Dam sedimentation poses critical environmental and operational challenges worldwide, requiring sustainable valorisation strategies. This study investigates how post-calcination cooling protocols influence the pozzolanic performance of Ksob dam sediments (Algeria) as a partial cement replacement in self-compacting concrete (SCC). Raw sediments were calcined at 750 °C for 5 h and subjected to three cooling methods: water quenching (WQCS), air cooling (ACCS), and slow furnace cooling (SCCS). Ten SC