Earthquake Risks of the Dams in Peri Stream Basin

Abstract

There are a lot of active faults in Turkey. These faults produced many earthquakes with different magnitudes during instrumental and historical period. They caused loss of life and property. On the other hand many dam were built near faultlines. Many rivers follow fault lines both in Turkey and across the world. Fault lines should be considered while constructing and locating a dam for irrigation and electricity generation purposes. In this study, the importance of determining the location of the dams which are either constructed or under construction in Peri Stream Basin located in Upper Euphrates is emphasized. For this purpose, technical literature is analyzed, fault lines are identified and effects upon dams were discussed.Presently, there is one reservoir in the basin. However, there are seven reservoirs and a HES to be constructed - three of them under construction and four of them in project stage. Peri Stream Basin is located in Turkey's highest risk of earthquake zone and on extensions of North Anatolian Fault Zone. There are fault lines with different directions on Peri Stream Basin. Some streams settled on these fault lines in the basin. All dams will be under the risk of possible earthquakes. In such an occasion, both the dams and the people of the basin are under the risk. Also, damage in the das will cause floods in the agricultural fields on lower parts of the basin. Therefore, it is necessary to consider possible effects of earthquakes and faults while determining the location of the dams.