The Teno - Chimbarongo Canal: an example of coordination and cooperation
Date
2001-06
Authors
Gómez, Rodrigo, author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
The Teno River, which belongs to the Mataquito River basin, and the Estero Chimbarongo, which belongs to the Rapel River basin, are located in the Central Zone of Chile, where the Mediterranean climate predominates and irrigated agriculture is the basis of the economic activity in the area. The Teno-Chimbarongo transbasin water transfer canal is a fundamental factor in this development. Additionally, this canal supports hydroelectric generation, a highly profitable factor for this sector since the investment has been fully recovered. The initial purpose was to build a canal with capacity of 25 m3/s (882.25 ft3/s) for hydroelectric generation, but an additional 40 m3/s (1,411.6 ft3/s) was considered adequate in order to satisfy the irrigation demands in areas located before the hydropower dam. In this way, the canal became an hydraulic work with two preestablished purposes: to provide hydraulic resources for hydroelectric generation and to increase the security of irrigation. In the history of this canal, after 25 years of operation, the different stakeholders related to this project are fully satisfied with the results and both objectives have been reached. This paper presents the historic development, the difficulties, the achievements and the experience obtained from the point of view of the parties involved, emphasizing the example of coordination and cooperation and effective results, as well as the future perspectives associated with this canal.
Description
Presented at the 2001 USCID water management conference, Transbasin water transfers on June 27-30, 2001 in Denver, Colorado.