Abstract

LASCANO-KEZIč, Marcelo E.. Reservoirs located in sediment-rich watersheds: the case of the Bermejo River, Argentina. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2010, vol.1, n.3, pp.21-38. ISSN 2007-2422.

Location analysis for reservoir implementation in subtropical and tropical environments must thoroughly consider the probable progression of the silt-in processes according to a river's sediment load. This article intends to point out that restrictions on the length of the operating life of reservoirs may affect dam planning on main tributaries, but that its effect would be rather less significant for projects on secondary tributaries with headwaters at lower external crests with less pronounced slopes. Dam and reservoir planning at the headwaters of the Bermejo River in northern Argentina is taken as an example of the proposed analytical strategy. To point out the heterogeneity of hydrosedimentary behaviors two analyses are conducted: an overview of environmental conditions, with emphasis on global slopes, and an estimation of the operating life length for two projects, according to the silt-in progression of a reservoir in the area. Both analyses reflect the existing strong heterogeneity within the upper Bermejo River watershed. The estimated operating life lengths within the same unit of analysis show a 1 to 5 difference.

Keywords : tropical Andes; sediment load; slopes; reservoirs; low flows; irrigation.

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