Modelamiento de operación de embalses para el proyecto integral de riego en la cuenca del río Macul

Abstract

An irrigation project is planned in the Macul Basin Ecuador for developing the agriculture as the main income in the region. The proposed water system comprises three large reservoirs damming the rivers Macul and Maculillo. The river basin planning and operation was investigated by modelling alternative reservoir operation strategies aiming at a sustainable balance between irrigation and river ecology by integrated reservoir/river management. The model simulates the integrated water system for long term periods of data, covering also several historical extreme events. Results indicate that the planned irrigation volumes are higher than the available water for a sustainable irrigation. Two lines of action are suggested for reaching the target irrigation demands: one is to design a deficit irrigation schedule, and the second implies modification in the reservoir’s spillway height.