Construction Of Large Dams Research Articles

Achieving Ground Water Sustainability in Iran through Qanat Rejuvenation

Iran is the land of drought, floods and qanats. The ancient Persians discovered that the best place to store water was under ground, and the most appropriate method for its delivery was qanat. Their groundwater resources were sustainable before the importation of motor pumps and construction of large dams. The pumps enabled them to mine water from aquifers a few hundred meter deep and transporting it to mountain summits. The dam builders were either not aware of our geological and climatological settings, or ignored them. Enormous sedimentation, abundant evaporation, large leakage and astronomical costs make dams the most inappropriate technology for the Land of Iran and other dry lands of the world. Floodwater spreading for spate irrigation and the artificial recharge of groundwater (ARG) provides a low cost technology which is environmentally sound, financially viable and socially acceptable. The ARG on 14.9 million ha of our rain-fed farm fields and rangelands not only saves our groundwater for the future generations, but also rejuvenates about 30,000 desiccated qanats. Maintaining a rather constant flow in qanats is tantamount to groundwater sustainability. Our findings in Iran could be safely copied in other water-short regions of the world were wasted floodwater and suitable potential aquifers are available. We summarize results from a long-term ARG project and contrast them with detailed considerations of problems with the current practice of dams. Our results suggest that the rejuvenation of qanats is the better way to a sustainable water use in Iran.

Applying the Concept of Human Security to Research on the Consequences of Mining-Induced Displacement and Resettlement

According to a report published in recent years, developments in the mining industry are the cause of about 10.3 percent of all displacements in the world. This means that more than a million people per year may be resettled as a result of resource extraction in various parts of the globe. Countries displaying the greatest growth rate of this phenomenon include India, China, Ghana, and many other African counties. The most burning issue is the establishment of large open-pit mines in developing countries, such as the Tarkwa Mine in Ghana, and the Tedi and Porgera Mines in Papua Island. The impact of mining on the dynamics of internal displacements remains a topic rarely analyzed in the literature. Authors are more concerned with displacements induced by the construction of large dams and the creation of national parks or by ongoing urbanization processes. Instead of contributing to the well-being of local communities, the extraction of resources leads to a growing number of resettlements, environmental destruction, and a deterioration of the situation of marginalized groups. The consequences of the aforementioned problem do not diverge significantly from other categories of development-induced displacements such as oil-induced displacement, dam-induced displacement, or conservation-induced displacement. The analysis of internal displacement has become the focus of different fields of study. Sociology, social anthropology, human rights and development studies, and even philosophy are amongst disciplines particularly useful in the exploration of the consequences of development induced displacement. Research into this category of displacements, now under development for more than 40 years, has prompted the creation of specific theoretical concepts (i.e. the IRR model). The notion of human security also appears to be a useful scientific tool for more in-depth social analyses. Classification included in the Human Development Report published in 1994 distinguishes seven basic aspects of human security: economic security, food security, personal security, health security, environmental security, personal security, community security, and political security. Extraction of mineral resources leads to substantial threats to each of these aspects. An application of the aforementioned classifications to the research on the consequences of mining-induced displacement and resettlement helps to understand the broader context of problems encountered by the displacees. However, it should also be supplemented by two specific categories: gender security and cultural security.

대형 공진주시험기의 개발 및 검증

In this study, a resonant column testing system which is the largest in Korea has been developed to evaluate the dynamic deformation characteristics of coarse granular geomaterials, and the performance and the applicability of the testing system have been verified. The system has been developed as a typical Stokoe type device whose boundary conditions are fixed bottom and free top with additional mass, and can adopt a large specimen with 200 mm in diameter and 400 mm in height. The driving and measurement instruments are configured as high performance and precision systems, hence the automated testing system is appropriate to drive enough stress and to measure the behavior precisely for the test in practical manner. The dynamic response of the mechanical components and the applicability of the system have been evaluated using metal specimens as well as polyurethane specimens, and its precision was verified by comparing its results with those from other equipment and/or methods. To confirm the applicability of the large system for coarse geomaterials, the resonant column test results from both large and normal scale apparatus for the same material were compared and it was found that the result can be partially affected by scale. Finally, the dynamic deformation characteristics of coarse geomaterial which is used for construction of large dam was evaluated using the large system and its practicality could be confirmed.

Preparing for Myanmar's environment-friendly reform

Abstract Recently, President U. Thein Sein of Myanmar addressed a “second wave of reforms”. Myanmar is opening up to the outside world after decades of seclusion. It is a resource-rich country, remaining a strong attraction to capitals around the world. Now, Myanmar's first priority is to pay close attention to social and economic development. But it is also a global biodiversity hotspot. Myanmar's local environment, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development are encountering many threats, such as construction of large dams, large-scale gas and oil extraction, illegal wildlife trade, and deforestation. How to develop economy and at the same time suppress the environmental degradation especially preserve imperiled biodiversity will be a major challenge to Myanmar. This article attempts to answer this question according to actionable policies and measures mentioned in the context. Preparing for Myanmar's environment-friendly reform, Myanmar should improve its own economic capabilities, make scientific policies and improve management capacity in the first place. To make the on-going reform environment-friendly and stable, Myanmar also need aid package from the international community. Infrastructure construction should consider environmental issues, and industrial policies should aim at environment-friendly direction. It is quite necessary for Myanmar to establish a ministerial level environment agency that specially deals with environment and development issues, and invest more funds to carry out and enforce their environmental policies. In addition, the establishment of a special research center, think tank, and training facility within the country can be of great help in dealing with Myanmar's environmental issues. A series of policies and plans drafted in the early times for a system of protected areas could be revived and systematically implemented with effectiveness by means of more administrative support and enough human resources and budget allocation being provided.

Evaluating the downstream implications of planned water resource development in the Ethiopian portion of the Blue Nile River

Ethiopia's policy of large dam construction in the Blue Nile River basin is evaluated by simulating the impact of one downscaled midrange climate change scenario (A1B) on the performance of existing and planned irrigation and hydropower schemes. The simulation finds that by 2100: 1) average basin-wide irrigation demand will increase; 2) annual hydroelectricity generation will be just 60% of potential; and 3) flow at the Ethiopia-Sudan border will be reduced from 1661 m3/s to 1301 m3/s as a consequence of climate change in combination with upstream water resource development. Adaptation to climate change and development must be considered together.

Mekong at the Crossroads: Next Steps for Impact Assessment of Large Dams

Mekong at the Crossroads: Next Steps for Impact Assessment of Large Dams

Water, Geopolitics, and Economic Development in the Conceptualization of a Region

Two U.S.-based geographers outline three dimensions (geopolitical, economical, and biophysical) used to define the basin of the Mekong River as a region, which reveal multi-scalar water governance policies and discourses that lie at the core of current challenges and tensions within the basin. Drawing on their extensive knowledge and fieldwork, the authors demonstrate that processes integral to the framing of the Mekong as a region of economic integration and international cooperation (water resource development through construction of large dams) conflict sharply with the functioning of the Mekong as a region of highly connected biophysical processes. The approach utilized in the paper can be applied to the study of other transboundary river-basin regions in Eurasia and elsewhere facing similar contradictions among the geopolitical, economic, and biophysical dimensions used to define them. By focusing on a region as constructed simultaneously through multiple social and biophysical processes, the authors contribute to current debates within geography and related fields on the nature of regions.

Temporal variation of suspended sediment load in the Pearl River due to human activities

Data on sediment flux at three hydrologic stations from the 1950s to 2006 are utilized to study the decadal, annual, and monthly variations in suspended sediment load delivered from the Pearl River to the ocean. Results show that variations in sediment flux from three main tributaries, including the West River, the North River and the East River, are spatially non-uniform. Since nearly 90% of the suspended sediment load comes from the West River, its variation has dominated the overall tendency of sediment flux in the entire Pearl River. Although a significant decreasing trend exists in the annual variation of the total sediment flux, the decadal change can be divided into an increasing phase and a decreasing phase, with the turning point between the two phases in the late 1980s. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the average annual river sediment flux increased by 30.43%. However, sediment flux has decreased significantly since the 1990s, with the average sediment flux being 38.60% less in the 2000s than that in the 1950s. The current sediment flux is also 52.93% less than its peak in the 1980s. The monthly variation pattern of the suspended sediment load transport to the sea is more interesting. For the West River, all months show a decreasing trend, and for most months the reduction values are significant. However, for the East River the sediment load shows a decrease trend in the dry season and an increase trend in the wet season. The method of regression analysis was used to study the influence of precipitation in the variation on the sediment flux. It was found that the climate change is not the main driving force behind the variation in suspended sediment load. Before the 1990s, intensive land use destroyed the vulnerable ecosystem of the upper Pearl River, and speeded up the process of rocky desertification. Consequently, aggravated soil erosion caused an increase in suspended sediment load. However, sediment retention within reservoirs had begun to play a dominant role after the massive construction of large dams after 1990, and resulted in a decrease in the suspended sediment load delivered to the ocean.

Depoliticized Environments: The End of Nature, Climate Change and the Post-Political Condition

Nobel-price winning atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen introduced in 2000 the concept of the Anthropocene as the name for the successor geological period to the Holocene. The Holocene started about 12,000 years ago and is characterized by the relatively stable and temperate climatic and environmental conditions that were conducive to the development of human societies. Until recently, human development had relatively little impact on the dynamics of geological time. Although disagreement exists over the exact birth date of the Anthropocene, it is indisputable that the impact of human activity on the geo-climatic environment became more pronounced from the industrial revolution onwards, leading to a situation in which humans are now widely considered to have an eco-geologically critical impact on the earth's bio-physical system. The most obvious example is the accumulation of greenhouse gases like CO2and Methane (CH4) in the atmosphere and the changes this induces in climatic dynamics. Others are the growing homogenization of biodiversity as a result of human-induced species migration, mass extinction and bio-diversity loss, the manufacturing of new (sub-)species through genetic modification, or the geodetic consequences resulting from, for example, large dam construction, mining and changing sea-levels.

Progress, problems, and prospects of dam-induced displacement and resettlement in China

The construction of large dams continues apace in many developing countries. This is no more evident than in China, where half of the world’s large dams are now located. A decade ago the World Commission on Dams released its review of large dams around the world. The report provided a framework for the decision-making of governments, donors, policymakers, planners, and dam builders across seven strategic priorities: to gain acceptance; assess options; address existing dams; sustain rivers and livelihoods; recognize entitlements and secure benefits; ensure compliance; and share rivers across boundaries. Using the strategic priorities as a frame for analysis, this article reviews the progress made by the Chinese government over the last 10 years with respect to addressing the human casualties of large dam construction. It identifies specific frailties and strengths in Chinese policy and practice. It suggests that a stakeholder satisfaction model that places the affected population at the centre of the accountability structure would ensure that those who are tasked with the administration of resettlement policies are answerable to the affected people. In this way, resettlement from large dams can become truly people-centred.

Construction of Large Dams and their Impact on Cultural Landscape: A Study in Victoria Reservoir and the Surrounding Area

Large dam projects are implemented aiming for multiple benefits including water for agriculture, power generation and flood control. There are considerable environmental and social changes behind these large dam projects, which have not been discussed openly compared to the benefits received from them. However, it is important to analyse the social and environmental changes that could occur as a result of these dam projects in order to evaluate the net benefits received. This study focused on studying the changes in the cultural landscape of Teldeniya and surrounding area due to the construction of the Victoria reservoir. To achieve this objective, a methodology was developed utilizing topographical maps and remotely sensed data. Various spatial and non spatial data belonging to two periods: 1954 represent pre and 2003 post construction periods of the reservoir. The topographical maps were georectified and specific area of interest was obtained. Data of 1954, 2003 obtained from topographic maps were analysed to assess the changes in the landscape. In addition, an IRS LISS III satellite imagery acquired in 1998 was also classified and analysed to support the study. Comparisons were made among the information extracted from 1954, 1998 and 2003 to assess the changes in the cultural landscape of the study area. The study revealed that the land use, road network and the hydrological network have changed considerably. There is a drastic change in the cultural landscape of the study area as a result of the construction of the Victoria reservoir. Some of the land used previously has been submerged with the construction of the dam. The dam project has brought new livelihood options to the people in the area. It is clear that these repercussions are partly due to the changes that have occurred with the development of technology and society with time. The significance of this is that drastic changes are not only on tangible physical changes but also intangible aspects such as culture and the society of this region. Key words: Dams; Reservoirs; Spatial data; Victoria DOI: 10.4038/tar.v22i2.2830 Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 22 (2): 211-219 (2011)

Evidence for changes in the dynamics of Earth crust tilts caused by the large dam construction and reservoir filling at the Enguri dam international test area (Georgia)

This study is focused on the analysis of the dynamics of Earth crust tilting at the Enguri Dam International Test Area (EDITA). We aimed to perform a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the dynamical properties of Earth tilt time series in the context of the development of a real-time telemetric monitoring system at the Enguri test area. The set of Earth tilt hourly time-series data, recorded during the construction of the Enguri power station and subsequent fill of reservoir (1971–1983), has been analyzed. Modern methods of linear and nonlinear time-series analysis have been used. It has been observed that Earth tilt sequences clearly reveal properties of low-dimensional dynamics. Quantitative changes in the dynamics of tilt generation connected with different stages of anthropogenic influence, such as the construction of the Enguri high dam and reservoir fill, have also been detected. It was shown that these changes are transient, since the character of Earth tilt dynamics has been restored at the end of observation.

WHO DRIVES RESETTLEMENT? THE CASE OF LESOTHO'S MOHALE DAM

The Lesotho Highlands Water Project, a joint development effort of the governments of Lesotho and South Africa, involved the construction of several large dams and other infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and power lines. The purpose of the dam and water transfer project was to provide water to the Gauteng region of South Africa and electricity to Lesotho. Phase 1B of the project, the Mohale Dam, resulted in the displacement of over 320 households and the inundation of villages, fi elds, and grazing lands. In line with the 1986 Treaty between the governments of Lesotho and South Africa, the project authorities provided compensation for losses suffered and put in place development projects in an effort to promote economic self-suffi ciency. This article assesses the degree to which project-affected people in the Lesotho highlands were actively engaged in planning and decision-making regarding their own resettlement and rehabilitation, and the extent to which public participation contributed to their subsequent welfare.

Social-Ecological Impacts of Concurrent Reservoir Inundation and Reforestation in the Three Gorges Region of China

The Three Gorges Project (TGP) in the mountainous middle reach of the Yangtze River entailed large dam construction and farmland inundation by reservoir. Concurrently, national policy mandated defarming and reforesting extensive erosion-prone slope farmlands in the region. This study evaluated social-ecological impacts of two parallel land-cover change projects on farmland supply, carrying capacity, resettlement, and alternative employment. The integrated research adopted field assessment, interviews, questionnaire surveys, and remote sensing and geographic information system techniques. Analysis of high-resolution QuickBird images and thematic maps generated digital maps on land use, farmland quality, and standardized farmland. The two projects, development versus conservation, accentuated and disseminated impacts on rural communities. Reservoir inundation eliminated the best farmlands in riverside villages and aggravated population pressure. Widespread poor farmlands on steep slopes required extensive defarming and reforestation. The double blow reduced carrying capacity and brought economic hardship in impoverished areas. Villages beset by farmland deficits encountered difficulty decanting the surplus population because of resistance to intervillage and nonlocal resettlement. Migrant labor, as transient rural–urban migration operating outside the official regime, offered alternative employment and supplementary income to alleviate overpopulation and poverty. This safety valve was neither equally accessible to households nor assisted by the government. The simultaneous execution of resettlement and reforestation called for a systematic rural–urban migration program, engagement of local people in policy formulation, and provision of incentives in the form of long-term market benefits and livelihood assurances. The findings offered hints and precautions on the joint implementation of major land-cover change projects in developing regions.

Politics of water: The case of the Hirakud dam in Orissa, India

Although three quarters of the globe is covered with water, there is a crisis for fresh water. In the next two decades many countries might fail to provide safe drinking water to their citizens if there is no cooperative and systematic effort. The best way out would be to store and utilize the runoff in the rainy season. Large dams have been found to be popular for this purpose. While these are useful for flood control, irrigation, navigation, power generation followed by ancillary secondary and tertiary benefits, these also cause untold human miseries. However, large dam construction would be an ongoing phenomenon across the world and more so in the era of globalization as many professionals and politicians tend to believe in mega projects supported by a powerful lobby. In this paper we examine the case of the Hirakud dam, the longest earthen dam in the world, built in Sambalpur district, Orissa, India in the light of a duality in human geography-determinism vs. possibilism-and a neo-Marxist stand point of centre-periphery approach. We find that river Mahanadi has been tamed temporarily in the name of developmental initiative in western Orissa but the political agenda was to save the eastern coastal plain and especially Cuttack city from the ravage of flood. The construction of the dam; the subsequent human sufferings, of the dam oustees and the affected population of about 22,000 households; and the recent concentration of important mile posts of Orissa in the coastal plains have accentuated the long standing cultural differences between the periphery and the centre, the hills and the plains, the silent and the vocal, the simple and the clever. Mindless mining and installation of so many extracting polluting industries and power plants in the districts of Sambalpur, Kalahandi and Sundergarh and the subsequent demand on the Hirakud reservoir and pollution of river Mahanadi led to simmering discontent in western Orissa. Resistance movement before the construction of the Hirakud dam was crushed by the political strategy of divide and rule and the overarching image of the Congress in the early years of Independence. Recent outcry in the form of Western Orissa Liberation Front and Kosala Rajya has resulted in Western Orissa Development Council to take up the problems of western Orissa. While some people in the command area have prospered, the oustees and the affected persons of the Hirakud dam still live under the stigma of reservoir oustees (budi anchalar loka); feel that the coastal people have been the cause of their sufferings and cherish the desire of going back to their homeland in the event of breach of the dam. Let us be careful of the sound of the distant drum! Key words: Water, politics, displacement, underdevelopment, discrimination.

Mosquito abundance and behavior in the influence area of the hydroelectric complex on the Madeira River, Western Amazon, Brazil

Malaria is currently highly prevalent and restricted to the north of Brazil, and its dynamics are severely affected by human environmental changes, such as the large dam construction recently approved by the Brazilian Government in Rondônia. We studied the mosquito fauna and behavior before hydroelectric construction. Mosquitoes were captured by human landing catches on the riversides of the Madeira River in Porto Velho, Rondônia. A total of 3121 mosquitoes from eight different genera were collected; only Mansonia and Anopheles darlingi were found in all 21 collection sites throughout the night. These results suggest that the riverines of the study area are exposed to malaria.

Building small dams can decrease malaria: A comparative study from Sundargarh District, Orissa, India

The adverse health effect of environmental changes brought about with the construction of large and small dams has often been reported. Here, we present results of a 5-year (2001–2005) study documenting the positive effect of such developmental projects in reducing malaria in an area where malaria transmission is mainly due to the highly efficient anthropophagic vector Anopheles fluviatilis with some contribution from Anopheles culicifacies. The former breeds exclusively in the slow-flowing streams and the latter breeds in a variety of habitats. The study was conducted in San Dulakudar village and comparisons were made with two control villages situated near the stream with similar topography and malaria transmission pattern. Epidemiological data was collected through longitudinal weekly surveillance and cross-sectional surveys in all the study villages. The mean annual malaria incidence rates due to Plasmodium falciparum in children of 1–5 years age group during 2001 before construction of dam was 1304.3 and 785.7 cases/1000 population in dam site village and control villages, respectively. However, after construction of dam, there was gradual reduction in the malaria cases in dam site village and during 2005 the incidence was significantly reduced to 181.8 ( P < 0.01) whereas it was increased to 1000 in control villages without any significant change in comparison to baseline year ( P > 0.05). A significant reduction in malaria incidence and parasite rate was also recorded in all the age groups in dam site village without registering any significant change in control villages. The construction of a small dam in the study village altered the water flow above and below the dam thereby making it unfavourable for the breeding of A. fluviatilis which in turn brought about significant impact on malaria transmission.

Impact of the Mekong River Flow Alteration on the Tonle Sap Flood Pulse

Rapid development in the upper reaches of the Mekong River, in the form of construction of large hydropower dams and reservoirs, large irrigation schemes, and rapid urban development, is putting water resources under stress. Recent studies have concluded that these developments will lead to flow alterations in the Mekong River. These flow alterations would threaten the sensitive ecosystems downstream, particularly Tonle Sap River, Tonle Sap Lake, its floodplain, and its gallery forest and protected areas, by changing the flood-pulse system of the lake. This article estimates the changes in parameters of the Tonle Sap flood pulse due to the aforementioned flow alterations. The impacts on the flooded area and loss of gallery forest and protected areas were analyzed using geographic information system-based methods. Relatively small rises in the dry-season lake water level would permanently inundate disproportionately large areas of floodplain, rendering it inaccessible to floodplain vegetation and eroding the productivity basis of the ecosystem. It is highly important to maintain the natural hydrological pattern of the Mekong River, particularly the dry-season water levels, to preserve Tonle Sap Lake's ecosystem productivity.

Social norms for population displacements caused by large dams France, 20th century

With the passage of time and insights from a number of historical studies it is now possible to take a look back at the way rural populations in France were displaced for the construction of large dams during and after the Second World War. Today, international standards relating to the social implications of dam development projects are imposed on dam builders by both governments and financing institutions. However, in the absence of these international social standards, how did population displacements take place in the past? This paper provides a retrospective look in the light of the current "protection policies" developed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Retrospective case studies are based on research conducted in the Alps by Virginie Bodon on Tignes and Serre-Ponçon for her doctoral thesis in history (1999) and on the book by D. Varaschin on Tignes. The author uses her own studies on the impact of the large dams of the Upper Dordogne, based on research conducted in departmental and municipal archives and on interviews with those who witnessed the implementation of displacement policies and with their children (1998-2005). The author draws on her experience as an anthropologist for the World Bank to analyse the ways in which these displacements were actually carried out. The forced displacements, euphemistically referred to as "involuntary resettlement" in discourses on development, took on increasing notoriety with the international energy crisis. The dams gave rise to an international debate on their social and environmental impacts, a debate continued by the World Commission on Dams. Today, when financing has again become available for the construction of new dams throughout the world, it seems opportune to provide some insights into the social implications of large dam development projects based on the experience of France, a country that has been, in many respects, one of the most innovative in the implementation of such projects.

Des normes sociales pour les déplacements de population causés par les grands barrages. France, XXe siècle

With the passage of time and insights from a number of historical studies it is now possible to take a look back at the way rural populations in France were displaced for the construction of large dams during and after the Second World War. Today, international standards relating to the social implications of dam development projects are imposed on dam builders by both governments and financing institutions. However, in the absence of these international social standards, how did population displacements take place in the past? This paper provides a retrospective look in the light of the current "protection policies" developed by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Retrospective case studies are based on research conducted in the Alps by Virginie Bodon on Tignes and Serre-Ponçon for her doctoral thesis in history (1999) and on the book by D. Varaschin on Tignes. The author uses her own studies on the impact of the large dams of the Upper Dordogne, based on research conducted in departmental and municipal archives and on interviews with those who witnessed the implementation of displacement policies and with their children (1998-2005). The author draws on her experience as an anthropologist for the World Bank to analyse the ways in which these displacements were actually carried out. The forced displacements, euphemistically referred to as "involuntary resettlement" in discourses on development, took on increasing notoriety with the international energy crisis. The dams gave rise to an international debate on their social and environmental impacts, a debate continued by the World Commission on Dams. Today, when financing has again become available for the construction of new dams throughout the world, it seems opportune to provide some insights into the social implications of large dam development projects based on the experience of France, a country that has been, in many respects, one of the most innovative in the implementation of such projects.