Maîtrise du risque crue pour les grands barrages réservoirs

Flood risk management for large reservoirs

Attaché Sûreté Hydraulique EDF Division Production et Ingénierie Hydraulique 1, place Pleyel F-93282 Saint Denis CEDEX

Auteur de correspondance : michel.poupart@edf.fr

Abstract

Floods are a major risk for dams: uncontrolled reservoir water level may cause dam overtopping, and then its failure, particularly for fill dams. Poor control of spillway discharges must be taken into consideration too, as it can increase the flood consequences downstream. In both cases, consequences on the public or on properties may be significant. Spillway design to withstand extreme floods is one response to these risks, but must be complemented by strict operating rules: hydrological forecasting, surveillance and periodic equipment controls, operating guides and the training of operators are mandatory too, in order to guarantee safe operations.