Reservoir sediment mitigation plan for the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Ringlet reservoir is part of the Cameron Highlands Batang Padang hydro scheme. The conversion of forest to agricultural and urban land within the catchment since the 1960s has caused excessive sedimentation. Sediment inflow rate into the reservoir has increased from a design value of 25 000 m3/year in the 1960s to approximately 300 000 m3/year in 2015, reducing storage by 50 per cent. Various mitigation strategies have been explored including sediment basins, dredging, flushing and integrated catchment management, in collaboration with government agencies, farmers and the public. These strategies are described in this paper and have resulted in storage improvements allowing the reservoir to continue operation.