Post-dam Channel and Floodplain Adjustment along the Lower Volga River, Russia

Abstract

The Volga River in the Russian Federation has been regulated by a cascade of reservoir dams since the 1950–1960s. This chapter presents an overview of the main hydrological and morphological responses of the Volga River downstream of the Volgograd reservoir dam. Regulation caused a decrease in magnitude of the spring peak flow, an earlier start and peak of the flood and a considerably steeper rise and fall of the flood. Morphological responses include a considerable channel incision in the river stretch downstream of the Volgograd dam. Furthermore, the reduction in peak flow magnitude results in a general tendency of silting up of secondary channels, and promotes vegetation colonisation along the active parts of the floodplain. Restoring the natural flow regime and morphodynamics will be problematic, particularly in view of the potential hydrological impacts of climate change.