[1] Detention dams are commonly used to reduce the damage caused by flooding or to manage the flow rate through a channel.
[2] People build detention dams for purposes that include: flood control, flow rate restriction, subsurface water replenishment, and sediment trapping.
Detention dams built to restrict flow rate regulate the amount water released into channels.
The cross sectional shape of an earth and rock gravity embankment style dam closely resembles an equal lateral triangle with the angled sides facing upstream and downstream.
[5] Modern detentions dam designs incorporate safety factors that account for and compensate for the probability of failure.
Engineers analyze watershed topographical data, hydrological records, and geological structure for the area to determine the most effective locations flood detention dams.
The analyzed watershed topographical data, hydrological records, and geological structure display the potential storage capacity, environmental impacts, and physical limitations of the area.
Poorly maintained and older detention dams can pose a reliability threat because they may not meet the current structural safety and hydraulic requirements.
[3] For example, a detention dam in a populated area that does not conform to the current structural safety and hydraulic requirements has a high probability of failing.
The high sediment deposits have also damaged fisheries and reduced the amount of water that can be stored in a downstream reservoir.
As a result, the Olmos Creek detention dam is a multipurpose facility that can handle large floods, trap pollutants, and provide a recreational and wildlife area for the community.