Reservoir Management in South America

Abstract

There has been a rapid increase in the number and size of reservoirs in all continents. In South America some hydrographicbasins such as the la Plata are almost completely exploited whereas others such as the Amazon are just starting to be exploited for hydropower energy. Ecological studies at the newly created artificial lakes were carried out from the filling phase and extending some years after, in order to understand the functioning of the lakes, the problems arising from the impoundment and to explore the possibilities of applying cheap ecotechnology as corrective measures. The studies in the Amazonian reservoirs have shown that oxygen depletion and nutrient accumulation are a serious problem in lakes with dendritic shape and long residence time. Clearing biomass prior to impoundmentand new engineering designs for water oxygenationmust bc developed. Results from la Plata basin reservoirs show that eutrophication, toxic contamination and siltation are widespread problems which must be corrected by pollution and erosion control.