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Storage capacity and sedimentation trends of Lago Garzas, Puerto Rico, 1996-2007

Scientific Investigations Map 3218
Prepared in cooperation with the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3218

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Abstract

Lago Garzas is located in west-central Puerto Rico, about 3.5 kilometers southwest of the town of Adjuntas, in the confluence of the Río Vacas and three other unnamed tributaries (fig. 1). The dam is owned and operated by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), and was constructed in 1943 for hydroelectric power generation and municipal water use along the southern coast. The dam is a semi-hydraulic earthfill embankment lined with boulders, and has a height of 61.57 meters, a top width of 9.14 meters, a base width of 365.76 meters, and a crest length of 227.37 meters; State Road PR-518 crosses the top of the dam. A morning-glory-type spillway is located near the west abutment of the dam at an elevation of 736.12 meters above mean sea level (Puerto Rico Water Resources Authority, 1969). Figure 2 shows an aerial photograph of the Lago Garzas earthfill dam and the morning-glory spillway section. Additional information and operational procedures are provided in Soler-López and others (1999). During July 17-18, 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Caribbean Water Science Center, in cooperation with the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority, conducted a bathymetric survey of Lago Garzas to update the reservoir storage capacity and update the reservoir sedimentation rate by comparing the 2007 data with the previous 1996 bathymetric survey results. The purpose of this report is to describe and document the USGS sedimentation survey conducted at Lago Garzas during July 2007, including the methods used to update the reservoir storage capacity, sedimentation rates, and areas of substantial sediment accumulation since 1996.

Suggested Citation

Soler-Lopez, L., 2012, Storage capacity and sedimentation trends of Lago Garzas, Puerto Rico, 1996-2007: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3218, Map; 29 x 29 inches, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3218.

ISSN: 2329-132X (online)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Storage capacity and sedimentation trends of Lago Garzas, Puerto Rico, 1996-2007
Series title Scientific Investigations Map
Series number 3218
DOI 10.3133/sim3218
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Caribbean Water Science Center
Description Map; 29 x 29 inches
Country Puerto Rico
Other Geospatial Lago Garzas Basin Area
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional publication details