Wildlife Quality Program
Duke Energy Argentina permanently monitors the quality of water in the Neuquen river and the reservoirs in the Cerros Colorados hydroelectric facility. Different physical, chemical and biological variables in the water bodies are controlled, which provides information to determine the general condition of the water body and its dynamics in season and inter-annual terms, which permits:
- Determining the environmental conditions of the different creatures living in the water.
- Learning about the vertical water circulation patterns. Alternating conditions in stratification periods during the year (which prevents any mixture of superficial and deep strata in the water) and of any absence of stratification (periods of free mixture within the water column) have an impact on the metabolism of the water body, its chemical composition and the availability of nourishing agents for the producing creatures (the first link in the food chain).
- Determining the general trophic condition of the water body (nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyle analysis). The trophic condition is an indicator of system "health".
Apart from the above, bacteriological quality control in specific sites more influenced by human presence is useful to detect potential situations of biological pollution that could affect the use of this resource.
The purpose of the Fish Fauna Monitoring Program in the Cerros Colorados Hydroelectric Facility is to follow up and control the population of fish in the Neuquen river and in the Los Barreales, Mari Menuco and El Chañar reservoirs, by sampling done with different frequency during the year, in order to:
- Obtain a historic record of the composition of species in the fish community, and of the relative abundance of each species, so as to be able to detect any seson or inter-annual changes in these variables. A major variation in the values obtained could contribute to evidence problem situations in the different fish populations.
- Collecting data of variables such as length, weight, age, condition of reproduction organs and nutrition resources for the different species of fish. These studies enable us to know different details on the growth, development, reproduction activities and potential competitors for food.
Assessing fish health condition, so as to permit the early detection of any pathology.
Wildlife Quality Program
Duke Energy Argentina, in furtherance of its Environmental Management System, thoroughly monitors the condition of the water returned to the river, in order to ensure that it is free from any pollutants, chemicals, etc.