Abstract:In view of the complex characteristics of the plain tidal river network, such as “external tides, internal waterlogging and upstream flooding”, the impact of dredging on the storage efficiency of the Suzhou Creek is explored in order to resolve the issue where traditional static storage calculations neglect the occupation by dynamic reservoir capacity. Utilizing a one-dimensional unsteady flow model under the “Zhujiecao” typhoon scenario, various dredging schemes are simulated to quantitatively analyze the relationship between different dredging depths and the effective reservoir capacity as well as the decrease in water level. The results indicate that the dredging significantly increases the effective reservoir capacity by reducing the specific drop of the water surface, which has a nonlinear marginal benefit relationship with the depth of dredging. Based on this, the optimal scheme that takes into account both the flooding control benefits and the economic feasibility of the project is recommended. The dredging optimization strategy based on the dynamic reservoir capacity theory can provide a theoretical basis for improving the flooding control capacity of the Suzhou Creek and similar river networks.