Upstream Reservoirs and Downstream Flood Risk: A Review with a Dong Nai–Sai Gon Case Perspective
A review co-authored by Dung Duc Tran (HAPRI Senior Research Associate), Nguyen Duc Thien, Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang and Do Quang Linh brings together research on reservoir operation, hydrodynamic flood modelling and optimization frameworks for downstream flood risk management. It identifies a critical knowledge gap: spatial flood inundation metrics and compound flood drivers remain rarely incorporated into optimization frameworks.
Context
Flood risk management is increasingly challenged by climate change, rapid urbanization, and the growing complexity of hydrological systems. Reservoirs play a vital role in flood mitigation. However, the authors note that traditional rule-curve operations based on historical stationarity are becoming inadequate under non-stationary and compound flood conditions.
Methods
The review draws on literature published between 2000 and 2025 and classifies existing studies into four thematic areas: reservoir operation strategies, hydrodynamic modelling, optimization methods, and compound flooding processes. The authors then take the Dong Nai–Sai Gon river basin as a representative tropical, tide-influenced system as a case perspective. The paper is posted as a preprint on EGUsphere.
Key findings
The review reveals a shift from static rule-based operations toward adaptive, forecast-informed and data-driven approaches that improve flood control performance and reduce peak discharge.
Coupled 1D–2D hydrodynamic models better capture floodplain dynamics, while evolutionary algorithms and reinforcement learning support efficient multi-objective optimization.
A critical knowledge gap persists: spatial flood inundation metrics and compound flood drivers remain rarely incorporated into optimization frameworks.
Using the Dong Nai–Sai Gon river basin as a representative tropical, tide-influenced system, the authors propose an integrated framework linking reservoir operations, hydrodynamic simulation and compound flooding processes.
Keywords:
Reservoir Operation
Flood Risk Management
Hydrodynamic Modelling
Compound Flooding
Multi-objective Optimization
Dong Nai–Sai Gon River Basin
Link:
Citation:
Tran, D. D., Thien, N. D., Hang, N. T. T., & Linh, D. Q. (2026). Review article: Upstream reservoir operation and downstream floodplain risk: A review of hydrodynamic modelling and optimization frameworks and case perspective on the Dong Nai–Sai Gon river basin. EGUsphere (preprint).
