Sedimentation rates and characteristics of bottom sediments in three reservoirs of Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract

The sedimentology of three reservoirs of Empresas Públicas de Medellín, located in Antioquia, Colombia, showed high average sedimentation rates. In Riogrande II of 2.25 m year–1, in La Fe of 0.14 m year–1 and in Porce II of the order of 7.6 m year–1. In these reservoirs there are differences in the accumulation of sediments, the silts are concentrated in the stagnant and deeper areas while the sands in the inlets of the drainages to the reservoirs. There is a marked seasonal tendency of sedimentation with maximum values during the rainy months and there are spatio-temporal compositional and granulometric differences. A simulation of the sedimentary evolution of these three reservoirs indicates their possible disappearance as a deposit of water to continue the contributions of sediments from the tributaries, being more drastic in Porce II.

Keywords

• Tasas de sedimentación
• sedimentos de fondo
• embalses
• Riogrande II
• La Fe
• Porce II
• Antioquia
• Colombia.