CHARACTERISTICS OF INUNDATION CANALS

• Inundation canals are mostly used in deltic and alluvial regions of the river.
• As river course here is generally at a higher level and the course is maintained between dykes or embankments.

• The section of the canal is not regular.
• The banks are not very strong and may breach if not properly looked after.
• These canals have longitudinal, slopes varying from 25 cm to as much as 1 m per kilometer length.
• Depth of the canal maybe 1.5 m to 3.5 m.
• Like regular canal system inundation canal system may also have the main canal and then smaller canals.
• The bed level of these canals should be kept at the most at the level of minimum water level in the river.
• Lower the bed level of the canal, more will be the time for which water will remain available.
• An inundation canal may be provided with two or three heads.
• It is done that if one head is washed away water may be taken from the other head.
• The head reach of the canal may extend to several kilometers.
• At the end of the head reach, a flood regulator is constructed.
• An escape should be provided near the regulator, so that if more water gets entered into the canal.
• It may be taken out and discharged into the river D/S.
• A lot of silt is deposited in the canals and as such silt clearance should be done after every flood.