Case study: Chivor

The Esmeralda dam impounds 758 Mm3 to supply water to the 1,000 MW Chivor hydropower plant in Colombia, commissioned in 1977. After an extreme flood in 2004, the minimum operating level was increased to protect the power plant from sediment abrasion. Thereafter, the Sustainable Sediment Management Plan was developed, including a design for three new intakes at different levels, among other measures.