Water Quality in Hydroelectric Projects: Considerations for Planning in Tropical Forest Regions

摘要

This paper identifies and describes the studies necessary to predict water quality changes, at an early state of planning, in large tropical reservoirs with long retention times. Emphasis is placed on both the reservoir area and the region downstream. The need for defining the 'baseline' environment is presented as a requirement for conducting studies associated with the flooding and operating stages. These studies are classified according to the stage of project development. In the reservoir area, aspects such as biomass quantification, reservoir thermal stratification, water circulation, dissolved oxygen consumption and reservoir recovery are of major importance. Downstream from the project, the stress is placed on river recovery capacity, water uses and conflicts, and flow requirements. (Copyright (c) The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1984.)