Reservoir sluice
A sluis, which translates to a sluice, is a hand-crafted element, usually made from local materials such as steel, wood, or corrugated metal sheets, used to control the direction of the water flow. The sluices are operated by hand, often by turning a heavy hand wheel. Some sluices are made merely from wooden planks that can be inserted or removed to control the depth of the water in the fields. Due to the force of the water, inserting or removing these planks can be difficult once the water is in the channel and pushing against the sluice. The tedious work of managing and opening the multiple sluices that are part of the system must be done well in advance of the predicted rainfall and flooding, but due to the unpredictability of the rain, it is often a matter of rushing to the sluices to open or close them in time.
- Project: Saaidam flood-irrigation system
- Climate: Mediterranean climate
- Year: Since ca. 1800s
- Water type: Freshwater
- Landscape: River landscape
- Material: Timber planks, brick, and stone wall
- Use or Function: Flood irrigation