Río Piedras Dam

Saira Fida (UF)Emily Williams (UF)Grant WeinKan (UF)

Mario Iván Rojas Sánchez (UNED)

Julio 2012

Watershed Río Piedras

Natural Processes of Consideration

• Precipitation– Timing– Antecedent moisture conditions– Intensity– Duration

• Slope• Land use• Evaporation rates

Precipitación

ENE FEB MAR ABR MAY JUN JUL AGO SEP OCT NOV DIC0

50

100

150

200

250

300Bagaces (1979-2008)

Meses

Prec

ipita

ción

Pro

med

io M

ensu

al (m

m)

Inclinación (respaladizo) /

Slope

Land use

Predicting flows on an ungauged river

Río Piedras Dam

Stakeholder

Core Institutions

MINAETDireccion de Aguas

AyAMunis & ASADAS ICE SENARA

Water Use Drinking Water Hydropower Irrigation

• Concessions• Register & authorize well construction• Nat’l Water Policy• Collect water pollution fees

• Potable water• Sanitation• Sewerage

• Hydro production• Concessions

• Irrigation• Drainage• Flood protection

Stakeholder Analysis

Social Considerations• Land Use

– Income generator for who?– Benefits foreign investors

• Economic implications of project– Jobs for dam construction and maintenance– Loss of jobs in inundated area

• Ranchers, farmers – Job creation resulting from project

• Service jobs at resorts/hotels

Comparative International Law

• United States NEPA 1969• United Nations Principles of EIA 1987• Costa Rica SETENA, Law No. 7554 1995

Project Area

D1 SETENA Terms of reference

EIA

Environmental Viability

SETENA

Environmental assessment in Costa Rica

• Soil

Construction process and

operation

Aspects to be assessed

• Water

• Social• Air

• Biota

Thanks