Author(s): Eisse Wijma; Harm Nomden; Marius Sokolewicz

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Keywords: Elasticity; Overbank flow; Colombia; Canal del Dique; Ciénagas

Abstract: The Canal del Dique system is located in the North of Colombia. Large scale reconstruction works in the past have resulted in a gradual enlargement of the flow capacity of the canal, leading to major environmental and social problems. The project“Environmental Restoration of the Canal del Dique System”aims at improving the environmental and social conditions in the system. One of the components for restoration are the ciénagas, a cascade of fresh water lakes that originally formed the water system before construction of the Canal. After construction, the hydraulic conditions changed considerably, which resulted in environmental deterioration of the ciénagas. With the help of hydraulic and topographic data analysis, aerial photographs and the 1D2D hydrodynamic model of the Canal del Dique it was possible to derive the elasticity of the ciénagas, as a measure for the environmental quality of the ciénagas. Most ecological indicators are determined by the hydraulic behavior of the ciénagas as a result of the interaction between Canal and ciénagas. Although the hydraulic system has largely changed in time due to large scale reconstruction works in the Canal del Dique system, the ecosystem has constantly been able to adjust to the new conditions.

DOI:

Year: 2015