Samarra

Samarra Barrage and appurtenant structures with , Tharthar Flood Escape regulator are located close the town of Samarra on Tigris River , mainly as flood control scheme for Tigris river to protect the capital Baghdad , also to provide the irrigation water for Ishaqi Irrigation .The Tharthar Flood Escape Channel conveys the flood water from Tigris Upstream Samarra to Tharthar Natural depression creating Tharthar Lake . The Barrage is a concrete Structure, it is 252 m long includes 17 vertical lift steel gates each 12x12m with total discharge of 7000 m3/sec .The design upstream water level (Pond Level ) is 69.00 masl . Navigation Lock is not provided because Tigris river at the scheme location is not suitable for navigation , a fish ladder is provided. the construction was completed in 1956. The hydropower station is located at the right abutment of the barrage , with an intake of 14 openings each 10 m wide , it was constructed later in 1971 , it includes 3 turbines all together generates 87 MW the total length of the barrage and the hydropower station is 449 m

Detailed Inspection and Evaluation for all the Structures by qualified consultants is required , this includes , the Barrage, and Tharthar Inlet Regulator and other structures In order to define the required maintenance and /or replacement and improvement works . Previous Sedimentation surveys carried out by MoWR indicated a considerable amounts of sediments that need to be dredged from the upstream of Samarra Barrage , the estimated amount there is some 56.5 million cubic meters . the extent of Sediment removal should be based on hydraulic model tests . therefore a bathymetry survey is needed upstream and downstream the barrage and Tharthar inlet Regulator. Then a model constructed to test different solutions of river training works and the extent of sediments dredging works .

The scheme was constructed for the Flood control of Tigris river and offer safety for the downstream areas and the Capital Baghdad , this is done by diverting part of Tigris River via the constructed flood escape regulator and the flood escape