An empirical approach to river bed degradation

Degradation in a homogeneous alluvial channel due to complete stoppage of sediment downstream of a high capacity reservoir has been studied empirically. Based on dimensional analysis, a method has been established for predicting transient bed profiles in degrading alluvial stream. In addition, prediction procedures for other degradation elements like maximum degradation at any time at upstream section and degradation extent has also been evolved. The prediction procedures when tested against known data gave satisfactory results.