We are working on a project for the Negro river dam system, which includes the Dr. Gabriel Terra, Rincón de Baygorria and Constitución hydroelectric power plants. This system is crucial for Uruguay’s electric power supply. Our work focused on two main aspects: a Flood Management Review Study (ERGC) and the creation of an Emergency Action Plan (PADE).

Flood Study and Emergency Plan

The ERGC allowed us to reevaluate spillway operation criteria, create backwater curves for reservoirs and their tributaries, and analyze the potential socioeconomic impacts of floods.

The PADE was designed to establish the procedures to be followed by UTE personnel in the event of water or structural emergencies. To this end, we mapped the flood zones in different dam break scenarios and analyzed the socioeconomic impact on the riverside populations and land.

To carry out these studies, we created a hydrodynamic model of the Rio Negro dam system using MIKE FLOOD software. This model allowed us to evaluate operational criteria, analyze backwaters and simulate breach scenarios, among other things.

This project allowed us to provide UTE with a planning tool for flood and emergency management, which will help optimize the operation of the dams and protect nearby communities.