Hydrogeological Evaluation of Water Retaining Properties of the Kosinj Reservoir (Lika, Croatia)

摘要

Construction of the Kosinj reservoir was planned in a karst terrain on the lower part of the river Lika. Preceding studies of this area did not completely define the water constraining elements of the terrain, and therefore the more reliable Kruscica reservoir was built. Further studies were undertaken in order to evaluate in detail the terrain of the anticipated location of the dam impoundment at Kosinj. Due to the lithological homogeneity of the karst terrain, the studies focused on tectonics and geomorphology, with emphasis on karstification. Terrain zoning was made on the basis of hydrogeological favourability for water retaining in the reservoir. The Velebit hydrogeological barrier influences the general water runoff in the hinterland, as well as the depth and the direction of advancement of recent karstification processes. In the hinterland of the Velebit barrier the karstification is shallow, increases in depth towards the sea, and is characterized by the zoned distribution of springs, estavelles and ponors. This concept played a major role in later hydrogeological studies of the proposed reservoir.