Water Management and

Irrigation
ROLL NUMBER : 2015-CE-28
RETROGRESSION
It is a temporary phenomenon ,
which occurs after the construction
of barrage or weir in a river flowing
through alluvial soil.
INTRODUCTION :

Under normal conditions of flow , when no

obstruction is created in the river , the
retrogression may be termed as normal
retrogression or normal silting .
Retrogression downstream of a barrage ,
weir or dam or hydraulic structure and
silting upstream which is caused directly as
a result of obstruction to the river flow due
to the construction of such structures may
be termed as " Abnormal Retrogression ".
HISTORY

Retrogression was recognized in India in the

end of 19th century as a result of experience
gained from the weirs in the Madras Province
by Mullins (1890). 
Gilbert stated that 

" A hydraulic structure founded on alluvial

river bed would promote erosion on the d/s
side in the same manner as it promotes
deposition on the u/s side "
• RETROGRESSION BASICALLY OCCURS IN D/S SIDE OF
THE HYDUALIC STRUCTURE.

• THE VALUES VARY FROM 2 FEET TO 8.5 FEET.

• THS PHENOMENON  IS TEMPORARY BECAUSE THE RIVER

SLOPE ADAPTS TO THE NEW CONDITIONS AND FLOW
CREATED BY THE BARRAGE WITHIN A FEW YEARS AND
THEN WATER FLOWING OVER THE WEIR HAS THE
NORMAL SILT LOAD.
Process of Retrogression
Whenever a hydraulic structure is created in
the river flowing through alluvial soil, there is a
back-water effect and the increase in depths.
Due to which the velocity of approach
decreases resulting in the increase of
deposition of the sediment load.
      This deposition of silt on the river bed on the
u/s side tends the bed level to raise . Therefore
the water overflowing the barrage having less
silt , picks up the silt from the d/s bed. 
This lowering of bed level due to the degradation of the
soil on the d/s side of the hydraulic structure is basically
known as RETROGRESSION.
 Retrogression is inversely proportional to the
discharge. 

• For flood discharge, the rate of retrogression is

minimum.

• For slow discharge, the rate of retrogression is

maximum.
RETROGRESSION IN TAUNSA
BARRAGE
TAUNSA BARRAGE
 The word "Retrogression" has
been used frequently while
designing the rehabilitation
projects both for Taunsa and
Jinnah barrages.
The retrogression 7 feet was
observed.This caused the seeping of
the hydraulic jump and as a result the
repeated ripping of stilling basin floor.
Hence to overcome this problem , a sub weir was
created at a distance of 900 feet from the d/s side of the
Taunsa Barrage.

The crest level of the sub weir is almost equal to the

taunsa barrage.

Infact, "Taunsa Barrage "( sub weir ) d/s of the taunsa

barrage is being replicated which is unique example in
the entire world.
 At high flows, the barrage performs as a hump with
Froude Number less than 1.5 and negligible velocity
change in stilling basin. The flood water passes through
the barrage safely at normal pond level. At low flows (up
to 400,000 cusecs) the jump remained at or above the
toe of glacis. 
The study noted that the retrogression both
at Taunsa and Jinnah barrages was quite normal. The
construction of sub-weirs downstream of Jinnah
and Taunsa barrages might be hard to justify. The
presence of sub-weir downstream of a barrage is not
beneficial; rather it is a threat to the safety of upstream
protection bunds besides affecting the performance
of undersluices.