2 research outputs found
The influence of climate and dam construction on the Ibera wetlands, Argentina
The purpose of this work is to assess the impact
on the Esteros del Ibera wetland ecosystem caused by
the Yacyreta dam, a large hydroelectric power plant on
the Parana River, Argentina, in comparison to other
factors of environmental change. The project of the dam
started around 1970. The power plant began operating
in 1994. In 1989, the neighboring Ibera wetland ecosystem
showed a substantial increase in the water level
for which several different causes were conceivable,
including climate change and the dam construction. We
analyzed all existing hydrometeorological data and
studied other changes that were observed in this ecosystem.
A water balance model was used to analyze
different scenarios. Increased groundwater inflow, generated
since the construction of the dam, appears to be
affecting the wetland more than any other factor. The
study has implications for the assessment of global and
regional consequences of building dams