Figure
3.
Figure 3 Sketch of study area and numerical model mesh
3. EXPERIMENTAL CASES
As we can see, there are 3 open boundaries for the study
area, so three boundary conditions should be selected in
order to reflect the effect of reservoir dispatch, and the
main object for this experiment is to observe whether the
flow velocity next to the Mouth of Xiangxi River is
approaching the critical velocity 0.05 m/s.
The discharge of Yangtze River (upper boundary) for
simulation section can be analyzed based on hydrological
data monitored at Yichang Gauging Station before TGRs
impoundment. The statistic values of discharge at
2
Yichang section are figured out by using the discharge follows: (1) the discharge of upper boundary is minimum
series of 1877~2002, which can be seen as Table 1. discharge of March 3060 m3/s, and the water level of
lower boundary is 160m constantly; (2) the upper
Table.1 Characteristic discharge of Yichang gauge station Unit: boundary is the same as case (1) and the water level of
m3/s lower boundary changes from 160m to 159m during 24
Mo Mean Maximum Minimum
hours, which represents the dispatch effect of TGR; (3)
Year Year the upper boundary is the same as (1) while the water
nth discharge discharge discharge
1 4320 6220 1906 3380 1937 level of lower boundary changes from 160 to 159.4m for
2 3940 6280 1882 3150 1963 the safety of the dam;(4) the discharge of upper boundary
3 4450 6680 1887 3060 1979 is mean discharge of March 4450 m3/s, and the water
4 6720 11800 1977 3680 1937
level of lower boundary is 160m constantly; (5) the upper
boundary is the same as case (4) and the water level of
5 11800 18400 1883 6770 1960
lower boundary changes from 160m to 159m during 24
6 18500 28000 1933 9620 1969
hours;(6) the upper boundary is the same as case (4) and
7 30100 45400 1998 16800 1936
the water level of lower boundary changes from 160m to
8 27800 52200 1998 12100 1994
159.4m during 24 hours; (7) the discharge of upper
9 26200 46800 1896 13200 1997 boundary is maximum discharge of March 6680 m3/s,
10 19200 33000 1907 10600 1936 and the water level of lower boundary is 160m
11 10400 15200 1911 6370 1936 constantly; (8) the upper boundary is the same as case (7)
12 5970 7600 1911 6370 1936 and the water level of lower boundary changes from
The water level (lower boundary) of Yangtze River of 160m to 159m during 24 hours; (9) the upper boundary is
simulation section is controlled by Three Gorges Dam. the same as case (4) and the water level of lower
Water level above the dam changed as the 175m boundary changes from 160m to 159.4m during 24 hours.
operation scheme, which can be described as follows: (1)
from May to June, the water level should be decline to 3.2 Reservoir on Xiangxi River dispatch alone
145m (Flood Control water level); (2) from June to
September, the water level should be maintained 145m On this condition (Condition 2), the water level of Three
for flood control; (3) In the early October, the Reservoir Gorges Dam keeps 160m constantly (lower boundary),
begins to store water, so the discharge is reduced; (4) in and 3 computing cases are designed as follows: (1) the
the end of October, the reservoir has been fulfilled, it will discharge of upper boundary keeps 3060 m 3/s constantly
keep water level as 175m until late December; (5)from while the discharge of Xiangxi River changes from
June, TGR begins to increase discharge to meet irrigation 100~350m 3/s proportionally, which represents the
demands for the lower reaches, but before April 30th, the dispatch effect of reservoir on the tributary; (2) the
water level should not be lower than 155m. The operation discharge of upper boundary keeps 4450 m 3/s constantly
diagram of TGR can be seen as Figure 4. while the discharge of Xiangxi River changes from
100~350m 3/s proportionally; (3) the discharge of upper
Meanwhile, taking into account the bank slope stability, boundary keeps 6680 m 3/s constantly while the discharge
geological survey department suggest that water level of Xiangxi River changes from 100~350m 3/s
decline amplitude should be less than 2m/d in flood proportionally.
season and less than 0.6m/d in dry season. Xiangxi
River Bay spring algal blooms mostly happened form 3.3 Reservoirs dispatch together
March to April, this period is research period for
hydrodynamic dispatch of reservoirs. There will be On this condition (Condition 3), TGR and the reservoir on
three experimental conditions for computing: (1) TGR the Xiangxi River make effect together, and 3 computing
dispatches alone; (2) Reservoir on Xiangxi River cases are as follows: (1) when the discharge of upper
dispatches alone; (3) Reservoirs dispatch together. boundary is 3060 m 3/s and the water level of Three
Gorges Dam (lower boundary) changes from 160m to
159.4m during 24 hour, meanwhile, the discharge of
Xiangxi River changes from 100~350m 3/s proportionally.
These 2 changing boundary conditions represent the
dispatch effects of TGRs and the reservoir on the Xiangxi
River, respectively. (2) when the discharge of upper
boundary is 4450 m 3/s and he water level of Three
Gorges Dam changes from 160m to 159.4m during 24
hours, meanwhile, the discharge of Xiangxi River
changes from 100~350m 3/s proportionally; (3) when the
discharge of upper boundary is 6680 m 3/s and the water
level of Three Gorges Dam changes from 160m to 159.4m
Figure 4 Sketch of Three Gorges Reservoirs dispatch schedule
during 24 hours, meanwhile, the discharge of Xiangxi
River changes from 100~350m 3/s proportionally.
3.1 TGR dispatches alone
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
On this condition (Condition 1), the discharge of Xiangxi
River keeps as its mean discharge 65.5 m3/s (Tributary The computing results of velocity at the mouth of Xiangxi
boundary), and there are 9 computing cases are as River for the condition of TGR dispatching alone

3
(Condition 1) are listed in Table 2. As we can see, the 5. CONCLUSIONS
velocity can be improved to some extent when reservoir
(1) Algal blooms at the tributary bay area in the TGR are
operating, but the changing extent is small. Take the case
closely related with water nutrient concentration,
(7)~(9) for example, the velocity is 0.045m/s when
temperature, light intensity and flow conditions, while
reservoir doesnt carried out ecological dispatch, while
the low velocity is the inducing factor. So improving
the velocity can increase to 0.048m/s or 0.046m/s when
velocity periodically through reservoirs ecological
TGR changes its water level quickly.
dispatch can be used to control algal blooms.
The computing results of velocity at the mouth of Xiangxi
(2) Preliminary computing results imply that when the
River for the Condition 2 are listed in Table 3, Which
inflow discharge of main stream reaches about 6680
shows that dispatch the reservoir on Xiangxi River can
m3/s, the ecological dispatch scheme can be operated:
improve the velocity obviously. Take the case (3) for
increase the discharge of Xiangxi River to 100m 3/s for 24
example, when the discharge of upper boundary is
hours by open the gate of reservoir on the Xiangxi River,
6680m 3/s, if the discharge from the reservoir on the
meanwhile, decline the water level of TGR with 0.6m/d
Xiangxi River is more than 100m 3/s, the cross-averaged
by increasing discharge flow rate, which can increase the
velocities of Xiangxi River Mouth are greater than critical
velocity at bay area to the critical velocity.
velocity 0.05m/s.
(3) Further research should be carried out to identify the
When the Reservoir dispatch cooperatively, the algae composition of the algal blooms, and figure out the
computing results are listed in the Table 4. As can be sensitivity to the flow velocity of different algae in order
seen, when the discharge of the upper boundary reaches to select the critical velocity more accurately.
6680m 3/s, the discharge increase of Xiangxi River is the
main factor for improving the velocity at the bay area.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the Editor and the two
Table.2Averaged velocity at Xiangxi River Mouth for Condition 1
anonymous reviewers for very helpful and constructive
Unit: m/s
comments that resulted in a much improved manuscript.
Case Velocity Case Velocity Case Velocity
And this work was supported by Nonprofit Scientific
(1) 0.023 (4) 0.032 (7) 0.045
(2) 0.025 (5) 0.034 (8) 0.048 Research Project of the Ministry of Water Resources of
(3) 0.024 (6) 0.034 (9) 0.046 China (Grant No. 201101001) and the National Fund for
Major Projects of Water Pollution Control (Grant No.
Table.3 Averaged velocity at Xiangxi River Mouth for Condition 2
2009ZX07104-006)
Unit: m/s
Dispatch discharge REFERENCES
100 150 200 250 300 350
Case
(1) 0.0258 0.0263 0.0266 0.0266 0.0275 0.0281 Ahmed Mohamed M. Ibrahim. (2007). Review of the
Impact of Harmful Algae Blooms and Toxins on the
(2) 0.0359 0.0367 0.0371 0.0375 0.0382 0.0388
World Economy and Human Health. Egyptian Journal
(3) 0.0530 0.0545 0.0548 0.0551 0.0555 0.0560 of Aquatic Research, 33(1), 210-223.
Baker A. L., Baker K. K. (1979). Effect of temperature and
Table.4 Averaged velocity at Xiangxi River Mouth for Condition 3 current discharge on the concentration and
Unit: m/s photosynthetic activity of the phytoplankton in the
Dispatch discharge upper Mississippi River. Fresh water Biology,
100 150 200 250 300 350
Case 9:191~198.
(1) 0.0259 0.0265 0.0267 0.0267 0.0276 0.0282 Cai Q. H. (2006). Taking Eco-system Protection into Fully
(2) 0.0360 0.0368 0.0372 0.0376 0.0384 0.0389 Consideration and Improving Reservoir Regulation
Process. China Water Resources, (02), 14-17.
(3) 0.0530 0.0546 0.0549 0.0554 0.0558 0.0563
Chung S.W., Lee H., and Jung Y. (2008). The Effect of
Hydrodynamic Flow Regimes on the Algal Bloom in a
Compared with the critical velocity of algal blooms, Monomictic reservoir. Water Science and Technology.
when the discharge of upper boundary (inflow from 58(6), 1291-1298.Krike B.K.. (2002). Pumping
main stream) is 3060 m 3/s or 4450 m 3/s, the velocity at Downwards to Prevent Algal Blooms. Symposium of
the bay area cant approach 0.05m/s even if the discharge IWA 2nd World Water Congress, Berlin.
of Xiangxi River increases to 350m 3/s. Thats to say, in Escartin J., Aubrey D. G. (1995). Flow structure and
the dry year and dry season, it is infeasible to use dispersion within algal mats. Estuary, Coastal and Shelf
reservoir dispatch to control algal blooms. On the other Science, 40, 451-472.
hand, when the discharge of upper boundary is more HakGyoon Kim. (2010). An overview on the Occurrence
than 6680m 3/s, ecological dispatch can be used for TGR of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Mitigation
and the reservoir on the tributaries to control algal Strategies in Korean Coastal Waters. Coastal
blooms by reducing the water level of TGR quickly and Emvironmental and Ecosystem Issue of the East China
increasing the tributary discharge to 100m 3/s.. Sea. By TERRAPUB and Nagasaki University. 121-131.
Jiao, S. J. (2007). The effect of velocity of Glow to the
Growth of Algae in Low Current area of the Three
Gorges. Masters Degree Thesis of Southwestern
University.

4
James B. H., Dina M. L., Thomas K. F., et al. (2010). Algal
blooms and the nitrogen-environment hypothesis in
Florida springs: evidence, alternatives, and adaptive
management. Ecological Applications, 20(3), 816-829.
Li J. X., Du B., Sun Y. S. (2005). Effect of Hydrodynamic
on the Eutrophication. Water Resources and
Hydropower Engineering, 36(5), 15-18.
Li C. M., Huang Z. L., Zhang S. (2007). Risk forecast of
Algal Bloom in the Three Gorges Reservoir. Resources
and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 16(1), 1-6.
Liao W.G. (2008). Hydrodynamic control: new way to
control algal bloom in the tributaries of TGR. China
Three Gorges Construction, (09), 60-63.
Liu D.Y. (2010). Study on comprehensive water resources
utilization and operation of reservoir group in upper
Yangtze River and TGP. Yangtze River, 42(15), 5-9.
Liu W., Peng W. Q., Feng J., Li Y. B. (2012). Assessment
on Ecological Operation Scheme for Algal Bloom in
Backwater Area of Xiaojiang River. South-to-North
Water Diversion and Water Science & Technology, 10(2),
21-24.
Mitrovic S.M., Oliver R.L. Rees C. et al. (2003). Critical
flow velocities for the growth and dominance of
anabaena circinalis in some turbid freshwater rivers.
Freshwater Biology, 48, 164-174.
Mehdi Bibak and Seyed Abbas Hosseini. (2013). Review
Ways to Control Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB), Word
Journal of Fish and Marine Science, 5(1), 42-44.
Poff N. L., Wellnitz T., Monroe J. (2003). Redundancy
among stream grazers across a current velocity
gradient. Oecologia, 134, 262-269.
Sun D. P., Jin G. Y., Li X. Y. (2009). Flood Routing
Simulation in lower Reaches of Yellow River by the
Application of MIKE21. Yellow River, 3111, 27-28.
Wang H. Y., Cheng S. G., Huang L. (2007). Investigation
on algal bloom cause of Three Gorges Reservoir.
Yangtze River, 38(2), 16-18.
Wong K.T.M., Lee J.H.W., Hodgkiss I.J. (2007). A Simple
Model for Forecast of Coastal Algal Blooms. Estuarine
Coastal and Shelf Science, 74, 175-196.
Wang L. L., Dai H. C., Cai Q. H. (2009). Numerical
Simulation of the Ecological operation schedule in
Xiangxi River. Journal of Huazhong University of Science
and Technology (Natural Science Edition). 37(4), 111-114.
Wang L. L., Dai H. C., Cai Q. H. (2009). Numerical
Predicting of Velocity and Chl-a in Xiangxi River and
Correlativity Research. Journal of Basic Science and
Engineering, 17(5), 652-658.
Yan X. Y. and Xu D. L. (2006). Research on Application of
MIKE 21 model in Bridge Backwater Computation.
Yangtze River, 37(4), 31-32.
Zeng H., Song L. R., Yu Z.G. (2007). Preliminary Study
on Algal Blooms within the Three Gorges Reservoir.
Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, 16(3),
336-339.

Copyrights
Paper(s) submitted to the IAHR-APD2014 are interpreted
as declaration that the authors obtained the necessary
authorization for publication.