Caracterización hidrológica del macro deslizamiento Guarumales

Abstract

Earth movements trigger environmental, social and economic impacts. An example of this type of disaster is the macro slide "La Josefina" that caused the damming of the Paute river, whose discharge caused innumerable problems to the town of Paute and its surroundings, and the reactivation of landslides along the Paute river. Among the reactivated landslides is the Guarumales macro sliding, which is the central theme of the present study. Its importance lies in the fact that the most vulnerable zone is located in the operation camp of the Paute Molino Hydroelectric Power Plant, which currently supplies around 27% of energy to the country. The most important natural factor that has triggered the constant movement of the slope is the accumulation of water related to the high rainfall of the area (about 3000 mm / year). The objective of this work is to obtain a hydrological characterization, by a water balance with the calculation of inflows and outflows. As a result an "imbalance" was obtained, caused by a significant loss of water. The largest deficit occurred in the foot of the macro slide. This confirms the initial hypothesis that the increase of the movement of the macro sliding is related to the infiltration and accumulation of water, by cracks present in the site and slopes not properly oriented or ditches and drains deviated, causing a fine material wash, reduction of the resistance and the increase of the pore pressure of soil. It is recommended the construction of weirs, which will serve as points of control and monitoring of the runoff. As well as, the continuation of this work realizing gauging during a hydrological year, and the investigation of groundwater and seismic activity in the site. Which will provide an integral model of the situation, risks and threats in the Guarumales macro sliding.

Key words: macro sliding, Guarumales, hydrological characterization, water balance, weirs.