Calculating the Volume of the Sediment Wedge in Retention Check Dams by Using Most Appropriate Models in Jammu and Kashmir\'s Budgam District

Abstract: Though their efficacy is currently under question, check dams are crucial for sediment retention globally. To estimate the retained sediment fast, readily, and with a suitable degree of approximation, 10 geometric models are proposed in this study together with their field technique and equations. The models were used to calculate the volume of trapped silt and compare them with other commonly used techniques on a sample of check dams in the Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir based on the valley's form. Compared to topographic methods, our geometric method produced lesser volumes, but it produced larger volumes than basic methods. As a result, this approach minimizes fieldwork, computations, and expense when used as a preliminary approximation to estimate the sediment trapped by check dams and tiny silted dams. Additionally, compared to the outdated, basic procedures, it enables the selection of a higher precision and better match to the sediment wedge shape.