Fluctuating flow releases on regulated rivers destabilize downstream riverbanks, causingunintended, unnatural, and uncontrolled geomorphologic changes. These flow releases,usually a result of upstream hydroelectric dam operations, create manmade tidal effectsthat cause significant environmental damage; harm fish, vegetation, mammal, and avianhabitats; and destroy riverbank camping and boating areas.For regulated rivers downstream of hydroelectric dams, bank failures can often bereduced, but not eliminated, by modifying flow release schedules. Typically,comprehensive mitigation can only be accomplished with expensive rebuilding floodswhich release trapped sediment back into the river.Here, a simulated annealing scheme is presented to optimize weekly hydroelectric damreleases in order to minimize the cost of annually mitigating downstream bank failures. Afull array of constraints is considered, including physical, environmental, mechanical,operations, and flow factors. The general procedure is presented, and an exampleapplication is given utilizing a recently developed comprehensive risk model for bankfailures along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. A solution is obtained thatmitigates downstream failure risk, allows annual rebuilding floods, and predicts ahydroelectric revenue increase of more than 2%.
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