Estimating soil erosion and sediment transport in the drainage basin of the proposed Selova Reservoir, Serbia

Abstract

In recent years construction work has been performed on the River Toplica with the aim of building a dam that will form the water supply for reservoir Selova. The basic purpose is water supply, but flood protection, sediment retention, production of hydro-electricity, breeding of fish, irrigation and tourism are important secondary benefits. This paper describes the headwaters of the River Toplica drainage basin and the nature and extent of its erosion and sediment transport processes. There are no measured data regarding sediment transport in the drainage basin, so the evaluation of sediment transport and potential reservoir siltation was based on empirical methods developed using research and direct measurements in experimental drainage basins elsewhere in Serbia.