Hydraulic function of the kasumi levee system on the Kurobe Alluvial Fan of the 19th century

Abstract

Kasumi levees are a type of discontinuous levee system that was used in early-modern times of Japan, but few records remain of the hydraulic design of the levee construction. Results of numerical flow simulation are presented for the hydraulic functioning of the Kasumi levee system along the Kurobe River that flows on a steep alluvial fan. Historical records from the 19th century to the present were used to simulate the flow through a levee system.. The computational results suggest that the flood control strategy was such that old river paths were utilized for temporary floodways and a portion of this diverted flow was returned to the main river channel through funnel-shaped levee openings located along the middle reach to prevent inundation of the alluvial fan.